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Dear Zelda, I heard through the grapevine that you just had emergency surgery to remove a mast cell tumor. Is this correct? My dog has several fatty, non-malignant tumors, so how can you tell the bad tumors from the good tumors? My family and I hope you’re feeling fine now and that you’ll be back to work soon. We love you. A Fan Dear Fan, The doorman can’t always warn you when bad news is going to come a-knockin’. A couple of weeks ago, spoiled pooch that I am, I was being pampered with a pedicure prior to a media event. My wonderful veterinarian wandered in to give me a pat on my posterior, and she noticed a benign-looking lump on my hind leg. Now I’ve had several fatty, non-malignant (lipoma) tumors in the past so I wasn’t too bothered or concerned about this one (other than that it took away a little from my oh-so-perfect curvaceous leg). However, my veterinarian’s intuition and experience raised a red flag, and she suggested a biopsy. When the results returned, her hunch was correct. The diagnosis was a cancerous mast cell tumor. Mast cell tumors (MCT’s) are often referred to as “the great imposters,” as there is no way to definitely identify them without a biopsy and pathology report. (Here’s where my Pets Best Insurance policy came in handy!) And, without proper treatment MCT’s can be fatal. Things happened in a hurry and a meeting with the surgeon was soon scheduled. Before I knew it, I was in the operating room and the mast cell tumor was removed. Now I’m home and healthy thanks to my extraordinary veterinarian and to my skilled surgeon. The prognosis is good, and I’m grateful to say the least. Meanwhile my newly shaved leg looks so good I’m thinking about shaving the other three! Well, not really. You asked “how can you tell the bad tumors from the good tumors,” and the answer is…you can’t. It turns out that mast cell tumors are one of the most common tumors for dogs and hence it is important that all suspicious-looking tumors be examined by a veterinarian and followed up with diagnostic testing and identification. When in doubt, check that tumor out! The bad news is that, according to the Morris Animal Foundation (MAF), one in four dogs die of cancer and that cancer is the number one cause of death in dogs over the age of two. The good news is that the Morris Animal Foundation is undertaking an unprecedented campaign to fund research to cure canine cancer in the next 10 to 20 years. At the same time the MAF continues to fund research to help develop treatments to aid dogs suffering from cancer today. I strongly recommend that you visit MAF’s dedicated canine cancer website at www.CureCanineCancer.org and watch the canine cancer web exclusive that includes information from some of the world’s top canine oncologists. Let’s all join the Morris Animal Foundation to help find the cure for canine cancer and keep the doorman away and the bad news at bay. Dogs deserve it! Zelda Share this column with a friend! |
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