Mast Cell Cancer

[aus_k9gsd]

My poor 9yr old GSD has had a tumour removed from his leg, was a grade 3 mast cell tumour

He lives with my parents now so I am going home to visit him next weekend for the week

[harley]

Oh poor boy.

My then 9 year old lab had one removed from his side/ rib area. He did well and then went on to have a soft tissue sarcoma removed from his leg last year at 10.

It was a long hard road, but he is doing really well now.

All the best with your boy

[aus_k9gsd]

Thanks Harley, it's sad as I read the lab report and said he could only have 2 months. It's just a big shock I think as he hasn't been sick a day in his life then ends up with this

[dogbesotted]

Thanks Harley, it's sad as I read the lab report and said he could only have 2 months. It's just a big shock I think as he hasn't been sick a day in his life then ends up with this

have a read of ollies thread, complementary treatment helps

my lucinda survived many years beyond her prognosis

good luck

helen

[harley]

Thanks Harley, it's sad as I read the lab report and said he could only have 2 months. It's just a big shock I think as he hasn't been sick a day in his life then ends up with this

it is a shock, isn't it? My boy showed no signs of illness what so ever either, just a lump.

As hard as it may seem, try not to give up hope

[MentorAdvantage]

As an animal lover I'm sorry for both of you as a two month prognosis is heart breaking.

Have you ever thought about using natural alternatives to assist your dog?

I know from personal experience that a small number of "alternative friendly" vets use "natural supplements" intended for humans on animals.

I also know most vets will only recommend products that have been APVMA approved due to liability risks.

A similar situation exists with human health care products.

Doctors only prescribe products approved by the TGA leaving it up to naturopaths to inform us of alternative supplements choices.

I'm the manufacturer of a natural supplement used by Australia's alternative health care professionals for over 17yrs.

Over time I've gained a bit of knowledge from naturopaths as to how they assist people with chronic skin disorders, arthritis and cancers.

Here's a couple of bits of information that I've picked up from discussions with naturopaths which I'm sure doctors don't always tell people with cancer.

This information maybe of benefit to animals with cancer but it's up to you to do your own research and ask your vet.

1. Tumours require the formation/growth of a blood vessel network to feed themselves, this process is called "angiogenesis".

There are few natural products which inhibit the formation of new blood vessel networks, this starves the tumours of vital nutrients and makes it difficult for them to grow.

This is known as antiangiogenesis. Antiangiogenic products are validated by what is known as a CAM assay or chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay.

Antiangigeogenic supplements can be mixed with in with food or drink.

2. Cancer cells are acidic and love to live in an acidic environment. Cancer cells hate to live in an alkaline environment.

Cancer cells become dormant at approx ph7.5 and cancer cells find it hard to survive at ph8.5.

From "The Textbook of Small Animal Medicine" (Edited by John Dunn) it states that normal dog urine has a pH of 5.5 - 7.5.

A ph of 5.5 is acidic whilst a ph of 7.5 is alkaline.

A simple urine or saliva test using ph test strips (range ph5 to ph8) from a chemist is all that is required to monitor ph.

It's easy for humans to adjust the ph of their body using alkalising agents mixed in with food or drink.

If you keep your ph in an alkaline state it makes it very difficult for cancer cells to grow.

There's a lot of information which I could share but you have enough to get you started.

Feel free to ask questions.

Disclaimer: Remember I'm not a vet, so before you give your dog anything, find an "alternative friendly" vet and check with them first.

Edited March 9, 2012 by MentorAdvantage

[Staffyluv]

Ollie was given a 12-18 month time frame depending on Chemo...

He was 8 years old when dxd.. He lived another 6 years.

He had 6 months of chemo and was holistically treated as well...

Diet plays a very important part in the treatment of cancer.

Please have a read of Ollie's thread... Mast cell cancer, here in the palliative care forum.. There is a world of information and advice in there...

I am also happy to answer any questions.

Moopers dog Jack also had MCT grade 3 and that was a few years ago now...

It does not have to be a couple of months (unless you have chosen not to treat).

The first point of call is find out what you are dealing with (you have)

Get a good holistic vet

Change the diet

Adopt a very positive attitude (not always easy)

Is chemo or radiation an option? If not there are still plenty of other option.. Ask your vet about Palladia for one...

[aus_k9gsd]

Thanks everyone

He is currently only getting antihistamine as treatment from vets, he has been on a natural diet since he was 8 weeks old

He lives with my parents rurally so no natural vets or he isn't near big smoke but I am going there next week and will do as much research as I can before I go to see what we can do to help him so thanks heaps for the suggestions I will definately spend the weekend reading Ollie's thread and will make an appointment with his vet while I am there to test what she believes or doesn't to help him. My parents were never really dog people but obviously fell in love with him when I left so kept him, they haven't ever had to deal with vets until now as he hasnt had to go until now.

[Staffyluv]

Our holistic vet is in Sydney and we are in Canberra. We never saw them. We liaised via our vet and email and phone...

When you say a natural diet, do you mean raw foods only?

Dogs with cancer need a bit extra..

