Cancer In Leia's Toe ?

[Batmom]

Still sound thinking .

 

I confess, I'm not a big fan of amputating too quickly when it isn't known what you're dealing with and when some of the unknowns heal faster than an amputation would.

[tbhounds]

Just wanted to mention that while Dr Couto was quoted saying that there is a low incidence of Osteosarcoma in toes there are many other cancers that can present in toes--Mast Cell tumors, Melanoma..... not trying to scare you but lumps on toes are not to be treated lightly. Still hoping this is simply an infection that will clear up shortly

 

Oh, wanted to mention that my Mom also had Renal Cell Carcinoma--thankfully completly excised and today she's doing well.

[patricia]

Sending my prayers for a "nothing"

[Guest Smiley]

Just checking in to see how Leia is doing today . . .

[seeh2o]

Ron, I'm sending good thoughts Leia's way. Hugs to you and your s/o, too.

[Guest 3greysinPA]

hi Ron,,,

how is Princess Leia the beautiful girl today?

[Guest MZH]

A friend's greyhound has had two cancerous toes on one foot at different times. One was a melanoma and the other a hemangiopericytoma. He had one on his side too; I think it was melonoma but I can't swear to it. It was removed ASAP. Then the toe cancers started.

 

The recommendation was to amputate the leg. She refused to do that, thank heavens; a specialist did remove the toes. It's 2+ years later and he's still got four legs! He never had chemo either. The boy's 12 now and that's a miracle to me. I love miracles.

[Guest FordRacingRon]

Just checking in to see how Leia is doing today . . .

 

Leia is doing fine,,thanks for asking. She doesn't know anything is wrong,,she still walks her 4-5 miles a day. After 3 days of antibiotics I see no difference. we think the swelling is going down but the reality of it is we could be imagining it,,wishful thinking. Guess we;ll know better in a week or so.

[Guest Smiley]

Keeping sweet Leia in our thoughts! Keep us posted!

[Guest FordRacingRon]

UPDATE....and I want opinions again.

 

2 weeks of anitbiotics did nothing so when we visited the vet last Tuesday I opted for a FNA rather then an amputation because I had to know. Vet called yesterday with results and the results showed nothing. NO CANCER, no infection, just red blood cells as should be normal. OF course I was so happy to not hear the "C" word I forget to find out everything that is possible. I tried calling in the afternoon and they were already closed. I will get a hold of them MOnday and get a copy of the report.

 

So, the vet decided first, he was glad for now she keeps the toe (as am I). His take is just to watch. The lump hasn't gotten bigger (we think it gets smaller druring the night when she doesn't walk for 9 hours, could be wishful though) and if it stays the same we do nothing. If it gets beigger he is talking a biopsy to take out the lump rather then an amputation because there appears to be nothing wrong bone wise. DOES THIS SEEM RIGHT?

[iluvgreys]

... if it stays the same we do nothing. If it gets beigger he is talking a biopsy to take out the lump rather then an amputation because there appears to be nothing wrong bone wise. DOES THIS SEEM RIGHT?

Makes good sense to me. So glad to hear the no "C" news! Give your sweet girl some extra kisses!

 

 

[Guest Energy11]

Makes good sense to me. Glad to hear it is not the "Big C!"

[SAVED2]

The way we treat toe injuries is on the leash in the yard and no walks for two months , it has always worked.

[seeh2o]

Good news!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

As for treatment, that sounds very reasonable. It doesn't sound like there is any reason to amputate.

Edited November 7, 2009 by ckruzan

[greypuppyluv]

UPDATE....and I want opinions again.

 

2 weeks of anitbiotics did nothing so when we visited the vet last Tuesday I opted for a FNA rather then an amputation because I had to know. Vet called yesterday with results and the results showed nothing. NO CANCER, no infection, just red blood cells as should be normal. OF course I was so happy to not hear the "C" word I forget to find out everything that is possible. I tried calling in the afternoon and they were already closed. I will get a hold of them MOnday and get a copy of the report.

 

So, the vet decided first, he was glad for now she keeps the toe (as am I). His take is just to watch. The lump hasn't gotten bigger (we think it gets smaller druring the night when she doesn't walk for 9 hours, could be wishful though) and if it stays the same we do nothing. If it gets beigger he is talking a biopsy to take out the lump rather then an amputation because there appears to be nothing wrong bone wise. DOES THIS SEEM RIGHT?

Has the vet recommended rest (no walks) for a week or two to see if the lump will go down? Is another toe rubbing against the area and causing it to stay swelled because of activity?

 

Does it appear to be attached TO the bone or just floating on the skin? There are different types of lumps dogs can get and all that's required is removing the lump, not the entire toe. They can then send the tissue out for biopsy to see what it is. Sometimes they won't be able to tell from a FNA what a growth is......some tumors are sponge-like and all they can pull out is blood or blood and fluid.....no other cells. We had that issue with Tinsel's thyroid carcinoma......all they got from the FNA was blood and we didn't know what the tumor was until the biopsy results came back.

 

If it were me, if the growth isn't getting any bigger, I'd rest her for a week or two and see if it diminishes. If it does get smaller, there'd be the answer. If it didn't get smaller and stayed the same, I'd just have to watch it over time, and if it did get bigger, I'd take her in, have it removed and biopsied.

