Radiation therapy and dog cancer?
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: October 10th, 2018
Radiation is a big gun in dog cancer therapy. There are many out there that would not even consider it….to hardcore, too scary. And honestly, many times they might be correct. But in some cases radiation should be at least considered.
For many it is out of the question. No nearby cancer referral center, no veterinary university, no money. But for those that live fairly close to a facility that offers this modality, it is an option.
Why do people opt for radiation for their dogs? What is the point?
Radiation is to help dogs that have cancers that are hard to cure. These cancers either never go away, or go away with treatment only temporarily. So people consider it as another way to increase their dog’s life expectancy or to hopefully improve life quality.
Radiation is used to decrease the tumor cell burden (kills certain types of cancer cells), in very few cancers can cure them. More and more frequently, it is used to help with tumor pain. If a tumor cannot be removed with surgery (inoperable), radiation can be an option as well.
What cancers are very sensitive to radiation (where radiation can kill a lot of the cancer cells)? Lymphosarcoma is a biggie, perianal adenoma/adenocarcinoma, neuroblastoma, plasmacytoma, and transmissable venereal tumor. Some other cancers that are moderately sensitive (radiation helps a bit) are nerve sheath tumors (hemangiopericytomas), fibrosarcomas, and histiocytomas.
Radiation can help control pain with osteosarcomas in dogs.
So that’s a bit of the good. Let’s look at the bad in the next blog post.
Best to all,
Dr Dressler
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Dr. Dressler,
My dog who is 10 years old was diagosed with Hemagtiopercytoma. My vet has removed this tumor twice already and the tumor has returned within a month. it has grown very large in a two month span. My vet has spoken to an oncologist who does not recommend kemo, but suggest radiation be done have my vet debulks this tumor. My dog is in good health other wise. Can you tell me how radiation will help?
My 15 year old dog had a lump. here is the prognosis…wondering what solution i have as the removal of the lump has caused another problem – the wound has not healed in a month and still bleeds.
Microscopic Description:
Left ventral carpus, two punch type specimens: The sections contain a
neoplastic proliferation of mast cells involving the dermis and subcutis and having a variable eosinophilic infiltrate. The cells are rounded and exhibit mild to moderate pleomorphism with infrequent mitotic figures (0-1/10 hpf). Neither vascular invasion nor lymphatic invasion can be found. All of the submitted tissue has been entirely processed for sectioning.
Diagnosis:
Mast cell tumor, Grade II
My golden lab is 10 years old and we found out yesterday that
he has a large tumor in his mouth the size of a golfball and that the cancer is in the very aggressive stage and has spread along the roof of his mouth.
We were told that conventional surgery is out of the question because of the area where the tumors are. We were told radiation therapy is not available on the Big Island. Can you please let me know where the nearest treatment center
is closest to the Big Island of Hawaii where our dog can get radiation treatment?
Also would appreciate your please letting me know whether radiation treatment has been successful in other dogs with mouth cancer?
Much thanks
Dear Jon,
One point to consider is what is meant when we say successful with oral tumors. We still don’t have a cure for cancers that cannot be removed with surgery, and so when we say success we are talking about decrease in the signs of the cancer that lasts for some period before returning. The data will vary depending on the type of tumor, which would be needed to determine the best treatment. Biopsy is how we know what kind of cancer we are talking about. Some are more treatable than others. Oral melanoma for example has a vaccine that increases survival times available thought oncologists, although I hear Dr. Leadbetter on Oahu can get it. I would also always consider also diet, apoptogens, immune stimulant supplements, anti-metastatics supplements, and efforts to deliberately improve life quality (these are all discussed in the Guide). For radation, click here and on the landing page to the lower left you will see a link to find radiation facilities you can travel to. Don’t forget hawaii quarantine laws for coming back in the state- talk to your vet about this-. I would read the Guide– it can help a lot too.
I hope this helps
D
Dr. my dog is 5 years old and just got spayed and had a breast tumor removed. We found out today the tumor was cancer. It is (forgive my spelling) momory cystic carsinoma. The doctor said if she didnt get radiation treatment she will die. I love her and dont want her to die, but there is not way we can afford to have this treatment done. We could hardly afford the surgey. Is there an organization that could help us with the bill? Please e-mail me and let me know. thanks
Dear Catharine,
the Guide has an extensive list of resources. One would be the Magic Bullet Fund.
Best,
D
My hound had a lump appear on her snout near her eye. The first Dr took an xray and did a tooth extraction and gave antibiotics. 3 weeks later the second lump appeared and the first lump never disappeared. She then had a CT scan that showed a mass in nasal cavities and brain. Preliminary biopsy results said it wasn’t cancer, just inflammation, but Dr. didn’t believe it and asked they rerun tests. Still waiting for results. She had a mucous discharge from one nostril that was tinged pink with blood 3 weeks after the tooth extraction which is when I noticed the second lump. The doctor gave her 2 kinds of anitbiotics to take. Lumps have not gone away but no more mucous discharge. She has no noticeable weight loss and seems to not have any neurological issues.
Hi,
My 11 yr mutt dog was recently diagnosed with a nasal tumor. After getting the initial CT, the mass was extensive but had only minor cribiform plate involvement. There was moderate bone destruction and a visible deformity at the end of her muzzle (about 2cm.) We tried to get a cytology sample and a rhinoscopic biopsy, but they both only caught inflammation. She also have a old mineralized benign/very low grade tumor attached to a couple inches of her GI tract. We decided that if we were going to treat the nasal tumor, we should go in and take the tumor off the GI tract. While in there, the surgeon checked for nodules on the spleen, did a liver biopsy etc. All looked great.
