Mast Cell Tumours

[bell]

I was wondering if anyone has had mast cell tumours (cancers) treated with cortisone? and if so how long was it affective for?

Stella our 10.5yo boxer had a turn on sunday and stopped walking about and eating. Took her to the vet yesterday who took blood tests which initially showed low red count (white normal). They also took a sample of a lump of her leg which showed mast cells. The full bloods came back indicating most probably a cancer.

She has been sent home on cortisone and is looking 10 times better than yesterday, but am wondering how long it may last for?

[Dagmar]

I was wondering if anyone has had mast cell tumours (cancers) treated with cortisone? and if so how long was it affective for?

Stella our 10.5yo boxer had a turn on sunday and stopped walking about and eating. Took her to the vet yesterday who took blood tests which initially showed low red count (white normal). They also took a sample of a lump of her leg which showed mast cells. The full bloods came back indicating most probably a cancer.

She has been sent home on cortisone and is looking 10 times better than yesterday, but am wondering how long it may last for?

I have a boxer with mast cell tumours (many!), so I can relate how you are feeling. Saying that, my Julie was diagnosed 3 years ago (she is 9 now) and she is still a happy girl.

Where on her leg is the lump, how big is it and is it itching?

What happens in mast cell tumours is that the mast cells (which are responsible for producing histamine) suddenly over-react and produce just too much histamine. The vets give cortisone to suppress this reaction.

I personally am not a friend of cortisone, but sometimes one has to give it temporarily to stop the mast cells from over-reacting.

Is Stella eating again?

It could well be that the mast cell tumour slows down after the round of cortisone - or it may flare up again, you will never know.

How is Stella otherwise, is she still in good health? Depending on the size and where the tumour is located on the leg, it may affect her walking. If it is operable, you might consider that option. But it is very difficult to get a good margin around the tumour on the leg. And IF she gets into surgery, make sure you ask the surgeon about the anaesthetic as boxers cannot handle the standard anaesthetic very well, they need a special one.

If she was my dog, I would detox her and at the same time boost her immune system. It helps my girl for sure.

Dagmar

[bell]

The lump os up under her front left leg at the top, it is probably 5c piece big. We would opt to not operate as even if it is removed it may not solve the problem and the lump is not getting in her way.

She is eating again now but is slow to get around and bit unsteady on her feet.

She had a months worth of cortisone and we will go back for more bloods in a couple of week so will have to see how we go.

[Dagmar]

The lump os up under her front left leg at the top, it is probably 5c piece big. We would opt to not operate as even if it is removed it may not solve the problem and the lump is not getting in her way.

She is eating again now but is slow to get around and bit unsteady on her feet.

She had a months worth of cortisone and we will go back for more bloods in a couple of week so will have to see how we go.

Sounds like it is a very small lump and if it is not getting in the way, I personally would probably not have my dog operated on it, Julie has a few lumps this size on her legs. They swell up now and then, but then go back to the small size they are.

Wow - that is a LOT of cortisone! I wonder why she got so much? Clearly that must be hard on her liver - I would consider detoxing seriously!

[ari.g]

HI Bell. Sorry to hear about Stella . Good to hear she is eating again. There are a couple of threads about mast cell tumours in the palliative care forum :D

[matilda1]

Mast cell tumours are nasty things. My heart goes out to you and your dog.

The ONLY way to effectively treat a mast cell tumour is to surgically remove it with a good margin of healthy cells as well.

Even then the chances of another returning later in life are great. These are well known for spreading through the system.

My JRT has a MCT when he was only 2 years old. He is now 5 and I am watching him like a hawk.

I am also a Vet Nurse, so I probably watch closer than I should. Most dogs who have had MCT's in younger years will present with cancer or masses internally in later life.

MCT's in later life are a tricky situation as removal is not always a viable option.

I hope it all works out for you.

Sending you good health and happiness