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.
Hi. I dont know where to start so I will just throw it all out there.Ok around middle of July we noticed a small cyst like bump on the inner part of our Sharpeis leg. I took a pic of it and sent it to my vet and she just thought it was a fluid filled cyst and said its ok but it will have to be romoved. Two weeks later it tripled in size and I took Porkchop to the vet and she said it needs to come off and we need to set an appt to get it done. So two weeks later we had the surgery done and by then Porkchop had several other cysts forming of all different sizes. Our vet took 2 off and sent them for biopsy and it came back Spindal Cell Sarcoma. Now he is eat up with it on his back leg. I bet there is at least 100 cysts and he is chewing at them and some have gotten pretty big again in just a matter of one week. We dont have alot of money and we dont know what to do. We would like an honest opinion please. I believe amputation is out of the question because it has spread to his groin area right up near his penis shaft and it justs keeps spreading. I was told it was local but I dont understand how it could be local if it has spread all across his back leg and into the groin area. And these are just the places we can see with our eyes! Help please!
Dear Dr. Dressler,
Lela, our 6 year old German Pointer had a tumor on her upper lip removed last week. We just got the pathology result and it is an undifferentiated sarcoma, which wasn’t completely removed. 1 to 3 mitoses per high power field.
She doesn’t look sick at all and is as sharp as ever.
Our vet now suggests 2 monthly visits to check whether the tumor reappears.
But we do not know whether there is metastasis or which grade she has.
We hope there is more we can do than just sit tight and wait.
What treatment can we try to give her the best chance possible? Is it even possible to survive this type of cancer?
Thank you for your answer. We are desperately trying to save our little girl and are trying to locate a vet oncologist, which proofs to be challenging here in South Africa.
Id be thinking chemo like multiple myeloma- pred with melphalan. You can do radiation too- the cyberknife is best. But there’s more!
Read these too and get your Guide of course.
https://dogcancerblog.com/blog/cyberknife-radiosurgery-in-pets/
https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/an-overview-of-what-else-can-i-do/
I hope this helps!
Dr D
Dear Dr Dressler
I have been reading up on Chemotherapy and Radiation for treating cancer in dogs and came across your blogpost. My 11 year old Rottweiler has just been diagnosed with a plasmacytoma. It is on her elbow and has begun to invade the muscle and possibly also the bone, so surgical excision of the tumor is not an option. The recommended treatment is amputation. As she is otherwise extremely healthy, especially for her age, ultimately I am prepared to go this route. However, she is still walking well and appears pain free while on medication so we are managing her conservatively for the time being. I would like to extend the usefulness of the leg for as long as possible with either chemotherapy or radiation or a combination. My hope is that there is an option which can decrease the tumor burden and preserve the function of the joint for a period of time before we need to consider a radical surgery like amputation. Unfortunately there are no nearby facilities for radiation treatment but I am prepared to travel if an oncologist advises that there is a significant possible benefit with this treatment. I will set up a consultation with one as as soon as possible but in the meantime any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated.
HI there Monique,
I think I can help you on this one. If the plasmacytoma is non-surgical, radaition may be a good option. )I would recommend conventional radiation, not CyberKnife.) Is there a medical oncologist in the area? That’s always a great place to start. You can check out http://www.acvim.org and click on find a specialist. Good luck.
All my best, Dr Sue
Dear Dr. Dressler,
Our awesome 6 year old Golden Retriever had a growth on skin with hair, not hairless skin (from what we have been told this makes a big difference) removed from his snout. The lesion started off looking like a very small black tick and when it began growing we had it removed (4mm was the size at removal). The lab report came back saying approx 0-1 mitoses were noted and the the diagnosis was malignant melanoma – left rostral maxilla. There are no visable growths in his mouth. His chest x-ray was clear. After consulting with a canine oncologist, we decided to have more tissue removed the get wider margins and have fluid tested from his lymph nodes. These samples came back from the same lab with no cancer found. My question to you is if this was your dog would do the canine melanoma vaccine? We have pet insurance which will cover half of the initial cost (not sure about the boosters). I’m concerned of the slight risk of it causing his immune system to go in over drive. We put him on a cancer diet. Many thanks,
Carol
Hi Dr. D,
Our 8 year old mini schnauzer has been diagnosed with an undifferentiated sarcoma (connective tissue, salivary gland region). We’re close to Colorado State University, took him there, and they suggested that the tumor was inoperable. Local metastasis, nothing distant that we can see. It breaks my heart to give up on him and not provide him with the treatment they suggested (radiation; i think similar to Dr. Ettinger’s machine in NY) but it’s incredibly expensive (approximately $4k for 3 treatments). Prognosis is not great, 50% chance of living a year with treatment, a few weeks to a few months without. We’re depressed, down, and uncertain of what to do. We want to do but what’s best for him (he appears normal right now) so that makes it difficult for us to make a decision. Any other thoughts on prognosis or general feedback? God, I hate this disease 🙁 I’m losing my closest friend I’ve ever had right before my very eyes…
Hi Lamar,
I am sorry to hear this. It is indeed really, really hard.
