Does Anyone Has Experience With Mast Cell Tumors

[Guest keegsmom]

Billy Jack, a senior lab mix at our sanctuary, has been diagnosed with mast cell cancer after having several lumps removed from his chest. The vet is recommending chemo and removal of the other lumps. I have mixed feelings about this. At his age, Billy Jack is not likely to be adoptable but he is a perpetually happy boy who loves playing in the hose, suppertime, socializing with his human and canine friends, and in general just being alive. He was an owner surrender and he quickly became a shelter favorite because of his sunny disposition. He never meets a stranger and always has a big goofy grin on his face. If the chemo is just going to make him miserable in his last weeks I would rather say goodbye to him while he is still happy and comfortable. But if he has a reasonable chance to spend more quality time with us I don't want to give up on him. Has anyone else had experience with this form of cancer? Other than the lumps, he seems fine but they are increasing in size rapidly. I just want the best for him.

[Guest koolaidnconner]

No experiance but prayers and thoughts are with you and Billy Jack

[Guest mecki]

No experience...just big prayers being sent for Billy Jack.

[RobinM]

No expereince with that type of cancer (Thank GOD) howver I can share with you what the chemo is like for my Polli who is 29 days shy of her 10th birthday (but who's counting).

 

She was dx with ostero on Oct. 9 and has had 3 chemos treatments since then.

 

After chemo she is not misreable. Laid back, a bit more tired than normal and not hungry. She is not a greyt eater to begin with. She still loves to snuggle and give and recieve love. This lasts on and off for 3-5 days after chemo and her protocol of chemo is carboplatin every 3weeks.

 

Prayers for this sweet boy.

Edited December 3, 2008 by RobinM

[Guest SueG201]

Are you sure it is a mast cell tumor, my greyhound was diagnosed with that years ago, and

afte they biopsied it , it turned out to be a histiocytoma, non cancerous

[cowpantslady]

unfortunately our chester died of mast cell

for him it was very aggressive and very painful

we would have done anything to keep him but he would cry in pain

just make sure it is mast cell and if it we would do the chemo

hugs to billy jack

[Hubcitypam]

I think you have already answered your own question and from what you say about the rapidly increasing size of the lumps it is scary. A question might be does your sanctuary have free vet care? If not, how many more dogs could you save if you let Billy go on with much love and many prayers? You are the only one that can make the call.

 

 

[Guest KelseysLackey]

Kelsey had a Mast Cell Tumor surgically removed several years ago and has done fine since. However, she only had the one and it was relatively small and somewhat slow growing. My recollection from the research I did at the time, and the comments from the Vet, is that it is a highly variable disease, but the more locations and the faster the growth, the worse the prognosis. The vet told a story of one dog that kept getting Mast Cell Tumors on his paw, always in the same locations, and they kept removing them, without much issue. Sadly, your situation sounds much different.

 

Also, FWIW - like SueG201's hound, Kelsey has also had several histiocytomas. Since she had the Mast Cell Tumor, we have been more aggressive in dealing with any lumps or bumps, so we have had a couple removed as a precaution that turned out to be benign.

 

Best of luck to Billy Jack.

Edited December 4, 2008 by KelseysLackey

[Guest benson]

Our retriever mix, Buttercup, had MCTs. I rescued her from the pound in March, 2005. A couple of days later is when I noticed the funny little lumps covering her chest. The biopsy said they were MCT grade II with no clean margins. She had too many lumps to remove them all. She would have looked like a patchwork quilt. Radiation was out of the question. We treated her with prednisone which was supposed to inhibit the growth of new tumors and shrink the existing tumors.

 

In July an ultrasound revealed a large abdominal mass which invaded her liver. We did not do a biopsy this time. We just assumed the MCTs had moved internally. At the point our Vet said look at her she doesn't know she is sick. Take her home let her eat whatever she wants to eat. She'll let you know when it's time. We helped her to the bridge in September. Buttercup lived 3 1/2 years from the time she was diagnosed. Up until her last day she was happy and lived in the moment. We have a video of her walking on the beach the day before she left us.

 

The vet who did the first biopsy had put his own dog with MCTs to sleep two weeks before he met Buttercup. He said he had quite a few owners who opted to do chemo but regretted it later. It was his personal experience that helped me decided to treat Buttercup with prednisone. Quality of life was always the primary objective. When Butter was under stress her lumps would pop up but they would also shrink once she calmed down.

