 |
Cures Canine Lymphoma
Lymph nodes can be found throughout your dog’s body. Early stages of the disease have the cancer localized to one lymph node or area of the body. If the cancer has spread, it can be found in the spleen, liver, or bone marrow. If lymphoma is not treated, it can spread in 1 to 2 months from first symptom to being terminal. Breeds Where Canine Lymphoma is CommonCanine lymphoma is common in larger dogs and is often seen in Scottish Terriers, Bull mastiffs, Cocker Spaniels, German Shepherds, Poodles, Golden Retrievers and Boxers.Diagnosis of Canine LymphomaEnlargement of the lymph nodes can be caused by cancer or infection. If your veterinarian sees one, they will look for others to see if the cancer spread. A fine needle aspiration test (FNA) will be used to test the cells in the node. If the finding is that cancer is present or is inconclusive (no clear answer), your veterinarian may choose to remove one lymph node for testing.Nodes can be found behind the lower jaw, where the neck meets the body, behind the front leg, in front of the back leg and midway down in back of the hind leg. Before your veterinarian identifies a cure canine lymphoma, the spread of lymphoma is tested with a chest x-ray, ultrasound and a bone marrow biopsy. Cures Canine Lymphoma and TreatmentThe goal of treatment is to cause extended remission (absence of symptoms that could return) vs. a full cure which may or may not be possible depending on the extent of the disease. Chemotherapy is used for treatment and is administered in the following pattern:1x a week for 10 weeks Dogs tend to tolerate chemotherapy better than people with a higher rate of success. If the cancer returns, another round of chemotherapy could be effective. Chemotherapy uses a combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone (COP chemotherapy). This combination results in a complete cure canine lymphoma remission in about 70%-84% of dogs for approximately 4 to 9 months. 50% of dogs were still alive after one year. Other canine cure lymphoma treatments use what is called the VELCAP-L protocol. Here 69% of dogs saw their lymphoma go into remission for at least 13 months. Recent research is showing that one of the best approaches for treatment is the use of 5 drugs for canine lymphoma. These drugs are cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, doxorubicin and L-asparaginase. If your dog has a relapse after treatment, in most cases another treatment series of chemotherapy has shown to be effective. As with all treatments, your veterinarian will have the latest research on this subject. From Cures Canine Lymphoma to More About Canine Cancer Dog Health Guide Home SourcesNutrition and Cancer: New Keys for Cure and Control 2003!Gregory K. Ogilvie, DVM, DACVIM (Internal Medicine & Oncology) Colorado State University Ft. Collins, CO, USA Prostatic Disease in the Dog Lymphoma Canine Brain Tumors: Improvements in Diagnosis and Treatment Neoplasia of the Nervous System (spinal tumors) Current Therapy for Canine Oral Tumors Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook Hound Health Handbook
|
