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Back From The Vet With Cruz


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Dr. Watkins did a needle aspiration (left front leg) in the office and feels it's a mast cell tumor. My heart sank when he said it. He's painting an optimistic picture and says most of the ones he has removed have never come back, but from what I've read here it sounds bad. I've got to schedule the surgery to have it removed and biopsied. I had to come home to sort it out because I felt so numb getting the news I just couldn't do it right then.

 

I don't want to say I can't handle this ... I've handled some bad stuff, but I just don't want to. I'm tired of handling everything all by myself. :cry1 I guess I'm sort of falling apart here.

 

Any advice?

Cynthia, & Cristiano, galgo
Always in my heart: Frostman
Newdawn Frost, Keno Jet Action & Chloe (NGA racing name unknown), Irys (galgo), Hannah (weim), Cruz (galgo), & Carly CW Your Charming

Princess http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=1018857

"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." -- Unknown

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Guest Energy11

A lot of times, these types of tumors are totally removed. Our friend's grey had one on her tummy. It was removed when she was about 7, and she lived to be over 12!

 

Hang in there and try to think positive thoughts! :-) Love and hugs!

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:goodluck and :grouphug

Standard Poodle Daisy (12/13), Grey Toodles (BL Toodles 7/09)
Missing Cora (RL Nevada 5/99-10/09), Piper (Cee Bar Easy 2/99-1/10), Tally (Thunder La La 9/99-3/10), Edie (Daring Reva 9/99-10/12), Dixie (Kiowa Secret Sue 11/01-1/13), Jessie (P's Real Time 11/98-3/13), token boy Graham (Zydeco Dancer 9/00-5/13), Cal (Back Already 12/99-11/13), Betsy (Back Kick Beth 11/98-12/13), Standard Poodles Minnie (1/99-1/14) + Perry (9/98-2/14), Annie (Do Marcia 9/03-10/14), Pink (Miss Pinky Baker 1/02-6/15), Poppy (Cmon Err Not 8/05-1/16), Kat (Jax Candy 5/05-5/17), Ivy (Jax Isis 10/07-7/21), Hildy (Braska Hildy 7/10-12/22), Opal (Jax Opal 7/08-4/23)

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My Kelsey had one on her tail and we had it amputated....she had two on her tummy and we had them removed....they were all Type 2. She has had no other problems and believe me I check her religiously. Can't they tell for sure from the aspirate?

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Guest 3greysinPA

i just wanted to say that I have no experience with this mast cell tumor.. but try to hold it together... take a deep breath... you are stronger than you realize and try to think optimistically ... we are here for you ! YOU ARE NOT ALONE :bighug ... sending you many many hugs across the miles.. and sending good thoughts to your hound. :hope:hope:candle:candle

 

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Dr. Watkins did a needle aspiration (left front leg) in the office and feels it's a mast cell tumor. My heart sank when he said it. He's painting an optimistic picture and says most of the ones he has removed have never come back, but from what I've read here it sounds bad. I've got to schedule the surgery to have it removed and biopsied. I had to come home to sort it out because I felt so numb getting the news I just couldn't do it right then.

 

 

Pfizer has developed a drug, Palladia, for treatment of canine mast cell cancer. You might want to see an oncologist to see if it's available.

 

Press Release for Canine Cancer Drug

 

"Pfizer said it would begin selling Palladia in early 2010, but will make the oral drug available to certain veterinary oncology specialists prior to that."

 

You and Cruz are in my thoughts and prayers.

Lin, with Nick the Greyhound
Missing my girls Nadia, Tallulah, Cinderella, and my heart-dog Alexa, and my precious boys Twister, Loki, and Kevin

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Guest grey_dreams

Cynthia I'm so sorry to hear this! Just remember to breathe, and take things one at a time. Cruz needs you to be strong. Lots of hugs to you. You have all the support you need right here on GT!

 

Zuki sends Cruz a big beam of white light and all best wishes.

 

:grouphug:candle:hope

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Thank you for your encouragement everyone. I was so overwhelmed when I posted last night. I had to take Carly in for a thyroid panel yesterday and called at the last minute to see if I could bring Cruz in too. For the past 24 hours he'd been licking a penny sized spot on his leg and it was looking angry and inflammed. I had not even noticed it until the night before and only noticed it because he was licking it like crazy. It didn't occur to me that it was anything serious (I guess my mind just didn't want to go there) so when Dr. W said with a grim expression that he wanted to do a needle aspiration I just lost it and numbed out. He seemed pretty sure it's a mast cell tumor, but it needs to be removed so that can be confirmed and it can be graded.

 

I just called his office to ask a few additional questions that I didn't have mental capacity to ask yesterday. He's going to call me back and then I'll schedule the surgery.

 

There's not much skin on his foreleg -- not sure how he'll cut it out and have enough skin to close it over. He said something about a Z incision, so I suppose that's what he was talking about. Ok, I'm rambling here ... still not as together as I'd like to be about this, but doing better than I was last night.

