coogie Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 (edited) Issy, our girl has just been diagnosed with a Mast Cell Tumour, she went into the specialist centre for staging yesterday and so far there are no detectable signs of any metastasis. She had full bloods and a set of scans, the next step is surgery on Tuesday to remove the tumour and get it graded. Due to a couple of factors, we know for certain she has had this undiagnosed, (or more accurately misdiagnosed) since February at least; so we feel quite fortunate it is not showing anywhere else. Because of the location of the tumour, the surgeons have said up front they won't be able to get the margins they usually aim for, and have said once they have a grading they will decide on the treatment protocol to follow.They are yet to decide whether they will go with radiation alone or a combination of radiation and chemo. The Oncologists are fantastic and I am really happy with how she is being treated, but we would like to do everything possible to support her conventional treatment, so I am wondering if anyone has used McDowell Herbs or anything similar to treat MCT alongside conventional treatment? Now we are over the initial gut wrenching shock, I am madly researching, and have seen some really good things about McDowell's treatments,I would be really grateful for input from DoLers with experience who are willing to share? The Oncologists were quite receptive to the idea but also said it wasn't their field , so they couldn't really advise, obviously we would clear anything we gave Issy with them first. Edited March 20, 2015 by coogie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 Chinese Herbs enabled my dog to live three bonus years after having a mast cell tumour removed with no clear margins. He was treated by Dr Ann Neville at Bentleigh in Vic, through my vets in Sydney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coogie Posted September 20, 2014 Author Share Posted September 20, 2014 Thanks dancinbcs, I will follow up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VizslaMomma Posted September 20, 2014 Share Posted September 20, 2014 I Now we are over the initial gut wrenching shock, I am madly researching, and have seen some really good things about McDowell's treatments,I would be really grateful for input from DoLers with experience who are willing to share? The Oncologists were quite receptive to the idea but also said it wasn't their field , so they couldn't really advise, obviously we would clear anything we gave Issy with them first. Luckily, there are several Vets within Australia that have the expertise to work with the Oncologists and you to give these treatments. Dr Anne Neville is simply wonderful. In NSW, there is also The Russell Lea Vet Clinic, in Sydney. I am aware of 3 different dogs which were treated by both Vets ( separately) and had great quality of life with the regime they were given. Robert McDowell's expertise is great as well. He is a caring and compassionate person. He helped a friend whose cat had mammary cancer. Like anything, coogie, you can do your homework & find who you can relate to best for the treatment of your girl. Sending love & healing vibes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coogie Posted September 21, 2014 Author Share Posted September 21, 2014 Thanks VizslaMomma, it was a horrible shock, she has had a lot to deal with and is still pretty young (5) so we will do all possible whilst she is pain free,active, happy and able to be a dog. If they get most of it on Tuesday and it doesn't pop up elsewhere, she could be fine for a long time. I really, really wanted the scans, bloods etc. before we let them start to cut , in case it was too late. Happily at this stage it seems isolated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puglvr Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 My boy had a MCT removed from his font leg in Now last year. They literally cut the tumour out with clean margins. Being the front leg there was no skin ect to use for stitching up the wound so it was left to heal on its own by secondary intention. No chemo or radiation was needed. All healed completely by 6 weeks post op. I have him on Robert McDowell Mast cell tumour remedy and Maratime Pine. He is bursting out of his skin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 when my girl Lucinda was dxd MCT, her holistic vet was Dr Barbara Fougere from All Natural Vet Care http://www.naturalvet.com.au/ I believe that holistic treatment should be customised to each particular patient... basic treatment plus specifics for that individual. I was so happy with their approach and Lucinda was able to live a full life. Staffy love also used this clinic for her boy Ollie who also had MCT H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coogie Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share Posted September 22, 2014 My boy had a MCT removed from his font leg in Now last year. They literally cut the tumour out with clean margins. Being the front leg there was no skin ect to use for stitching up the wound so it was left to heal on its own by secondary intention. No chemo or radiation was needed. All healed completely by 6 weeks post op. I have him on Robert McDowell Mast cell tumour remedy and Maratime Pine. He is bursting out of his skin. Thank You, this is the regime suggested to us, Issy is going in tomorrow for surgery, the location in her case means margins are not going to be ideal, however they have said she will " likely" be stitched. I am setting up the crate tonight and trying to prepare myself for the morning.She is