Mia has cancer

[magsp]

Mia's Mast Cell Tumors

My Boston also had a mast cell tumor removed when he was just a year old. Boston's and boxers are very predisposed to these kinds of tumors. His was a grade 2 in the groin (more malignant behavior in this region). He had surgery and radiation for a month. He is now about 1 1/2 years post treatment and is doing great (knock on wood), but I always worry. What I can tell you is that just because your dog has more than one tumor, that in no way means that the cancer has spread. Some dogs simply present with multiple primary tumors. They are treated individually through surgical removal and/or radiation and/or chemotherapy. Grade 1 tumors are the least malignant and are really quite similar to a benign growth. They very rarely spread and can usually be controlled through complete surgical removal. My other dog, a pug, had a grade one removed in september 03 when she was just 3.

Try not to worry too much. You did the best thing by having them removed quickly. Now you just need to keep a sharp eye out for new growths and have them removed or biopsied as you find them. If the current tumors haven't spread to the lymph nodes, the chances are that your dog will be fine. The grade 3 tumors are the really bad ones with the worst prognosis. You just need to keep in mind that dogs that have had one mast cell tumor are more likely to develop more in the future -- just be vigilant. That's what I do with my two with history of mast cell tumors.

Good luck!

 

[Mama_Zookeeper]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!!

You guys have no idea how much your understanding & healing vibes mean to me & Miss Stinky Mia. I know she is a boston terror, but she is my little girl & I love her so much.

I have calmed down quite a bit after much reading...I had no idea so many of you guys out there have already gone through so many mast cell tumors! What a horrible affliction! Mia needs to have some blood work & x-rays done tomorrow and once this has been evaluated by my vet and the oncology vet we will meet to discuss a plan of action. At this point due to what I have read I am not leaning towards radiation unless the tests show it has spread. I think by removing these two other tumors and being very vigilant we should be ok. At this point I am more upset over her poor belly, it is covered with the horrible red rash from the latex tape...a couple of spots look raw. I did break down and put some neosporin on because it looked so painful, and it is slowly healing. Anyone have anything on Vitamin C...I read I can give supplements, but for a 26 lb baby I am not sure how much.

My 6 yr old wanted to shave Mia completely to check her all over...I had to break it to him that Miss Mia would look absolutely crazy bald, but we can rub her every night to check for bumps. Now I need to hide all the clippers and razors before he decides to do this himself! His dad told him if he shaves Mia we will shave him...I think he was a little too excited and ready to do this!

Thank You again, Dora

 

[Shanz]

We had tumours removed from our gsd (mammary tumours), they went in to remove one and found another in behind it. She came out ok, they were benign (caused by her not being fixed...over active hormones) Anyhow, shes been fine since nothing has popped up. Only problem is, she keeps licking her stomach, the surgery was done in September and the fur hasnt grown back yet. She keeps infecting herself from licking. But we cant put a cone on her because she thrashes around wildy trying to get it off, dont want her to get hurt. I keep telling my parents to get vet wrap but they dont.

Im sure Mia will be ok

 

[RiggoD]

Shanz,

You said she keeps infecting herself from licking? I never heard of that. When you say infecting is that noticeable because of open sore, or are his glands up? My boxer Riggo who is battling Lymphoma/Leukemia has been incessantly licking his front paws. Literally looks like he licked the hair off and sometimes they almost look raw.

RiggoD

 

[Shanz]

well, when her stitches were in, she licked constantly and in turn got whatever dirt she hadin her mouth before hand in the incision, then holes opened to drain out the infection, and she licked that too. Now shes still got a lot of bruising barely any hair has grown back and shes all raw.

 

[Mama_Zookeeper]

My boxer Riggo who is battling Lymphoma/Leukemia has been incessantly licking his front paws. Literally looks like he licked the hair off and sometimes they almost look raw.

Do you know what the connection is here? When the vet was putting Mia under for her surgery she mentioned to us she was a little worried over how much the cancer may have spread because she noticed how red Mia's paw pads were. I think those were her exact words.

Mia has always been an allergy sufferer, now that she is eating raw (since July) her paws are not nearly as red as before. Possibly a weakened immune system? I am still wondering how to dose Vitamin C correctly...I keep forgetting to call & ask the vet about that. She is hanging in there very well, making me laugh!

Dora

 

[RiggoD]

Dora,

You have me worried now saying that it might have spread. I'm going to have to ask the oncologist about it on Friday. I was thinking maybe it had to do with an allergic reaction to the chemo.

RiggoD

 

[Mama_Zookeeper]

:( Miss Mia missed her appointment today with the oncologist.

We originally scheduled for the 16th, but I got a call from the office requesting a reschedule due to a surgery the vet needed to be a part of...no big deal. I was actually comforted he was devoting exclusive time to his patient. We rescheduled for today the 23rd. This morning Mia was in the yard and my dad was trimming hedges...he heard screams & yipes. Somehow she got into his work shed and hooked her dew claw onto some netting he had in there. In her struggle she almost completely ripped her nail off. My dad said it was hanging on but he was scared because the whole "quick" was exposed. He said it looked like a red worm sticking out of her paw. He took Mia to our vet and she ended up being there for almost 2 hrs to calm her down (she is very vocal when scared or in pain), controling the bleeding, light anes to make her sleepy enough so the vet could remove the rest of her nail. My dad paid the vet visit (he can't apologize enough for leaving the shed open and feels so bad she missed her appointment) and I called to reschedule again. I had to hug my dad who is completely tough on the outside, but a complete softy on the inside...I know he cried when he found out Mia had cancer. We now have an appointment for next week on the 3rd. I am beginning to think we will never get this done!

To make matters worse I was talking to one of my dentist's at work about Mia's mishap and one of the assistants asked where Mia was suppossed to go. When I said a vet oncologist she had a total look of suprise and said your kidding right. I said no, I walked away as my face was already getting red and swear I heard the word "ridiculous". The assistant did tell me later she wanted to be one of my dogs in her next life, but I did not answer as I had nothing nice to say. The dentist I was talking to is a dog lover and has said she would do the same thing for Fred (her chihuahua) and that I shouldn't strees over the mentally challenged. So I did have to smile!

Needing some good luck BW vibes that this appointment will be kept and all will go well! Mia is now sporting a latex free bandage and could very well win an oscar for best actress in the bitch category in "Dew Claw"...she is hobbling around and actually fell over instead of just laying down to let me know she is miserable! I still love my drama queen.

Dora

 

[shannonlt]

So Sorry!!!

I understand how you want to scream!!! I had to put my beloved Bo to sleep on Monday because of a brain tumor. He couldn't walk without falling or use the bathroom without falling into his own waste. Cancer is horrible to the nth degree and it seems to happen to the owners who care for them the most. I work at a vet and I see dogs that are only brought in when they are on the verge of death. They have never had love or affection, sometimes go days without food and they live to be 14 years old. My Bo would have turned 4 in May, and he never went a month without heartworm and flea/tick meds. I am crying for you because I know (to a degree) where you are now. There was nothing I could do for Bo, but if your vet feels that chemo will help, Go for it! I will pray for you tonight and for many more, because we, pet lovers, grieve for one another and know just how important these babies are to us!!!! God Bless You and your boston!!

 

[craZ4HERKIE]

Poor Miss Mia! I can just imagine the drama! How about we nominate her for an academy award! I'm thinking she really didn't want to go to the oncologist, so she created a painful, yet (she felt) necessary diversion! kisses to mia!