How's he now?

So pleased he's okay after his op, let us know the results I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed x

My staffie Harvey was diagnosed with mast cell tumours at the age of 3. The vets performed a biopsy to confirm (it took about a week) and then with confirmation he went in and had several pea sized lumps removed. Everything was fine until he turned 6 and we found another lump on his shoulder. Once again, the biposy showed that it was a mast cell tumour and he went in again. This time the cancer had spread to the tissue in his shoulder and he had quite a major op to clear the cancerous tissues. It was pretty horrendous, 40 stitches in his shoulder but he came through it and he's now nearly 9 and still going strong.

I've done a lot of trawling the web to find out what I can, and it seems that some dogs that have had surgical removal of a Mast Cell Tumour will develop more, and 50 % will re-grow in the same area, the biggest risk from Mast Cell Tumours is from the secondary cancers. Mast Cell Tumours often spread to the Lymph nodes, Spleen and the Bone Marrow; any future lumps must be evaluated as quickly as possible.

The most common way to treat Mast Cell Tumours is surgically, although radiation and chemotherapy are also used. Surgery is a first choice treatment however because the tumours are invasive it is necessary to remove a wide margin around the tumour of about 3cm to make sure that all stray cancerous cells are captured. Once removed the tumour is then submitted for a histology to find out what grade it is and also whether all the cells have been captured, a clean margin. Mast Cell Tumours themselves are unique in there ability to form as multiple primary tumours at times, they are also unpredictable in their behaviour, because of this it is always advised to “grade” the tumour. By grading the tumour it is possible to determine the degree at which the malignant mast cells differ from the normal mast cells, tumour behaviour, tumour recurrence and long term prognosis / survival. Grades are given on a scale of 1 – 3 with one being the least likely to re occur and 3 being the most likely to re occur. A grade 1 or grade 2 tumour that has been completely removed and has a clean margin will usually require no other immediate therapy other than monitoring the animal for 18 – 24 months before being reasonably confident that the problem has been resolved. Grade 3 tumours however will need subsequent treatment in the form of radiation therapy or in the case where there is not a clean margin further surgery. It is important to note here that if radiotherapy or chemotherapy are used these treatments have no effect on the spread of the tumour they are a local treatment only

The important thing is to get every lump you find checked out quickly. I hope that your dog recovers well and quickly. As I say Harvey has come through it twice and is still going strong.

Well he's improving every day - it's taken years off my life this with constant worrying. He's having his drain removed today so I think he'll be more comfortable after that has gone. And hopefully results will come in soon.


thanks for the replies guys. I'll shall keep the thread updated.

Dan

So relieved he's getting better. You seemed at the end of your tether the other day

I most certainly was. I didn't quite realise that I'd be a broken man without Dexter!

Well I took him last night and he's had the drain removed. He's back to his normal crazy self and he's as mad as a bag of wheasels.

I also have the results from the mast cell tumour - drum roll please?!?!

............................

Grade.....................2!

Obviously not a good as a Grade 1 but I'm just over the moon it isn't a Grade 3. So the Vet seemed most happy at the grade 2 but did warn me to be super vigilant for any more lumps or unusual behaviour. So in a nut shell - he seems to be almost better and I have my fell walking buddy for the near future at least.

That is so brilliant
We want pictures of you and your best mate out and about on the fells, when he's better