Re: Mast Cell Tumors
Hi, I can relate to what you are going through. Our Gretchen had a Stage II, dirty margined, mast cell tumor removed March 28th. The tumor was in her lower lip which meant it had a tendency toward being more aggressive than those found elsewhere on the body. We met with an oncologist and started a 15 day radiation treatment. She went 5 days a week for 3 weeks. We were worried because she would have to go under each of those days, but the sedative that they use is very light and the whole process took about 30 minutes each day. She would come out wagging and begging - no breakfast on those days - that was the hardest part. Radiation burns started to develop on the night before her last treatment. We had been to the Nashoba Valley Fun Match that day and nobody could notice (other than a portion of her lip is missing :(...) The burns lasted for about a week to 10 days and they were nasty for 3 or 4 of those days, but have healed completely. Her hair is starting to grow back there already but will take a few months. During the last week of radiation, she started her course of chemo. It's an alternating, every two week, protocol of vinblastine, CCNU and prednisone. She has had 2 treatments each of the vin and CCNu and is on an every other day (20 mg) of prednisone. She sailed through her first 5 weeks of treatments but had a bout of side effects last time. Nausea, light vomiting and diarrehea. A few days of reglan and flagyl and she was back to normal. She has to have a CBC every other week to determine if she's okay for the next treatment. These treatments are scheduled through October with an 85% chance of "curing" her for 5 years. She'll be five in August. So we'll go with those odds but if the treatments continue to adversely affect her, my husband and I have agreed to stop the chemo and take our chances. Just our personal decision - we struggled with giving her the chemo in the beginning but I felt that if the tumors did re-occur and were worse, that I'd feel too guilty that I didn't do everything I could for her If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me privately. I hope that the biopsy comes back clean!! then you won't have to go through any of this. Take care and we send belly rubs! Peggy Dixon Methuen, MA Gretchen and Buster - Original Message - From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 6:16 AM Subject: Mast Cell Tumors > Good morning, everyone: > > I'd like to thank everyone who has emailed us with encouragement, support, > suggestions, hugs, belly rubs, cookies, and especially prayers! What a > wonderful group you all are. I'm overwhelmed by the number of emails sitting in my in > box waiting to be answered. I'll get to them as soon as I can and respond to > each one personally. > > ... > > Again, thank you all, and we'll be in touch with progress reports. > > Hugs, > > Jaye Carl, Lucy and Heather, the Sonrise Girls > >
Re: Mast Cell Tumors
Thanks for your email and encouragement, Pat. Doesn't it seem like just yesterday we were in Leila's garage, taking photos of my newest little baby Heather...watching her explore...I think she was about 8 or 10 weeks old at that pointsigh... The tumor was on her side, near the lower end of her rib cage, 3-4 cm. in diameter. Unfortunately, with dirty edges. No other apparent involvement that the vet noted while checking her over. Nodes are OK, nothing remarkable there, but of course the dirty edges are a huge concern. Heather is her usual happy-go-lucky self, smiling and wanting to play, but we're keeping her quiet. Her appetite comes and goes, which also causes us some concern. She is now day 8 post-op. Our vet took quite a bit of tissue surrounding the tumor, so Heather has an almost 7 inch incision on her side. It's been boggy since we brought her home, which is to be expected, as the body shuttles extra fluid to the area for healing. Yesterday morning, however, she had a large amount of bloody drainage suddenly (where she had not had any up to that point) and now she is in a collar, on antibiotics, and confined to her x-pen. Back to square one! She hates the confinement. The first place I went for info was berner.org. I abandoned that, however, because I couldn't read my screen. Something in my eye. I appreciate your help and support (from everyone) and Lucy (who is almost 9I can't believe that, either!) and Heather say thanks for the hugs and belly rubs. Jaye Carl, Lucy and Heather, the Sonrise Girls
RE: Mast Cell Tumors
Jaye, I'm sorry to hear about the tumor, but hopefully it will not be a problem for her going forward! I did write an article about the topic some number of years ago when my Maggie had one removed as well, and that article also compiled a number of List member experiences. You can find that and many other articles about Berner health issues on www.bmdca.org in the Health section. (Maggie had a tumor removed from her front leg when she was 6.5 years old, we didn't do chemo - which for mast cell is typically prednisone - nor did we do radiation. She had no recurrence of the mast cell and lived another 3 years.) One thing that will help people respond - does the vet think they got good clean margins when they removed the tumor? And where was the tumor? (Location doesn't really matter except that it does help with getting wide margins in some areas rather than others...) You hug Heather and Lucy for me, and share some bellyrubs with them too! Pat Long (& Luther) Berwyn PA -Original Message- This week we received the news that our beautiful Heather, who is now five and a half years old, has cancer. She had a grade 2 Mast Cell Tumor removed last week. We, as you would all expect, are devastated.
RE: mast cell tumors..
Hi Maura, Caught early mast cell can be controlled. Depending on the grade and location the oncologist will determine your treatment options. One day at a time:-)) Rose T.
Re: mast cell tumors..
Yes, I have, and her name was Maggie, too. If you HAVE to have a cancer, a mast cell cancer might be the one of choice -- depending, of course, on the grade. If it's not too far advanced, the trick is to take out the tumour AND a large margin surrounding it to make sure you've got it all. Maggie had hers removed at around 6 years, and lived another almost 4 years, mast-cell tumour free. Best of luck. Keep the list informed. Susan and Djinn the berner and Riley the ?? rescue and the two cats > Hi all > anyone have a berner survive this..mast cell tumors..maggie just got diagnosed..> maura
