SCARED - mast cell tumor.

[MyGirlLayla]

Hey guys/gals,

Took Layla to the vet today and she has a "blister" looking bump on her jaw that the vet thinks might be a mast cell tumor.

Im extremely scared right now. I just started grad school and I have enough to worry about. I really want her to be okay. She means THE WORLD to me.

Does anyone know the survival rates and any other helpful info?

Thanks.

 

[djheitz]

It all depends on the grade and the extent. Roxi had one on her rear left leg two years ago. It started out looking like a small pimple, and grew slowly. At the time, we had no idea boxers were prone to this type of cancer, or we would have gotten her there sooner. The vet removed it -- they will always take an inch or two of skin from the area as well. She did very well, with no recurrence in that leg. The scar tissue is ugly, but she's still with us! She now has a much smaller one on her right front leg, which we will remove soon.

Don't panic yet -- have it looked at first. The vet can either biopsy it or just remove it and test it then. Either way, do your research so you know the right questions to ask.

 

[paulws]

Hi,
Research has shown that although Boxers tend to get MCT's they usually do not get the aggressive type. Bella had an MCT on her ear (looked like a wart) for over a year before it was removed. It was still a grade 1. Usually if the surgeon gets clean margins when they remove the tumor your baby is considered cancer free. Bella had her MCT removed by a surgeon and has a scar on her ear but is doing great. Six months after removal she had a blood test called a buffy smear test which can measure if she has any cancer cells in her blood. She had none. Some vets recommend giving Benedryl everyday to MCT survivors, because MCT's give off Hystimine. Talk to your vet or see a specialist. Of all the types of cancer I think that MCT's are very curable if removed cleanly.Good luck with your baby.
Lynne

 

[Cami]

Mast cell tumors of the head/face are more likely to be of a higher stage. They are also harder to remove with clean margins due to their location and not a lot of extra skin to deal with. That being said unless it is removed and sent to a pathologist there is no guaranteed way to know what it is exactly.

Don't go into worry-overdrive until you have all of the facts.

MCT's in the jaw area are pretty RARE. It could be so many other things......benign things that will self resolve on their own. OR it could also be a MCT of a lower grade and removal with clean margins is indeed a "cure" (of that specific tumor).

The younger a dog is when it first represents with a MCT the more likely they are to continue to get them.

My girl was 2 years old when she got her first one. She has had five in total. All were eventually removed with clean margins. All but one were grade 1's. One was a grade 2/advanced. She is five years old and since she doesn't know she has cancer I am not going to tell her. The scars she has are the only evidence. She has never once acted sick from her cancer. We suspect she has another two but MCT's are funny acting things and sometimes we can't even find these additional two tiny lumps. So we wait.

How long has she had this lump? Does it get bigger and then get smaller? Is she itching at all (not only the lump) but anywhere more than "normal"?

What does your vet say is the next plan of action? The faster it is removed the better it will be for her if it is cancer. Less chance for it to metastasize. Did he/she do a needle aspirate? Even though this is a good idea it also can show false positives. Any lump can have mast cells included in it. Our blood and tissue have mast cells roaming around and will head to a specific area when needed. It's only when they all head to a certain place and "over-react" that they form mast cell tumors.

 

[Chiefsmom]

Chief had what appeared to the vet to be a MCT and after surgery it was found to be a histiocytoma (non cancerous). Fingers Crossed. Keep us posted! Layla is in our thoughts and prayers! What's the next step?????

 

[Cainsmommy]

Lumps and Bumps are so scary! I hope all goes well with your baby. Please keep up posted!! positive{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{vibes}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} going to you guys from my boys!!

 

[Gruntsmom]

Sending lots of hopeful and positive thoughts for Layla. It's good that you're having the bump checked and hopefully it is nothing serious. Keep us posted please.

 

[buffylvangel]

Rest

My Belle had a grade 1 removed from her side almost 2 years ago. She's had no reoccurance. I give her 2, 25 mg millagram Benadryl twice daily. Also she gets 1 10 mg Pepcid twice per day. The Bendaryl inhibits histamine release and the Pepcid helps to prevent mast cells in her GI track.

The Pepcid also prevents "empty tummy" vomiting syndrome that some boxers get. Feed her a late meal just before bedtime.

I think you've caught it early and are reacting quickly. Everything will be ok.

 

[sasmeow]

When Izzy was about 9-10 months old, my vet thought that she had an MCT. She had a few bumps. They removed them, one from her leg, and one from her neck (she has scars), and they turned out to just be "allergic dermatitis". She had another, larger one on her ear, a few months later, and it was just a histocytoma. The bumps looked exactly like an MCT. So, don't worry too much until you know what it is. It might just be nothing, like my baby Izzy. For the first 18 months of her life, she was always an itchy, bumpy girl, but now she is doing really good. She rarely gets her "itchy bumps".

 

[auntthelm]

Just wanted you to know that you and Layla are in my thoughts and prayers.