 

Thanks again for your support. I'll post when the surgery is scheduled and in the meantime, please share any other info you may have that I may need to know. And all good thoughts are greatly appreciated. :)

Cynthia, & Cristiano, galgo
Always in my heart: Frostman
Newdawn Frost, Keno Jet Action & Chloe (NGA racing name unknown), Irys (galgo), Hannah (weim), Cruz (galgo), & Carly CW Your Charming

Princess http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=1018857

"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." -- Unknown

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Okay, I didn't fall apart and I managed to schedule Cruz's surgery for Wednesday. He'll have pre-anesthesia bloodwork in the morning and if all looks well the tumor will be removed from his leg and sent to the lab. Then I have to wait for the pathology report. No doubt I'll be a wreck again by Wednesday. I won't be able to concentrate on anything all day at work. I think if you'll send us good thoughts that will help a lot.

 

Here's my sweet galgito. He's such a love.

 

100_0396.jpg

Cynthia, & Cristiano, galgo
Always in my heart: Frostman
Newdawn Frost, Keno Jet Action & Chloe (NGA racing name unknown), Irys (galgo), Hannah (weim), Cruz (galgo), & Carly CW Your Charming

Princess http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=1018857

"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." -- Unknown

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My Bridge angel Molly had a tumor removed from her leg and there was no skin to cover the wound. The vet had me use Facilitator on the wound daily to help the wound heal. You could see the improvement daily.

link to Facilitator

 

Sending prayers for Cruz. :hope

Edited by Greytlady94

Greyhound angels at the bridge- Casey, Charlie, Maggie, Molly, Renie, Lucy & Teddy. Beagle angels Peanut and Charlie. And to all the 4 legged Bridge souls who have touched my heart, thank you. When a greyhound looks into you eyes it seems they touch your very soul.

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more then he loves himself". Josh Billings

siggie-7.jpg

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He is so, so handsome. I'm keeping you and him in my thoughts and my fingers are tightly crossed for his surgery :goodluck :goodluck :candle

large.sig-2024.jpg.80c0d3c049975de29abb0

Kerry with Lupin in beautiful coastal Maine. Missing Pippin, my best friend and sweet little heart-healer :brokenheart 2013-2023 :brokenheart 
Also missing the best wizard in the world, Merlin, and my sweet 80lb limpet, Sagan, every single day. 

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My Bridge angel Molly had a tumor removed from her leg and there was no skin to cover the wound. The vet had me use Facilitator on the wound daily to help the wound heal. You could see the improvement daily.

link to Facilitator

 

Sending prayers for Cruz. :hope

 

Oh, thank you for this, Greytlady94! I have been really concerned about this. The visible part of the tumor is now about the size of a nickle (the size seems to chance daily) and it is on his foreleg closer to the wrist than the elbow -- very bony, little skin there. The vet mentioned a Z-type (?) incision when I asked about there being enough skin to cover it, but I'll be sure and ask about this product.

Edited by galgrey

Cynthia, & Cristiano, galgo
Always in my heart: Frostman
Newdawn Frost, Keno Jet Action & Chloe (NGA racing name unknown), Irys (galgo), Hannah (weim), Cruz (galgo), & Carly CW Your Charming

Princess http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=1018857

"It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them. And every new dog who comes into my life, gifts me with a piece of their heart. If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are." -- Unknown

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Guest BiancasMom

My Basset had a total of 3 mast cell tumors removed. All were 7mm or smaller. The first one was a Grade II, about 6months later I found another, also Grade II. The third one was on her pinna (ear flap). She had about 2/3rds of her ear removed (had a lot of ear to spare!). This one although small like the others was a Grade III. Her lymph nodes, chest, spleen all checked out clear for metastisis at that time so I chose to not pursue chemo. Palladia was not available at this time since it was about 4 years ago. Approximately 18 months later, we found a tumor on her liver and FNA's revealed the cancer had spread. I attempted chemo at that time but she only made it another couple months. In total she made it about 3 years after the first tumor was found. I have, however, seen plenty of dogs who have just one Grade II removed (most common grade) and live long healthy lives without another incidence. My dog was not a canidate for radiation, as all her tumors were in places where they could be completely excised. She had a lot of extra skin and none of hers were on her limbs. The excisions were quite radical considering the size of the tumors. About 5 cm of tissue surrounding the tumors was removed. If I had to do it again, I would definitely do the surgery and possibly radiation if necessary. I feel her quality of life was still excellent even after the surgeries. Good luck with your grey, I know how difficult it can be. Make sure if you have your vet remove it, they send it in for histopath so it can be "graded". It makes a difference on the prognosis.

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Guest grey_dreams
Okay, I didn't fall apart and I managed to schedule Cruz's surgery for Wednesday. He'll have pre-anesthesia bloodwork in the morning and if all looks well the tumor will be removed from his leg and sent to the lab. Then I have to wait for the pathology report. No doubt I'll be a wreck again by Wednesday. I won't be able to concentrate on anything all day at work. I think if you'll send us good thoughts that will help a lot.

 

Here's my sweet galgito. He's such a love.

 

100_0396.jpg

 

Beautiful Cruz, we are holding all good thoughts for successful surgery and rapid recovery. :candle:hope

 

Cynthia, I hope they get super-clean margins and chemotherapy (if you decide to go that route) prevents any further occurrence. Lots of hugs for you and Cruz. :grouphug

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