Cancer questions

[Lena]

If you have questions or need help with an animal with cancer please post here.

[skinsey]

Lena,

Last week, not one, but two of my dogs were diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. Bailey a 9 year old mutt started to limp – turned out to be tumor in left hind leg. It was amputated on Wed. at NC State. He is home and doing beautifully – diagnostic report not yet back – they sent entire limb to path for diagnostics. Two days later, one of my livestock guardian dogs – Bongo was diagnosed – he had a swelling on his front carpal and limping. He is now at NC State awaiting his first radiation treatment tomorrow. He is not a candidate for surgery due to a) front limb, and b) he has cruciate ligament disease in both hind legs. He is a large dog – part Anatolian Shepherd – part Great Pyr.

I have contacted two different certified acupuncture vets for consultation. I have also found the Artemin you recommend. I am a little numb at the moment – having two simultaneous shocks to deal with. Anything else you can recommend? We will meet with oncology to discuss Bailey in two weeks when he goes to get staples out.

Thank you for any help. You can see my beautiful boys on my website http://www.followyourdreamfarm.net.

[Lisa K]

Dear Dr. McCullough:

My dog Max had amputation 2 weeks ago for Grade II fibrosarcoma. According to articles I’ve read, the amputation in and of itself prevents the spread of cancer…i.e, no concern about cancer margins., etc,

Am I naive in thinking that he DOESN’T need chemo? I don’t want to put him through any unnecessary harsh meds if not needed. I have started him on metronomic Artemisinin. He is also on IP6, medicinal mushrooms, and Turmeric.

Two complete blood counts were all normal as was a clear chest x-ray. I realize that there is always chance of microscopic cancer cells, so hence the question of necessity for chemo.

Thank you,

Lisa and Max

[Lena]

Skinsey,

What beautiful boys!I am so sorry you are dealing with this. That is so difficult to have two be diagnosed at the same time. If you haven’t found my article on osteosarcoma here it is .http://pathwithpaws.com/blog/2011/05/08/three-legged-and-happy-how-to-holistically-treat-osteosarcoma-bone-cancer-in-dogs/. It outlines what I use with my clients.

One important thing – do not use artemisinin in Bongo while he is undergoing radiation or for a month after. The radiation treatments do wonders for pain – I am so glad you are doing them. I am currently working with one dog who was not a candidate for amputation and he had one radiation treatment and we are about three months out from radiation and six months out from diagnosis and he barely limps. Hoxsey with boneset may also be a consideration for pain if it fits. Hopefully the acupuncturist you work with will have some good ideas. If they are not an herbalist you can send them my article.

best wishes and healing thoughts! Let me know how everything goes.

Lena

[Lena]

Lisa and Mark,

I have also found that with amputation for fibrosarcoma that it is curative. With fibrosarcoma the largest issue is local spread and with amputation you get margins. I have not seen a fibrosarcoma met myself, just regrow if large margins are not possible. It might be worth a visit with an oncologist just to get a second opinion but my experience echos what you have found. Plus you have him on some good anti-cancer supplements just in case.

best wishes,

Lena

[Lena]

Just realizing that I probably should have folks start a new post about individual animals so everything doesn’t get tangled. Thanks for visiting and adding your questions!

-Lena

[Lena]

From Lisa – this went to my administrator somehow, not sure why but wanted to get it back here – The tumor was in his elbow….so if I’m understanding you correctly

there is still need for concern with “margins” even with amputation?

Sorry…just a nervous “mom” who needs clarification. Thank you so

much for your prompt response,

[Lena]

Hi Lisa,

Yes if it was in his elbow and the whole leg was amputated you have very good margins so need to worry about margins. Usually you need an inch or two around a tumor to get good margins with fibrosarcoma. With a leg it is very easy to get good margins, if it is say in a rib or in the skull it can hard to get margins.

-Lena

[Lisa K]

Dr. McCullough:

Just received call from my vet. Tumor in Max’s elbow was a bit higher grade than they thought. Although he states he feels he caught everything, they want to err on side of caution and start Max on chemo for his fibrosarcoma. I stated I wanted to keep Max on oral chemo to lessen stress of visits to vet. I read that a metronomic chemo treatment approach to soft tissue sarcomas was very effective in preventing tumor recurrence. Do you have any experience with regards to this type of treatment as opposed to conventional chemo approach? Thank you.