Step one: read the Guide.
Step two: diet. Free download on the top of this page.
3: apoptogens: i’d combine apocaps with oral neoplasene- get your vet involved, along with high dose iv vit c.
4: beta glucans: k-9 immunity (old formulation without the flavoring)
5. consider implating matrix 3 cisplatin beads (not cheap but available from wedgewood pharm online for your vet) for local chemo right in the tumor.
6. consider low dose (metronomic doses) palladia.
Have your vet involved in these steps.
I hope this gets you started in a better direction-
Best
Dr D
Dear Dr. Dressler::: On 12/22/11 I took my 6 year old Golden Retriever to the vet because I noticed a lump on her right lower leg.. We were referred to an Oncologist, his results were.. A mass developing in the distal right antebrachial area of the dog.. The mass grew rapidly initially but has stabilized recently. There was also significate swelling of the leg associated with the mass. Antibiotics and analgesics were prescribed which resulted in symptomatic improvement.. Physical Exam Findings ::: Firm to soft subcutaneous mass on the ventral aspect of the distal right antebrachium.. Diagnostic Tests & Results ::::: Thoracic radiograph: No gross evidence of metastatic disease. Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology of the mass::::: Possible Soft Tissue Sarcoma. Diagnosis:::: Pending histopathology…. Treatment….. Exploration and biopsy of the mass… The mass could not be surgical resected as it was involved with the major flexor tendons and muscles. The mass extended a considerable distant proximally following the major flexor muscle sheaths.. Prognosis.. Pending histopathology…. A biopsy was sent to Michigan State University on 1/18/12, we recieved word from the surgeon that the results MSU had found were it was a benign tumor and wont spread.. Our Oncologist says his results dont come close to the findings of MSU’s results, so he is having it re-tested.. I am so confused with all of this.. Not even 2 weeks ago they were telling us that amputation of the leg was the only option.. Please help with any input you may have…. Thank-you so much….
Dear Cindy,
I am sorry to hear about all of this. Honestly, I would wait for the latest report and let us know what it turns out as.
Keep us posted as this will be the tie breaker…
Hang in there-
D
my dog had a nerve sheath tumor remove a week ago from her elbow, it came back as a stage 1, thank god. She is almost 12 and I am wondering about the benifits, of radiation therpy if she developes nerve pain. So far no real signs, have developed that i can see, can you tell me what to look for.
Please can someone give advice my 3 year old labrador has been diagnosed with a tumour that is pressing against her spine. We took her to a Vet College who tried to take a biopsy which was not successful. They have told us that they can operate to take a further biopsy but she will be in hospital for at least 2 weeks. We did not want to put her though the stress of a major operation just to diagnose what type of tumour. That will only determine if radiation therapy is an option. She is very healthy other than this. We have now been given steroid tablets for her. We are devasted and feel helpless. We really don’t know what to do for the best as she is so young.
Dear Sarah
So sorry, such a young dog!
I really think you should take some time with the Guide and read through it. I’d be thinking about diet, combination apoptogens, neoplasene, antimetastatics, artemisinin, immune support, and the other steps we have available. Might even consider homeopathy (I don’t push it hard but for central nervous system tumors it might do something)- see this blog: https://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/homeopathy-for-dog-cancer/
As always, be sure to have veterinary supervision for these steps
Best,
Dr D
Hi
My 9 year old Newfoundland, Timber, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma 2 weeks ago. I wasted 3 days in shock, in a black hole and in denial, then I very thankfully found your website and e-book. I took her to see a Vet Oncologist for a second opinion. We did chest x-rays which showed nothing, so they recommended a biopsy. They took 4 samples. 5 days later we are told none of the samples showed any cancer but for her age, breed and position of the tumor they still believe it is osteosarcoma, they just didn’t get any of the tumor? I was told they may have to do 2 or 3 biopsies to confirm it – I don’t see the point. She has a little arthritis in her left arm and hips so I have decided against amputation. I think Radiation is our only option at this stage and we are going in two days time for her first session. I have been told that since her tumor was not confirmed by the biopsy they will only do palliative radiation instead of a curative treatment – no academic benefit? I didn’t think radiation was ever attempted as a cure for dogs (am I wrong?) but hearing that they wont consider her for it because they wont get a published paper out of it really ticks me off. Who’s paying for this treatment anyway? sorry for the rant….
I’m not really sure what to expect from the radiation treatments, will this affect her apetite? burn her skin, shrink the tumor and extend her life expectancy?
We’ll have to go for it, hope for the best and keep searching for answers. Timber is still enjoying life and I almost gave up on her. Thank you for all of your wonderful information, experience and advice. Thank for starting us off and pointing us in a positive direction. THANK YOU for helping me get my act together. My best friend needs me