close by and keeps noseboofing me.Trying really hard to keep things normal and resist the temptation to moon over her as it makes her anxious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coogie Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share Posted September 22, 2014 when my girl Lucinda was dxd MCT, her holistic vet was Dr Barbara Fougere from All Natural Vet Care http://www.naturalvet.com.au/ I believe that holistic treatment should be customised to each particular patient... basic treatment plus specifics for that individual. I was so happy with their approach and Lucinda was able to live a full life. Staffy love also used this clinic for her boy Ollie who also had MCT H Thank You as well, I will check them out as well, I like the idea of specifics too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted September 22, 2014 Share Posted September 22, 2014 My old SBT lived 6 years (was originally given 1-2 years) and he was treated holistically with supplements and herbs for most of the time. The vets at All Natural Vet Care were the vets we used. He did have one round of chemo at the beginning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coogie Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share Posted September 22, 2014 Thanks Staffyluv, I have been reading Ollie's thread for inspiration. Issy is seeing Rod Straw once the surgical team have done tomorrow. The whole team have been great so far, do you happen to know if All Natural will do phone consults with the oncologists? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Rod was our oncologist as well. He was great and he is very experienced with MCT. If you can get a good holistic vet on board as well - I really believe that the chemo bought Ollie some extra time but the holistic treatment was what kept him well. When I used ANVC, my vet would send them the test results and then I would have a phone consult with them (I'm in Canberra and they are in Sydney). They wanted to talk to me because I knew my dog and could tell them how he was feeling, what his health otherwise was like, how he was acting etc. My vet was great about it and happily sent off the results when I ANVC asked me to ask for the latest test results. I am sure they would talk to the vet as well but they did prefer to discuss Ollie with me and use the vets test results, when we used them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coogie Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 Thanks again Staffyluv, she is home, very tired, sore and grumpy. She stinks to high heaven as well , not sure if it is her anal glands -she must have emptied them- she has never smelt like this before,it isn't a normal poo smell. I have sponged her bum down a bit but it is still pretty bad. It will have to wait though, she is still very woosy and a bit "singy" from the fentanyl patch. Poor girl looks battered, Shar Pei skin and clippers really don't mix, she has several nicks - and a nasty clipper burn on the bandaged leg. I felt sorry for the vet they were horrified. She is fast asleep now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Oh poor girl. Lots of rest and quiet for a few days and she will bounce back. I always found Ollie 'down' after surgery. He was more than happy to voice his displeasure at being operated on.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VizslaMomma Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Hope the night went OK, coogie. Sending gentle cyberhugs & LOVE to you both. for the next couple of days, Issy will be off colour especially after surgery & being 'pushed around'... (((HUGS))) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coogie Posted September 24, 2014 Author Share Posted September 24, 2014 (edited) We had great news this evening, the specialist called with her lab results - and the tumour is very low grade, even more surprisingly they have now said they think they got it all. Definitely no chemo, maybe no radium either. She goes back on Friday for patch removal and a dressing change so we will know next steps for sure then. We will just have to watch her very closely from here on and test any lumps. We are just so relieved. I have visions of her being carted to the vet for every future mozzie bite though. Still talking to the herbalist though to see what they suggest. Edited September 24, 2014 by coogie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tassie Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 You must be so relieved. What good news. Best wishes for continued good recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VizslaMomma Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Yay!!!! Paws crossed for ongoing & quick recovery for Issy. Hugs to you too, coogie. She's a luck girl to have such a caring Momma. What a relief. I would consider herbal supplements myself. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coogie Posted September 25, 2014 Author Share Posted September 25, 2014 I think I need a fentanyl patch myself. Fell off the back deck trying to make sure she didn't jar her paw getting down, thank goodness for colour bond fences, what a sight I would have been lying in a muddy puddle - her dressing comes off tomorrow afternoon so I should be able to see how big her wound is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Gifts Posted September 25, 2014 Share Posted September 25, 2014 Hope she goes well at her check up tomorrow. I did laugh at the thought of you falling off the back deck - like you don't have enough sore bits of your own to worry about! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now