Another MCT ... surgery Thursday!

[haleyandmark]

Hey guys!

I haven't been on here as much as I would like to be as of late - we have had so much going on! Soooo ... Asia has another three lumps that we are going to have removed this upcoming Thursday. One is on her back leg and is fleshy and on top of her skin, another is under her skin by her elbow, and the third is the biggie ... the reason I'm here right now, to be quite honest. The third is probably the size of a nickel and it's in her neck. It has been there for a little while now and it hasn't grown in size or anything.

She has had surgery to remove MCT's before and every one of them have come back as cancerous, but one. The thing that has me soooo worried is that I know that a lump in her neck is not a good thing. Our Dr actually said to us the word "lymphoma", which floored me. I have looked up the symptoms for lymphoma before and I know the prognosis is not a good one.

She is itching the areas where the tumors are located, especially the one in her neck. Does this mean something worse? I have never noticed her being itchy with any of the other ones we have had removed. The worst part is that my normal little piggy girl is not eating like normal. We did change her food, but she has had this food before and has really liked it.

Anyway, any information on MCT's or what I could ask for (some injections I have heard of on here?) would be wonderful.

Thanks!
Haley

Anyway, I am keeping positive and crossing my fingers that these are just two or three more MCT's that we are going to have removed and keep trucking!

 

[Cami]

MCT's contain histamine (among other things) and it is common for them to be itchy. Not only the tumor themselves but it can make the entire dog itchy. On the flip side some dogs with MCT's never itch!
The fact that you are noticing itching with these three may be because there are three at once (more histamine being produced). Scratching makes the tumors "angry" and MORE itchy. Can actually induce "Darier's Sign" (sp?) which would be a reaction to the histamine in the tumor and can literally create hives. It's a catch 22. They itch. They scratch. They itch more.

I know a dead giveaway for my girl getting ready to produce an MCT that I can see is her increase in itchiness. Once she starts itching I start inspecting her more (if that is even possible). When I see a growth and she is itching I just know that it is another MCT.

More itching doesn't mean a worse grade tumor.

We have used the Vetalog injections with great success. So much so that I will ALWAYS try them first so see if they will kill off any particular tumor BEFORE I opt for surgery. Not only to avoid that particular trauma for her but since using them (over a year ago now) she has literally went into a sort of remission. No NEW tumors have developed since 6 were injected (4 died completely). I have spoken to her oncologist about this "remission" thing and while she didn't expect that result she didn't say that it wasn't possible. After 4+ years with new tumors popping up every 6 months or so she has gone a year and two months now without a new one. Her regular allergies have been pretty much non existent now as well. Don't know if any of this has a connection to the injections or being on thyroid meds but it is what it is.

If at all possible I would say opt for the injections however don't be surprised if your vet hasn't heard about them. Not many vets have however a good one will seek out info on it or read the info you produce for them. OR.....see an oncologist and tell them you want to try it.

They are quite inexpensive. We pay about $7.00 for the medication (Vetalog) but of course pay for the office visit, surgical supplies (needle), needle disposal fee, oncology fee, etc.....BUT still way less expensive than her $1000 surgeries..... times too many of them to count!

 

[haleyandmark]

Thank you so much for replying! I had seen your reply to other posters and was hoping you would find mine, as you seem to know quite a bit about this MCT business!

I do remember someone here telling me about Vetalog injections ... I will have to ask my vet about them!

Thank you so much, also, for easing my mind with "more itching doesn't mean worse grade tumors". We have never noticed excessive itchiness like this, so knowing this does help me to sleep better!

Thanks, again!

 

[haleyandmark]

OK, about this lump on her neck. It is about half way down her neck, in between her ear and shoulder. Is this lymph node territory? I'm really worried and our vet isn't open until tomorrow ...

Like I said before, she hasn't been eating as well (although that could be because of the new food) and she is seeming to be more exhausted than usual (though this hasn't been but over the last week or less, and our schedule has been off and crazy)!

Cami, have you ever dealt with a lump in your furbaby's neck?

 

[haleyandmark]

For a visual, this is about where it is. The lump in her neck is by far our main concern.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a219/haleyjane9/lump.jpg

 

[kelseighgirl]

I will keep crossed finger and paws that all turns out ok. Any lumps or bumps are not fun to find. Since Justice had his 2 surgeries for the grade 2 MCT on his back leg I check him everyday with a fine tooth comb. He stands there and looks at me like Im nuts :D.

Please keep us posted.

Is she eating any better??

 

[haleyandmark]

Thank you for thinking of her! I haven't thought to check her with a comb, but since her first surgery, I have checked her for lumps every day with a nice rub down!

She is actually maybe eating a little worse? I'm not sure if I am making excuses for her, or just trying to think positive, but she left some food in her bowl when she ate this morning, which has happened maybe once ever. We actually sat down and ate breakfast this morning while we were feeding her and she is a serious begger, so I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it? I'm hoping that it did, but this all seems too coincidental. She keeps going back and smelling the food, but she won't eat it. :(

Maybe it's just me, but I think she looks sad, too! This is breaking my heart ... I am so ready for Thursday to come and go so we can figure out what this is and move on.

 

[kelseighgirl]

Sorry...not really a "fine tooth comb" just a figure of speech. But I am very thorough when I give him his rub down each day.

I thought I had read that you have been giving her a new food..is it that she just doesnt want to eat or she doesnt want to eat anything??

 

[haleyandmark]

Haha! I gotcha! I am sometimes slow to catch those things!

She will eat her treats and people food (I'm guilty, ha!), but not her new food! We had some of her old food left, so we gave her some of that and she wouldn't eat that, either, which is why I thought maybe she just wasn't eating! I just heard her finishing up her breakfast, so this is a good sign!

We were up until around 3am visiting with my cousins, so maybe today she really is just extra tired! I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[Cami]

Cami, have you ever dealt with a lump in your furbaby's neck?

We have never dealt with swollen lymph nodes.
They are located in quite a few areas. There are five external ones that can be palpitated (in pairs so actually ten).
The one that you have a picture of seems to be in the vicinity of the Prescapular (hard to tell with the neck turned). At any rate it is just in front of the shoulder blade. Follow the arm up to the top of the shoulder and that is where it is located.
The Submandibular is located in the neck area near the angle of the jaw and right next to the salivary glands.