[ollies_mom]

Hi all -
Was wondering if any of you have had experiences with Mast cell tumors?
I just got the news last night that the lump we had biopsied on Ollie this past Thursday was a Mast cell tumor. It was Grade 1 and fortunately, they excised it all and he requires no further treatment.
Ollie is really young (20 months), so the vet was concerned with that.
I was dumbfounded when I got the news. I have only had him for a little over 6 months, so it made my heart hurt lots for him.
The vet said that he now has a 30% increased chance of getting another   .
I have to be very vigilant with checking him and bringing him in for any lumps/bumps.
Anyone else have their baby get one this young?
Thanks so much!!
-Dawn

 

[JayJay]

Hello Dawn!

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[Sadiesmomma]

Aw I'm so sorry to hear this news. I know nothing about them but I'm sure someone on the board will. My thoughts are with you.

 

[Barbs2Ks]

I don't really know anything about them either but I am sure that someone will have some information.  Did find this info on the net but as with all websites I would check various websites to see if the information is accurate.

http://www.kateconnick.com/library/mastcelltumor.html

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm ... icleid=461

 

[nano]

Sorry to hear about Ollie, but glad you caught it early and it was easy to remove it all. I had one on an older dog once.  They removed it and she was fine.  Just keep a vigilant eye on him and give him lots of good lovin!

Nano

 

[ollies_mom]

Thanks everyone ... someone sent me a PM with some information to ask the vet... like whether there were clear margins and perhaps getting a Buffy smear down the road. She said they got it all but didn't use the term 'clear margins'.
I noticed the lump when I got him from my rescue group and when I bought him to the vet initially it was too small to aspirate and they thought perhaps it was where he got bit by a tick (he came with Lymes disease and kennel cough poor thing).
I bought him in a couple weeks ago b/c he had yellow/green eye boogers so I figured he had an infection and needed meds, so while we were there I asked her to check the lump b/c it had not gone down in size. So they aspirated and it was suspicious.
He's definitely gettin' lots of lovin from me and lots of full body massages to check for lumps. I'm now a paranoid momma!!

 

[Lucylong]

Hi Dawn,    

I had a similar experience with my 6 1/2 yr old Dixie last June.  Her tumor was also a Grade I and they were able to remove it all.   My vet feels her prognosis is very positive but cautioned us to watch her closely for development of any new bumps.   So far she is doing very well.   She did put her on a regimen of prednisone and benadryl post surgery as a precaution.    

Dixie had her bump for at least two years before it was removed so we were very lucky that it had not spread.  Each time we brought her to the vet we would ask her to check the bump.  It was very small, about the size of a small pea almost more like a pimple.  Too small to aspirate so she would just say to watch it for changes.   The funny thing about it was that it would change in size, sometimes it would almost go away but never got bigger than a pea.   For some reason, it began to really bother me and I asked her to remove it.  When she looked at it under the microscope during the surgery, she realized that it was mast cell and she removed a rather large margin around it.  

You caught Ollie's early and with a Grade I tumor his prognosis should be very positive.  Just need to keep up the full body massages.  I'm sure Ollie won't mind.  Dixie gets one every night.  Sending get well wishes and no more bad bumps vibes to Ollie.  

-Lucylong

 

[Guest]

i've heard that histamines can affect cancers where they do go up/down in size.  my thor had a lump removal recently and luckily he was ok.

it's not unusual anymore for younger dogs to have MCT's.  a neighbors white boxer had one at 6 months old, but after removal has had no further problems.  maybe youth is on their side?

bless you for taking this rescue and giving him such good care!

 

[samsonsmom]

I can't offer you any advice, but sounds like you have gotten some good info....Here's hoping that Ollie stays healthy and he's got to be loving those massages