 

My suggestion would be to treat him with Prednisone. The lumps will not go away but they may shrink in size. I would also ask for some liver support supplement. We gave Butter something called Hepato-Support purchased from the Vet. If possible I would ask for a chest x-ray and/or an abdominal ultrasound to determine if it has spread.

 

Like Buttercup it sounds like Billy Jack doesn't know he's sick. That's the most important thing. He'll let you know when he's ready to go. Thank you for loving that guy.

[tbhounds]

Did they say what grade the tumors were and did the Drs get wide clean margins?? I'm assuming they were grade 3 because chemo was recommended. Grade 1 tumors are almost considered benign--remove them with clean margins and your done. Grade 2 tumors can either act like 1's or they can act like 3's--there is a test to determine that. I would get x-ray's to see if the chest is clear of mets and you could have an ultrasound preformed too (although I'm sure finance's might be a consideration here).

Ask your Dr about using Benadryl--may help too. It's a tough call but, if they are grade 3's the outlook doesn't look to promising. I'm sure you'll make the right decision for him--thank you for loving him.

[Guest keegsmom]

Thank you all for your replies. It is so difficult. My personal opinion right now is to continue the prednisone and try some nutritional support--I like the idea of the liver supplements and any other dietary changes that might help. But its something my rescue partner and I will have to come to an agreement on. I have heard that giving an all meat diet is helpful, but then again, I don't know. Seems it couldn't hurt, and Billy Jack would enjoy it. He certainly doesnt seem sick right now--he loves his food.

We do have to consider the cost. Our vets do give us a discount, but still the costs mount up quickly. If sweet Billy Jack felt bad or acted sick, it would be so much easier to make the decision. But he's the same happy go lucky guy except for all those nasty lumps. I have always wondered how his former owner could give him up, just abandon him like a sack of trash. Whatever happens from now on out, I am thankful I have had the chance to know him and love him.

 

[Guest greyvettech]

Unfortuntely, we see a fair amount of histopathology reports come back as mast cell- The prognosis and treatment often depends on the grade of the cancer. If it is grade II or above, we often refer to a internal medicine specialist- If it is grade I and the owners choose conservative treatment, a six week course of prednisone is often prescibed. Prednisone also refered to as the 'silver bullet' -never give up until you try prednisone... It is considered a form of Chemotherapy for cancer patients. As it is a steroid, the side effects include weight gain,excessive drinking/urinating and increased appetite..It is always worth a try...ask your vet more about it.. Opps I just noticed you said he is on Pred... I would stick with that..supplements can't hurt either:) It's a tough call concerning more aggressive chemo.. The side effects just might not be worth it to him... it's hard to say ..more of a personal choice

Edited December 4, 2008 by greyvettech

[Guest Greytluv]

Geena, our Springer had MCT. We had it removed with clean margins. She had other lumps removed but we only had that one biopsied. The vet said that was the only one that looked questionable. My sweet girl lived 5 years after with no recurrences. She went to the Bridge at 16. Here's my girl.

 

[Guest vahoundlover]

What ever you decide, I know you will do it out of love. Thank you for taking care of Billy Jack.

[Guest jettcricket]

....yes, unfortunately I have. That's what took my precious boy, Jett, from me. Jett had some small surface tumors removed that came back as grade ones, which was good. Then a few months later I felt a lump under his armpit. I took him to a specialist and they removed it. It was another mast cell tumor that came back as a grade 3. Not good.

 

We did do chemo, with prednisone and benedryl. Jett had no ill effects from it and had good quality up until a few days before we lost him. Unfortunately he started getting multiple skin tumors, which became ulcerated and bloody. My beautiful boy....such an ugly cancer.

 

He was diagnosed last December and we lost Jett in May of the following year.

 

Whatever you do I wish you the best of luck!

 

Linda

Edited December 4, 2008 by jettcricket

[Guest BoogieDown]

We had a lab mix that had it. It was slow-growing, we had it removed, and it always came back. We had it hacked out of her three times. We really never considered chemo; we discussed it with the 3rd surgery, but by that time, my sweet girl was 12 years old. She left us when she was 14; it had recurred - again - but frankly, by that time her health was failing anyway. She didn't die from it, but she had a pretty large mass again when she did pass away.

 

Good luck, and our thoughts are with Billy Jack!