Lisa

[Lena]

Hi Lisa,

Metronomic is kind of a weird term in that it can mean something slightly different from person to person. I have seen dogs do well on lower dose less toxic oral drugs given daily or in an on for a few days off for a many days cycle. With chemo I usually defer to the oncologists since they are the most up on what works the best and what is new. I don’t feel like my knowledge is strong there. If you have an oncologist in your area it might be worth a consult with them unless your vet does a lot of chemotherapy work. They may tell you that oral chemo works well for fibrosarcoma or they may tell you it does not. The last thing I would want is for him to be on a toxic oral drug that is not going to help. A stronger chemo drug would probably be better in that case. However if the orals will work well then that may very well be the way to go.

best wishes,

Lena

[Lena]

From Sharon –

Lena,

Okay I have collected the following:

Artemisinin 100 mg

Hepasunate 50 mg

K9 Plus wafers

GNC Ultra Mega Superfood Complex

Meeker Rasperry powder (waiting on it – not here yet)

So – now trying to figure out what to give whom and how much

Bailey is the one with the amputated leg – he has not yet started chemo – he weighs 80 #

Bongo cannot have surgery – started radiation therapy – he weighs #116

I know that Arte cannot be given while undergoing radiation – same with Hepasunate?

Any recommendations greatly appreciated. Bongo is also on Tramadol 50 – 4 tabs every 8 hours; Carprofen 100 1 every 12 hours; and Gabapentin 600 1/2 tab every 8 hours

Thank you again

Sharon

[Lena]

Hi Sharon,

I haven’t used any of those products accept the artemisinin. I assume the hepasunate should also not be given with radiation but you could check in with your vet on that.

Hope everything goes well.

best wishes,

lena

[adriennez]

Hello Lena, my boxer Lola was diagnosed with stage 1 osteosarcoma in her lower jaw back in June of this year. Before we did anything her oncologist recommended that she do a chest x ray to check for spread and also a cat scan of the jaw to see where to direct the surgery. She said the chest x ray showed no spread of the cancer so removal of half of the lower jaw would be the best fit.

I did that and when Lola got out, she said that they got it all out, the margins were clean and there was no need for chemo. I was very worried about not doing chemo but she said that her and a group of 4 other doctors all felt the same. She got an infection about 2 months later and had to be rushed in where they treated her with a strong dose of antibiotic etc. She recovered and has been fine since, eating well, drinking, full of energy and life.

The Dr did no follow up with any blood-work, a chest x ray or bone scan as it’s mentioned on so may sites. This has a high incidence of spread and I am shocked by her lack of follow up with such a serious cancer. She said see you in 6 months for a chest x ray just to be sure, so that;s what I did. I took her in last night for her 6 month follow up and had a chest x ray done. The dr said her lymph nodes felt good and were not swollen and the surgery site looked wonderful. She came out from the chest x ray and sai there were 3 concerning spots on her lungs. I immediately froze and said but you told me not to do the chemo. She said I would have made the same decision based on what we knew of the tumor then. I am getting the official results from the radiologist today but I know it’s metastasis.

She said it could be age spots but that’s highly unlikely I feel. I am unsure what to do at this point. She is 8 yrs old and health otherwise except for hypothyroidism which she takes a pill for. She also said that the chemo would not work at this point but that there are other ‘therapies’ available to shrink it. I feel she should have done the chemo back then but she insisted there was no reason to put her through it.

My question is what do I do now? get a 2nd opinion if it did mets or start your 2 drugs mentioned or both? Also possibly acupuncture? I just want to save my baby.

I’m referring to the : Artemisinin and Sanshedan Chuanbeiye

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Adrienne and Lola

[Lena]

See reply on the other thread you started

[jameym]

Hello Lena,

I have a 7 year old Boxer who developed Lymphoma about two months ago. We have been doing chemo pills once per month and Baytril (antibiotic), a stomach pill and prednisone daily. Also, we have been giving her natural things too (Artemisinin, Milk thistle & Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang). Her liver count has been somewhat elevated and she has been doing good the last 2 months since we about lost her in Oct. You can’t tell anything is wrong with her, she is very active, eating great and has gained all her weight back. We thought the chemo was working however last week her Vulva started swelling. I took her back to the vet and they thought she had stones. After urine analysis, xray and blood work … no stones. She had a 4 mm crystal but no stones. The swelling has continued and is really large now. She is still voiding properly and eating great but it is really large. Bigger then a golf ball and it is red and draining clear liquid and some spotting. This hasn’t slowed her down, she’s still acting amazing and eating great. The vet told us to try Monistat, that it may be a yeast infection but this seemed to make it worse. He changed her antibiotic and said maybe it was infection but after 2 days its no better. He told me yesterday he thought it was cancer of the uterus however our boxer has no uterus and ovaries and from all we’ve read that’s where cancer of that region comes from. Do you have any ideas or has anyone experienced this? He told us we were going to have to put her down soon if she stops voiding.

[Author]

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