Cassius' Path report.....MCT

[alohaboxer!]

We got the news yesterday that Cassius' lump was indeed a MCT.
The vet said it was a grade 1 with clean margins.
I'm supposed to be happy right? I know there are some of you out there
who have had worse news than this, and I really do feel your pain, and am truly sorry that you've had to go through such hard times :(

I don't know why I am still so sad about this news? The vet sounded optomistic about his prognosis for the long term, but I am stuck with this dreadful feeling of doom for my baby boy. I guess it put into perspective how fragile life is, and that there is always a chance that something could take him from us. I need to try and turn my feelings around, but I need some help. This is the place I know I can gain tremendous support from! Because I know that each and everyone of you has the same love for your boxer than I do.

If you've had experience with a grade 1 MCT, I would love to hear what your vets have said about the whole thing. Our vet said that there would be no further treatment necessary, but I am still skeptical. Please pass along anything you might find helpful! Thanks in advace you guys.

Still shook up.

 

[Net45582]

That's about as good as you can get when dealing with a MCT.Just keep your eyes open for any other lumps that may appear over the years....I've gone 5 to 6 years between mcts developing. No need to freak out-there is no preventative for mcts...just keep on spoiling your Boxer baby and you'll be rewarded for years to come.
Wanda Kiddo & Chancey

 

[KonaKoffe]

My parents have had MCT removed from their dog over the past few years ( 1 just 2 wees ago) and she is going strong.

KOKO had one removed early in her life and she lived till the age of 13-1/2 yrs.

Just something else to keep an eye on!!!

 

[Austin's Mom]

Austin had a grade 2 with clean margins, about 3 and a half years ago. It took me a while to get over the "c" word, and the spot looks different than before the surgery, the hair never grew back, but now I look at it and am thankful it's gone and my baby is still here.

 

[Cami]

I am exactly where you are right now. My girl just had a grade one with clean margins removed less than 2 weeks ago.
Cancer is war....arm yourself with as much information as possible and help your Boxer to fight!
We were also told that no other treatment would be necessary. I am doing as much research on MCT's that I can find. There are days worth of sites online to help you to understand what you are dealing with. It is somewhat reassuring when you feel as if you are actually doing something.
We still need to go in to have stitches removed and I will be asking multiple questions on different protocols that I have learned about over the past 2 weeks. My vet is also interested in me providing him with information on the Budwig Protocol for cancer patients.
Offer the best foods, make sure Cassius has plenty of exercise, he stays at a good weight and most of all he remains free of stress and the happiest Boxer he can be.

 

[lovemygracie]

My first boxer love (my friend's boxer girl) had the same diagnosis (grade 1 MCT, clean margins) a year or more ago. I cried when I heard that news and she isn't even my dog so it seems completely reasonable to me that you are shaken up and sad! The vet removed her MCT and she has been fine since. Good luck to you and Cassius.

 

[SuzanneC]

Cookie had a low-grade 2 MCT removed with clean margins last March. With no further treatment, she has had no recurrence. Had it been a high-grade 2, I probably would have treated her with Vinblastine. Straight from the mouth of a veterinary oncologists, the prognosis for Boxers with MCT is BETTER than for other breeds with the same grade of MCT. They don't know WHY that is, bit it's statistically true.

Information I have posted in several threads on MCT in the past, (including this one):
Some mast cell tumors (histologic grades I and II) can be cured by complete excision with wide margins (<2-3 cm). For tumors that are not completely excised, or are in areas that are not amenable to surgery, radiation treatment can be performed, with a reported local control rate of 68% at one year. Chemotherapy with vincristine is also sometimes used. In one study, with surgery alone, dogs with grade II tumors had a survival rate of 44% at 1500 days post-surgery.

For people like me who aren't great with math on the fly, 1500 days is more than 4.1 years! Keep in mind that statistic includes dogs of all ages, so if you ignore the dogs in that study who died of old age, the percentage gets even higher.

 

[alohaboxer!]

Thanks for all of your reassuring words you guys.
This completely caught us by surprise especially because he's only 2.
I'm doing all of the research I can, I just want to make sure I do everything necessary to keep him cancer free. Thanks again for all of your kindness and concern! I'm still all ears if there are any more stories out there!

Big Mahalo to all!

 

[Valencia]

Jody just had a grade 1 mct removed in November, with 2 subsequent surgeries following (one to further dock the tail, the site of the mct, and one to stop uncontrolled bleeding from the surgical site). Since, then, he's been doing really well - no recurrances of the mct. He has an allergy problem that started at the same time as the mct, which followed a hystiocytoma, but the vets say it isn't related. They did say, however, that to watch for ANY lumps or bumps, and get him back in, pronto. Other than that, no follow up necessary. I thought that was kind of odd, too. I guess they know we are watching them like hawks, and will take the necessary precautions. All we can do is love them every day, and watch out for them. ((hugs))