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Animal
House Folly
Farm Blog
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Lymphosarcoma is also known as lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's' lymphoma. It is one of the most common cancers treated in practice. Many different species develop Lymphosarcoma. The most common form of Lymphosarcoma in dogs is that which starts in the lymph nodes. Your dog may feel fine and have no clinical symptoms other than enlarged lymph nodes. Usually the first place this is noticed is under the jaw. Other forms of Lymphosarcoma can start in the chest, abdomen, bone marrow, or skin. FACT: In advanced cases, the cancer can spread, which vets call “metastasize”, to involve multiple sites. DIAGNOSIS Because Lymphosarcoma can spread to almost any tissue in the body, a thorough work-up needs to be done to determine stage of disease. This lets us know how advanced the disease has become and ultimately helps us decide what treatment would be most beneficial. Typically, staging includes the following tests.
It is not always necessary to do all of the tests listed above, however, these help give us an indication of the stage of your pet’s cancer and his/her general health and ability to undergo treatment. STAGES Lymphosarcoma is staged from Stage I to Stage V. Stage I disease means that the cancer is confined to only one lymph node. State I is rarely diagnosed in pets. Stage II refers to cancer in more than one node but in one region of the body. Stage III refers to cancer in nodes generalized in the body. Stage IV means disease is not only in the nodes but also in the spleen or liver. Stage V refers to all of the above plus cancer in the bone marrow, blood or other sites not listed above. There is also a sub classification of “A” or “B”. “A” means that the patient is not ill with the disease while “B” means that the patient is showing clinical symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fluid in the lungs, etc. Stage IIIA is usually the earliest we detect the disease in dogs. Even higher stages of Lymphosarcoma are very treatable. TREATMENT Chemotherapy – means “chemical” treatment and refers to drug therapy. Anti-cancer drugs can be administered intravenously, subcutaneously or even orally depending on the drug chosen. Fortunately, animals tolerate these treatments far better than people. The incidence of side effects tends to be less than 5 percent. Will there be hair loss? In general, no. Exceptions include Poodles, which are at risk for chemotherapy induced hair loss. Old English Sheepdogs are also at higher risk. If any hair is lost, it will regrow after treatment is stopped. While Lymphosarcoma is a very treatable disease, it is not a curable disease. What are chances of remission and how long will it last? It does depend on the TYPE of Lymphosarcoma present, but in general, greater than 90% of dogs will achieve a complete remission. The average length of remission is 8-12 months. What happens after my pet comes out of remission? Your pet can be retreated at that time. Second and third remissions are always possible. Cost of treatment – Treatment costs can start at $500 and reach $2,000 for larger pets. The Oncology Service at OVRS is involved in funded clinical trials. Our goal is treating Lymphosarcoma is to give your pet not only quantity of time but more important quality time. RENAL LYMPHOSARCOMA Renal Lymphosarcoma is the term used when the kidneys are the primary site of involvement. Signs include those of kidney dysfunction/failure; initially cats drink and urinate a lot. Later, cats lose their appetite, vomit and become depressed. MEDIASTINAL LYMPHOSARCOMA The Mediastinum is a term used for “lymph” tissue near the heart and lungs. These cats have difficulty breathing because the cancer forms a “tumor” mass in their chest or causes excess fluid to accumulate around their lungs. BONE MARROW LYMPHOSARCOMA: LEUKEMIA If the cancer was confined to the bone marrow, it would be called Leukemia. The signs seen would relate to the type of blood cell affected in the bone marrow. The bone marrow normally makes red blood cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that fight infection and platelets that help blood to clot. A decreased number of these cells as a result of Leukemia would cause: anemia, infections, and bleeding disorders respectively. DIAGNOSIS Diagnosis is confirmed by a tissue biopsy, which is a microscopic examination of tissue from the specific site involved. To completely evaluate a dog suspected of having this type of cancer, a detailed exam is necessary to determine whether or not the cancer has spread to involve any other areas of the body. Veterinary cancer specialists (Oncologists) refer to this as “STAGING”. Diagnostic Procedures used to ‘STAGE” the cancer include:
Once the extent of the cancer is determined by ‘STAGING”, the best treatment can be determined. TREATMENT Ninety percent of dogs treated with chemotherapy go into remission, which means the cancer is no longer detectible. Remission is not a cure, but it does allow good quality of life. Eight to Ten Months is the average remission and survival time. Unlike humans, less than five percent of dogs experience serious side effects from Chemotherapy, which can include:
Dogs don’t lose their hair like people (except Poodles, Old English Sheepdogs) do with Chemotherapy, but some do lose their whiskers. COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENTS CANCER DIETS A good diet and a multi-vitamin mineral supplement are standard for most cases. NUTRACEUTICALS, HORMONES, HERBS AND OTHER SUPPLEMENTS There are quite a few considerations that go into designing a supplement program for a cancer patient.
Below is a brief listing of supplements that may be helpful with cancer treatment. No doses are provided because every animal should receive an individual evaluation. Full spectrum supplements like VitaLife are very beneficial for most canine cancer patients. SUPPLEMENTS TO CONSIDER Look for the * - these are considered essential supplements:
IMMUNESTIMULANTS:
HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT OF CANCER There are veterinarians who specialize in homeopathic treatment, and those who have a special interest in homeopathic treatment of cancer. Any pet owner considering homeopathic cancer treatment should consult a homeopathic veterinarian. This is a brief list of some homeopathic agents often used in cancer treatments and this prescription is best left to the specialists.
Homeopathic: no food ten minutes before or after
Copyright (c) 2006 Dr Carol Osborne D.V.M. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Please do not copy in any manner, print or electronic, without permission from the author.
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