Mast Cell Tumor

[Apollo1025]

Last week I noticed a lump on Apollo's neck and took him into the Vet for it to be aspirated. While there I mentioned a second bump on his neuticles (He's fixed, so they're not really testicles anymore) that we'd had them look at about 6 months prior that hadn't changed, but hadn't gone away either. She was more concerned about this one and aspirated it also. At that point she thought it could be a mast cell tumor and reccommended removal.

On Friday we had the surgery and they took a wide margin and were able to get clean lines. She called today with the test results and it is a Grade 2 Mast Cell Tumor. She recommended a chest x-ray, since if it has spread, it's most likely in his lungs, she also recommended contacting an oncologist regardless of the x-ray results. He goes in Tuesday for the x-ray.

I'm trying to stay positive but I can't even imagine something happening to him. If anyone has any good websites, a list of questions I should be asking my Vet, things to watch for, first hand (positive only please!!) experience with this it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[crowpete]

I just wanted to say that Apollo is in my prayers. Please keep us posted and I am sorry that I do not have any advice to give just positive prayers!

 

[magsp]

I am always surprised at how little primary care vets sometimes know about certain diseases. .. cancer being one of them. It is certainly a good idea to check for spread of the tumor, but the mast cell tumors are extremely unlikely to spread to the lungs. Their route for spread starts with the local lymph nodes, then the regional lymph nodes, then bone marrow, liver and spleen. A chest x-ray may not be a bad idea, but your dog should be having tests that would check for spread to those areas for sure. He might need to have his local lymph nodes aspirated, a abdominal x-ray or CAT scan, etc.

Mast cell tumors tend to be quite treatable when found early before they spread. Try not to worry too much. My dog had a grade II removed from the same area -- his prepuce though not his neuticals (never hear that word before -- it cracked me up). He had dirty margins, so he needed follow up treatment. We opted for radiation. He is now almost two years post treatment and doing fine -- no recurrence/no new tumors (knock on wood).

Some of the more important things to know about mast cell tumors are: 1. the grade of the tumor (you already know it's a 2), 2. if the surgical margins were clean, and 3. if it has spread. Once you know the answers to these questions, then you can decide if any further treatment is necessary. Often, if margins are clean, no further treatment is recommended for tumors that are graded I or II.

Best of luck to you. Think positively and be proud of the fact that you pursued the removal of this lump and gotten take care of quickly.

 

[kassa]

Think positive! I have a bitch who was diagnosed with mast cell at 2 years old -- just had her sixth birthday yesterday. We simply removed the tumor. There was no sign that it had spread to the lymph nodes, and we rejected the regular vet's plea to amputate her leg and subject her to months of radiation.

I wouldn't close my mind to those options, but to do any of them as PREVENTATIVE measures seemed extreme. And, frankly, doing the radiation probably would have killed her, whereas doing nothing did not.

Take it slow and see what happens. Boxers get more cancers than other breeds, but they also bounce back from them better than other breeds.

 

[Slobber Baby]

I have no experience with this but Bubba, Bella and myself are sending healthy vibes..good luck and keep us posted!

Laura

 

[mtoo]

I just took Odin in to our vet today because of a small lump that appeared on his leg a week or so ago. He has been licking at it because he already has a bit of an obsession about licking his leg and caused it to bleed this morning.

My vet said it could be a mast cell tumor but didn't act like it was a big deal. Usually they are removed and that's the end of it. He said in all the years he has practiced there were only two occasions where the dog was ultimately euthanized because of mast cell.

He also said they would spread to the lymph nodes first and that typically they are slow to spread.

Trust me, it makes me a little nervous too. I lost my last dog to cancer last September and the word tumor will always strike a little fear in my heart.

Kerri

 

[Apollo1025]

Thanks to you all.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I contacted the Vet yesterday to get a bit more information so that we could make an educated decision on the next step. We don't want to submit Apollo to any unneccesary invasive tests, yet we want to be thorough in making sure that the tumor removal is that last of this for now.

The surgical margins were clean so the Vet isn't concerned about it at this point. We are going forward with the X-ray on Tuesday as planned and also doing a Buffy Coat Smear (?) which will show if it has spread to the white blood cells. If that's clean, we're in the clear. He does have another bump on his neck that they're going to aspirate while we're there just to make sure. It looks and feels like a fatty tumor, but better safe than sorry.

Thanks again, We appreciate it!

 

[Elyse]

Melanie, I am so sorry you and Apollo are going through this. Although I don't have any info or experience with this, I wanted to send some positve vibes and some great big ((((hugs)))) from Nestle, Porter and I. You and Apollo will be in our thoughts. Good luck Tuesday and please keep us posted.

 

[Austin's Mom]

My Austin had a grade 2 removed 3 years ago. We didn't need to do any further tests or treatments since there were clean margins. He's been fine ever since. (Thank God) Hope your baby is ok.

 

[Apollo1025]

Woo Hoo.. Party today at my house!

Thanks everyone for the boxer vibes... Apollo went into the Vet yesterday to have his sutures removed and everything is healing very nicely.

While there the Vet ran the Buffy Coat Smear and called this morning with wonderful news that there is no sign of Mast Cells in the blood!! She also ran a chest Xray yesterday and there are no masses!! He did have another small mass on his chest that I asked them to aspirate while he was there. She saw a few cells and has sent it off for tests, but wasn't concerned about it. The test results should be in by tomorrow.

We're all very happy here today and will be celebrating for a few days yet!