New Member

Posts: 2
From:Fairfield, CA, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-16-2003 08:11 AM         

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The vet asked me how long my 4 year old boxer, Silk, had her little wart like bump on her hip. I told him it started last Spring. He then recommend that I get it checked, so I let him. He then said it contained "Mass cells" and that they were of a malignant type. The only way to determine the level of it was to cut it off with surrounding tissue. My dog is very happy and active. No signs of nothing. Can anyone tell me what they know?? I walked in for a simple nail clipping and walked out with a $500 estimate. My dog is worth it but I feel somethings not right. Thanks and happy holidays.

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posted 12-16-2003 10:03 AM         

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Did he do a biopsy? I think that would be the only way way to see if it is malignant. And I know it can go either way. If he didnt do a biopsy, then I would be questioning how he knows it is cancer.
Hoenybear

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posted 12-16-2003 11:13 AM         

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You can always get a second opinion. "Mass cells" and "malignant" mean cancer, if your vet forgot to explain that to you. I have never gone through that with a dog, but common sense tells you that at the beginning stages, you often have no indication that there is something wrong. With people, by the time you start feeling sick it is usually very late for a good prognosis. That's why there are so many screening tests they recommend, to catch cancers early.

I would get a second opinion if you have a funny feeling. Instincts should not be ignored, in my opinion, but I also would not take a chance with something so potentially serious.

Jamiya

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From:Los Angeles, Ca.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 12-16-2003 08:42 PM         

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Hi Spinner04,
Hey where's Fairfield?
Anyhow, i had a Boxer too. He was "my" 1st dog. Boxer's are soooooo animated, i love them.
My Boxer also had a little bump (about the size of a quarter in extreme) on his side (i forgot which side, but it was along his rib-cage).
Anyhow, this is a Tumor, as you might know already. When my dog was diagnosed by his Vet, he told me that i had high chances of it NOT becoming a "surgical problem." So he decided to just let it go (let my dog live w/ it for a while) and see if it get's worse.
He mentioned that a lot of Boxer's go on w/ their lives perfectly fine, while others have to have it removed.
I can't exactly remember when i first recognized the bump, but i do recall it being present when he was in his older years (8-14yrs). It never bothered him, or complicated his life. He was perfectly fine with this on him untill he passed.
I think there's different levels of this, and that it can be a "surgical situation".
Like someone mentioned, i would get a second maybe even a third & forth opinion, just to give your mind rest on it.

Unfortunatly, Boxer's are prone to A LOT of diseases. They have a l o n g list of congenital defects. But i believe their a strong/healthy breed even w/ that list.

Do you know how to post pics?
I'd love to see your Boxer ....

Keep Us Posted & Good-Luck

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Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 12-16-2003 11:02 PM         

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The way I read her post...she is saying he did do a biopsy and it came back malignant.

"He then recommend that I get it checked, so I let him. He then said it contained "Mass cells" and that they were of a malignant type."

I'm not sure here, but when my Beagle Emily got a tumor between her toes, we went through this same thing. After the biopsy came back as malignant, they went ahead and removed the tumor and the surrounding tissue in an attempt to get "roots" and all. The vet had told me that he thought he "got it all" and he was feeling optimistic about the outcome. The tumor did come back and after talking with him and one other vet we decided that the cancer had spread enough that it was not going to be possible to remove all cancer cells. So we opted to leave it. I expected that she wouldn't live long and I mentally prepared myself for the day I would have to help her pass. The tumor got to a certain size and pretty much stayed that way, it didn't seem to bother her and she never seemed sick or in pain. She was 6 when the tumor first appeared and she died at 23 of kidney failure. This was years ago..I don't remember if I was told what kind of cancer it was or any other details really. I think that from the little bit the post says it sounds like the vet is saying if you remove the tumor and surrounding tissue and it doesn't come back...it was fairly early and hadn't spread yet. Again, I'm no expert, it's just how I read what she wrote.

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From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 12-16-2003 11:09 PM         

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spinner, I wanted to add a link I found a while back, it is to a holistic site that has an article about feeding certain foods to combat tumors in dogs and people. The article amazed me. When the page opens..it's the first thing at the top of the page..click on the red words, "flaxseed oil and cottage cheese". Check out the rest of the site too, it's filled with helpful tid bits and recipes.
Find out as much as you can about your options, seek a second opinion if you feel better doing so and make your decisions when you have all the available information...and of course come here for support. Smiles, Maisey
http://www.holisticdog.org/

[This message has been edited by Maisey (edited 12-16-2003).]

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From:MO, USA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 12-17-2003 06:46 PM         

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If it is malignant I would have it removed. Certain cancers spread. If it is in its early stages and is only affecting a certain spot on her skin I wouldnt risk it spreading somewhere vital like her lungs or heart.
My parents dog was diagnosed with bone cancer at 4 years of age.
They had to remove his front right leg. If not caught in time the cancer will spread to the vital organs in the body. They did say it could very well come back. Most dogs with bone cancer only live 6-8 months past surgery.
It is now a year and a half later and he is doing fine.
If we wouldnt have had the leg removed however it would be a different story.

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Posts: 2
From:Fairfield, CA, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 12-18-2003 09:36 AM         

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Thank you all for your support and advice. When I opened the response page I was amazed and touched at how many people cared to repsond. I will seek a second opinion.

The mass cells were detected through drawing liquid from the bump, then put under a microscope to determine they were mass cells. The next step would be to remove it plus surrounding tissue, send it to a lab to determine the level of malignancy. After that we'll see.

PS Thank you GoodboysBaddogs. I will try and post a photo of Silk. She is one funny dog. Four yrs old and plays like a pup. Loooves balls, rope tugging and frizbees and cuddles like a cat.

Thank you all again.
Sincerely Carol & Silky

[This message has been edited by spinner04 (edited 12-18-2003).]

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