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Chemotherapy for Osteosarcoma
from Dog Cancer Blog
on Thursday May 2nd, 2013 at 10:30 PM
In my last two posts about osteosarcoma (OSA), we discussed treatments that address the tumor affecting the bone. We discussed amputation, Stereotactic RadioSurgery (SRS) like Cyberknife, palliative radiation, and limb-spare surgery.
While these treatments are important for the malignant tumor destroying the bone, metastasis (cancer spread) is inevitable. So even if the primary tumor is successfully removed with surgery or killed with SRS, these tiny metastases (which are often undetectable at...
Vaccination and Dog Cancer
from Dog Cancer Blog
on Thursday April 25th, 2013 at 12:05 AM
A reader recently posed a question about vaccinations and links with cancer in dogs.
I discussed this in more detail in the Guide, along with many other factors that may (or may not) have links to cancer. But, since it came up, I thought it might make a good post.
If reader is looking for a vilification of vaccines, a carte-blanche condemnation of the practice of vaccination, a hysterical, reactive, anti-ist, myopic tirade against vaccines in general, you may want to stop reading. This is not...
Is There A Reason For All This Dog Cancer, part 2
from Dog Cancer Blog
on Thursday April 11th, 2013 at 06:51 AM
In my last post, we looked at some of the connections between the environment, diet, and cancer development. We also examined how similar cancer is to the bodys reaction to an injury, as if it were healing a damaged or wounded organ in a deranged way.
Today, Ill continue some of my thoughts about why the cancer rates are so high these days, for dogs, humans, and other animals.
We have discussed in the Guide and here on this blog the effects of estrogen disruptors, which are chemicals that mimic...
Is There A Reason for All This Dog Cancer?
from Dog Cancer Blog
on Wednesday March 27th, 2013 at 07:05 AM
Why did my dog get cancer?
This is a tough question to answer, but Id like to provide a bit of information about how I think about cancer to help answer this question.
First, a bit about the disease itself, and what we know right now. Cancer cells look and behave like young body cells. Cancers grow, they spread, they create blood vessels around themselves, they make little organ things (tumors), they organize connective tissue around themselves (capsules), they recruit other cells to help them...
Osteosarcoma: when amputation is not an option, part 2
from Dog Cancer Blog
on Tuesday March 26th, 2013 at 09:27 PM
In my last post, I went through some alternatives-to-amputation, including palliative radiation and limb-spare surgery. Now we will review stereotactic radiosurgery.
Stereotactic RadioSurgery: radiation instead of surgeryRadioSurgery is used INSTEAD of surgery, when traditional surgery with a scalpel blade is impossible or would cause unacceptable side effects to the patient (for example, in brain or nasal tumors), or when surgery is refused (for example, an amputation for bone...
Low Dose Chemotherapy Better for Canine Hemangiosarcoma?
from Dog Cancer Blog
on Wednesday March 20th, 2013 at 02:21 AM
Chemotherapy in dogs is normally given at doses that are as high as possible. This is to try to rid the body of as many cancer cells as we can, although some dogs will have occasional side effects related to the use of conventional chemotherapy.
For this reason, there is interest in using lower doses of chemotherapy to simply try to control spread of the disease, and perhaps increase lifespan, while also reducing the odds of side effects.
Canine hemagiosarcoma is a tough cancer. This cancer...
Osteosarcoma: when amputation is not an option
from Dog Cancer Blog
on Tuesday March 19th, 2013 at 09:38 PM
In my most recent blog, we discussed amputation for limb osteosarcoma (OSA), the most common local treatment for the primary tumor in the bone. We discussed that amputation is not an easy decision for pet Guardians, even though most older dogs with average, moderate arthritis usually do well on three legs. If my clients are unsure, I typically consult with my orthopedic surgeon, who can help us decide if surgery is an option.
Amputation may not be right for every dog or every pet Guardian....
Clinical Trials for Dog Cancer: Pros and Cons
from Dog Cancer Blog
on Thursday March 7th, 2013 at 04:08 AM
Dog lovers coping with canine cancer often are looking for solutions. When hearing the news that a loved dog has cancer, and the statistics and costs related to chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, many times a guardian will start looking for something else to try, a solution that seems better than what is available. Often the topic of a clinical trial comes up, and for this reason it is a good idea to understand some details related to enrolling your dog in a trial.
First, the good news. For...
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