Mast Cell Tumors

[Maryjo's Gang]

Louisie had 3 MCT's taken off a few months ago. Nothing has grown back yet, the pathology reoart said the vet got good margins. I also think Thelma has one under her armpit, in a very bad area to operate. I will be taking her in soon to have it checked.

Sigh.. It seems to be a common occurence among pugs. My Thelma & Louisie are almost 13, I doubt if I can put them thru too many more surgeries.

We're praying for you and Onyx.

[georgeandweezy]

I'm sorry about Onyx.

My newest girl, a female golden, came from the shelter and had three large mast cell tumors -- one was on the back of her leg also.

Mast cell tumors are basophils (a granulocyte white blood cell) that goes crazy in the tissue (that's the simple way of putting it). Sometimes the chemicals released from the cell's granules cause more damage than the actual mass itself, ie ulcers, bleeding disorders, etc.. (not always just sometimes)

It's very tough to get clean margins when removing a tumor on the back of the leg because there is so little skin for closing. Ideally, you want 2-3 cm of skin removed around the mass. Sophia, my golden, didn't even have her wound closed completely. We had to leave a portion open to fill in on its own. There wasn't enough tissue to close it completely.

Here are some things to think about: 1) Prednisone is a common post-surgical treatment for MCTs. It is thought to help put dogs in remission and slow re-growth.

2) make sure you get some thoracic radiographs -- the spleen is the first place MCTs spread to when they metastasize and
3) you may want to consider having a veterinary oncologist look at Onyx's buffy coat (the white blood cell layer once the blood is spun down in a centrifuge). If there are MCs in the buffy coat, it means the cancer has spread to the marrow. Normally, you shouldn't see a basophil in circulating blood. They are pretty rare.

Those are some things you can do to check the progression of the growths. I hope everything goes well for Onyx and that everything's removed and fine.