[Guest FordRacingRon]

Has the vet recommended rest (no walks) for a week or two to see if the lump will go down? Is another toe rubbing against the area and causing it to stay swelled because of activity?

 

Does it appear to be attached TO the bone or just floating on the skin? There are different types of lumps dogs can get and all that's required is removing the lump, not the entire toe. They can then send the tissue out for biopsy to see what it is. Sometimes they won't be able to tell from a FNA what a growth is......some tumors are sponge-like and all they can pull out is blood or blood and fluid.....no other cells. We had that issue with Tinsel's thyroid carcinoma......all they got from the FNA was blood and we didn't know what the tumor was until the biopsy results came back.

 

If it were me, if the growth isn't getting any bigger, I'd rest her for a week or two and see if it diminishes. If it does get smaller, there'd be the answer. If it didn't get smaller and stayed the same, I'd just have to watch it over time, and if it did get bigger, I'd take her in, have it removed and biopsied.

 

Vet didn't really recommend anything but to watch. The deal is if my dog didn't get walked everyday I am in for a rough ride. The only time she has ever been aggressive in her life was when she was being doggy sat for 15 days and had no walk and on day 14 she could take the min-pin that was in her face for 14 days and she nipped him. She has to get her exercise,,but to me if it isn't getting bigger and she is excercising I see no harm.

 

Basically he said if it grows we will remove the lump, not the toe, and have it biopsied. To me it seems to be above and to the side of her toe. But I will say that from the day I first noticed it (maybe a month and a half ago or longer) it has not changed in size. If the toe was ever injured I don't know but at least one of the other toes on the foot must have been dislocated at one time, judging by the angle the toenail comes out.

 

Of course I have no idea what I am looking at but I looked at the xray and I could see a faint outline of it but the toe bone looked identical to the others from the top and the side. I was telling my dentist and he asked it there was any dark spots on the bone and I told him no, looked like the others.

[Batmom]

Any chance of a picture?

 

If it doesn't bother her and isn't growing / looking worse in any way, I'd just keep an eye on it and maybe do some Epsom salts soaks (5 minutes in epsom salts solution 2-3 times a day; I wrap a dripping wet washcloth around the foot and put a plastic bag around it so pup can nap instead of stand up; pat dry when done).

[Guest FordRacingRon]

Any chance of a picture?

 

If it doesn't bother her and isn't growing / looking worse in any way, I'd just keep an eye on it and maybe do some Epsom salts soaks (5 minutes in epsom salts solution 2-3 times a day; I wrap a dripping wet washcloth around the foot and put a plastic bag around it so pup can nap instead of stand up; pat dry when done).

 

I'll work on a picture, my camera is lame with really good closeups and that is what we would need. It doesn't bother her at all, not a bit. Still does zoomies,,still wants her hour walk in the AM. Thanks for the epson salts tip,,wil try to get a picture up to show.

Edited November 8, 2009 by FordRacingRon

[tbhounds]

IMO if you're going to excise the mass I think you should just go ahead and amputate the toe--that will give you a better chance of getting clear margins. I'm not surprised that the FNA was inconclusive--many times they are. Also, the FNA would not determine is there is bony involvement--unless the Dr aspirated the bone too.

[Guest FordRacingRon]

IMO if you're going to excise the mass I think you should just go ahead and amputate the toe--that will give you a better chance of getting clear margins. I'm not surprised that the FNA was inconclusive--many times they are. Also, the FNA would not determine is there is bony involvement--unless the Dr aspirated the bone too.

 

I think he did aspirate the bone. He took five samples. He at first wanted to semi knock her out because he said he was going to have to get into the bone but then I talked him into trying a local first, which he did and she took the pain.

 

But if it doens't grow, and it doesn't hurt (its less then a cm) , I cant see putting her through the pain of the surgery for now.

 

Here's the best I can do with a picture,,its the outside toe with the pink:

 

 

 

 

[Guest Energy11]

Honestly, it really looks pretty good to me. I'd just keep an eye on it. Good Luck and lot of love and prayers!

[Batmom]

Hard to say, but if it doesn't bother her, isn't growing, seems hard rather than mooshy, ... I'm wondering if she could have torn the ligament and is in the process of getting some calcification there.

 

If there's a sore area between the toes, might ask your vet about fungus, too. There's an ointment that's antibiotic and antifungal both, and I can't for the life of me remember the name of it.

 

I too would be reluctant to do surgery, JMO.

[Guest FordRacingRon]

Hard to say, but if it doesn't bother her, isn't growing, seems hard rather than mooshy, ... I'm wondering if she could have torn the ligament and is in the process of getting some calcification there.

 

If there's a sore area between the toes, might ask your vet about fungus, too. There's an ointment that's antibiotic and antifungal both, and I can't for the life of me remember the name of it.

 

I too would be reluctant to do surgery, JMO.

 

It doesn't bother her, it is hard, not mushy and I am wondering about the calcification too.

 

When she does zoomies she runs hard and I don't know about dogs, but I do know a bit about race cars, and that right rear takes the brunt of all the pressure. Another thought to is she may have hit something hard (like a brick ) when doing zoomies,,,I like the ligament idea. Thanks Batmom.....

Edited November 8, 2009 by FordRacingRon