In general it is believed that carbs feed cancer cells. So limiting them is important. No rice, flours, grains, sugars in the diet at all.

Increase meat, raw bones and vegetables. Ollie had cottage cheese, plain yoghurt, fruit, fish oil tablets and vitamin c tablets every day.

He also has a few other supplements from the holistic vet based on the reports sent by our vet. He had Lymphrodran, Anti-Ox and five mushroom drops daily.

He also had a course of macrolone, not to everybodies liking but I did it anyway...

Antihistamines are just to slow or stop the histamine release from the mast cell tumours. Mast cell tumours release histamine... Ollie had 1 polaramine tablet every day from the day he was dxd.

wishing you all the best.

[aus_k9gsd]

Yeh he has been on a raw diet all his life

Thanks I will get in touch wih some vets here in Brisbane before I go

[Staffyluv]

One of the best canine oncologists in the country is in Brisbane. Rob Straw.

That is who treated Ollie dog..

[aus_k9gsd]

ok have done a bit of research, i have read some of Ollies thread and some of the others but there is a lot of chit chat to go through to get the relevent info so as i just skimmed over it i probably missed alot :)

Sorry to read those people ho have lost their lovely dogs though

i am going to look at natural treatments as he has always lived a natural life, raw diet, not overly vacinated, tested for worms instead of just treated for them etc

from what i did get out of reading will buy some Essiac Tea, ester c and fish oil to start with to go with his already raw diet

I reread his pathology report and he has a high grade 3, mitotic index is 11/10hpf whatever that mean but that was what they based his survval of under 2 months

thankyou everyone for the support as its helped me to not give up on him and admit defeat, we will fight it as much as he can

[Staffyluv]

Good luck with your journey, it is rarely an easy one but you know your dog and what is best for them...

[dogbesotted]

just reminding you that a prognosis is just a fancy name for a guess. both Ollie Dog and Lucinda lived well and long past that initial prognosis. I would recommend a consult with a holistic vet as the supplements get "tweaked" for the individual patient. ie What was prescribed for Ollie was not exactly the same as was prescribed for Lucinda( Lucinda had a Essaic with additional herbs included.)

godd luck to you both

Helen

[wolfgirl]

Sorry to hear about this following are two links that are worth reading our dog's prognosis wasn't good but with the help of natural alternatives he had a great quality of life and more quantity than we expected although it is never long enough. Even our vet and specialist were amazed at the results of the Graviola, Ollie's journey was amazing :)

If you do the juices remember to look at the percentages some are only around 40 - 50% you need one that is much higher concentrate than that ratio.

http://health.centreforce.com/

http://caninecancerawareness.org/html/Diet.html

[aus_k9gsd]

Thanks wolfgirl, I am past the shock of it and will be definately looking at alternative medicine for him. I see him this weekend

[dogbesotted]

maybe discuss this with your vet:

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/Breaking+News/AB-Science-nails-conditional-approval-for-veterina/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/702618?contextCategoryId=378&ref=25

AB Science nails conditional approval for veterinary mast cell tumor treatment

Jan 10, 2011

DVM NEWSMAGAZINE

Short Hills, N.J. -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted conditional approval to AB Science for a new treatment for canine mast cell tumors.

Masitinib, marketed as KINAVET-CA1, will be made available to U.S. veterinarians for the treatment of recurrent or nonresectable Grade II and Grade II cutaneous mast cell tumors in dogs that have not previously received radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy except corticosteroids, the company reports.

Masitinib was previously approved by the European Medicine Agency (EMA) and commercialized in Europe for the treatment of canine mast cell tumors, under the name MASIVET.

Alain Moussy, chairman and CEO of AB Science, says in a prepared statement, “This decision opens the U.S. (veterinary) market for masitinib, which is expected to be our largest market. It is therefore a significant milestone... We will continue to collaborate closely with the FDA to pursue the development of masitinib in the United States, both in veterinary and in human medicine."

Dr. Albert Ahn, president of AB Science USA, adds, “As we continue to generate further data, we are confident that we can establish masitinib as the reference treatment for canine mast cell tumors."

KINAVET-CA1 has been designated a new animal drug by FDA under the Minor Use/Minor Species (MUMS) Act. This entitles KINAVET-CA1 to seven years of exclusive marketing rights beginning on the date of conditional approval.

"The conditional approval is a response to an application that demonstrated reasonable expectations of effectiveness. During the five-year period of conditional approval, AB Science will continue to gather additional data to further support the safety and efficacy of masitinib in designated indications," the company reports.

Mast cell tumors (MCT), also known as a mastocytoma, is the most common cutaneous malignant neoplasm in dogs, accounting for 16 percent to 21 percent of all skin tumors.

The behavior and progression of MCTs are highly heterogeneous. They range from slow-growing tumors with a low potential for metastasis (grade I) to undifferentiated, aggressive tumors (grade II and III) with a high potential for metastasising to local lymph nodes, the liver, spleen and bone marrow, AB Science adds. Masitinib is an orally administered tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets mast cells, important cells for immunity, as well as a limited number of kinases that play key roles in various cancers.