At the same time, we had the mass scooped out for diagnostic purposes. It came back as an undifferentiated sarcoma, which wasn’t so great. But it had a low mitotic rate. At the same time, the dog hasn’t shown any real symptoms at all until the bump appeared on her nose overnight (I took her to the vet the next day – which she also got amoxocilin for.) Even after the surgery which she recovered amazingly well from, she hasn’t had any nasal discharge. The only symptom she is showing now is some bouts of reverse coughing. Under the circumstances, we decided to go ahead with the definitive radiation of 18 treatments. We’re going to start her on 10mg of prednisone as well to see how she does on that (but we haven’t started it yet.)
But my question is what was your dogs’ experience with the radiation? She has her same healthy appetite. When she walks and goes to dog park and plays fetch with me – she is super! I can even see in hindsight she had real lethargy and discomfort for about 3-4 months when the tumor was growing and I just took it as regular aging. (I know. I’m an idiot!)
But this is her second week of radiation – I drop her off at 8 AM, pick her up about 1 and now she just seems SO TIRED! I mean like total bump on a log tired. She slips into that deep REM, running and barking dream sleep in a couple minutes and just sleeps for hours.
Of course when I pick up a treat or the leash she bolts off the couch. But otherwise its just all deep slumber.
I have her on the high protein/low carb diet with Omega 3 supplements. This all happened quick, so even though she’s been on grain free for years, we built up to a fatty diet in a pretty quick 3 weeks. Or is she just sick of getting up at 7AM to hang out in the doctor’s office? Is it just cumulative anesthesia?
No weight loss or vomiting. Good stools. No other “side effects” but she’s just tired all the time in the house. Is this normal? Is this something I should be worried about?
Anyone have any insight into this? Should I report it to the oncologist?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Dear Chris,
whenever you are seeing something (like lethargy), that you were not advised may happen as a predictable part of the treatment, it is best to contact your vet or onc. I would suggest this to be safe!
Best
D
I have a 9 year old mixed (husky/greyhound/shepard/etc) who had a mass discovered on June 20 and had emergency surgery. His spleen was removed and biopsies were done in all lobes of his liver. All his labwork was normal. He has always been an extremely healthy dog until this. The results came back and it was Leiomyosarcoma in the spleen and the liver. The surgeon honestly said he doesn’t know alot about this cancer with possible treatments because he has never seen it before. He is currently recovering from surgery and will get his staples removed July 7. I feel at a loss because it seems there isn’t alot of knowledge/information out there about this. Are there any options for us? Would radiation or chemo help? I would appreciate any information you can give me
I have an 8.5 year-old, mixed breed, spayed female. She had a mass removed a week ago, and it was STS (Soft Tissue Sarcoma). It was in her elbow joint, so our vet was not able to remove as much healthy tissue as he would have liked to ensure all cells were removed. Her chest x-rays and lymph nodes are clear (phew). We met with an oncologist/radiologist who has recommended 18-22 radiation treatments over the course of the next month. Our regular vet (the one who removed the mass), said if it were his dog, he’d take the wait-and-see approach by watching the site like a hawk and treating it more aggressively if/when it comes back. We want to do as much as we can for her within reason. She has been plagued with many other medical issues during her short life–2 TPLO surgeries on each knee, rattlesnake bite treatment (we almost lost her), a herniated disk, a recessed vulva (chronic UTI/e. coli infections), and elevated kidney values (not full-fledged renal disease quite yet). I’m sure I’m forgetting a few things. We adore her and of course want her around as long as possible, but I am hesitant to put her through radiation if we can hold off and wait to see if there is recurrence. Although, with her luck, I would suspect there will be. Any advice?
Dear Kelly,
so sorry to hear this bad news. It sounds though like you have chosen the course of action that fits best with your priorities for your dog. There is no “right” way to treat malignancies, thus your inner compass as this is a life quality decision for you, not a medical one. The clinical recommendation from the oncologist is the textbook one, but textbook recommendations are not the determining factor in making decisions such as this one in every case. Guardianship and deciding what your values are are discussed in detail in the Guide, as questions like these are commonplace. I am assuming you have made the dietary adjustments, are supplementing with apoptogens and immune support, and so forth…?
Best,
Dr D
Dr. D
My 10 yr old Rotweiller has osteosarcoma in both shoulders. She is currently receiving palliative radiation therapy for pain. Can she still have the radiation, and start the Budwig diet (flaxseed oil & cottage cheese)? I want to make sure there is no negative interaction between the 2 methods of fighting the cancer. If there is, how long should I wait after the radiation treatment before starting the Budwig diet?
Thanks for your input.
My Dog has been diagnosed with cancer that is quite aggressive & is being feed a good blood supply.Had him to the U of Minnesota& they said it was a risk to do the surgery because of the blood supply,he could bleed to death!So,now we’re home looking for answers.Why radiation was’nt offered as an option I do’nt know,he’s a 7yr.old mini schnauzer.They told us he’s in very good health.They give him 3wks. to 3months to live.His organs are being compressed because of the tumor located mostly by the kidney bladder colon area. I’m praying & looking for a miracle too.
Trudy, did they give you a diagnosis (cancer type)? This can help guide decisions…
D