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Hello! I have a 13.5 year old female chocolate lab who, 18 months ago, was diagnosed with a spindle cell tumor on her side, right behind her right elbow. It was the size of a lemon. I had it removed and she rallied fine. About two months ago,it began to reappear in the same spot, almost perfectly under her initial incision scar. needle biopsy showed it was back...growing a little fast this time. I have a surgery scheduled, but am unlikely to go through with it, because at 13.5, she has enough difficulty getting up sometimes and having a 6" incision behind her front leg won't help matters.
I've read much of this thread and am very interested in the holistic approach -- and I'll be eliminating carb sources immediately. She's been on Merrick Grain Free Healthy Weight Adult dog food, which is grain free and beef/veggie based (with GLS joint supplement powder plus a thyroid pill), all 2 x daily. She's dropped over 10 lbs (needed to) on this food, which has really helped everything. She's happy otherwise, spunky like a pup at least once a day and loves her morning long walk.
If you have a moment to send me the holistic meds info, I'm thinking this is the best path to take with her, based on age and health otherwise. Surgery is so traumatic. I just want her happy and active as possible for as long as she can without the trauma!
Thank you so much. Great thread.
My boyfriend and I rescued a hound-lab mix about 6 months ago. He has a lump in his mouth that we were told was normal and to just watch for changes. It began to bleed about a month back so we got it biopsied. It came back as malignant spindle cell sarcoma of the soft tissue.. he is about 2 years old. We have gotten opinions from multiple vets who have suggested we make an oncology appointment as well as a dental appointment. After doing some research, I found this forum with information about holistic vetiniary practices. I was interested in learning more about it and also getting a list of what suppliments and dietary changed were made that helped your lab.
My boyfriend and I rescued a hound-lab mix about 6 months ago. He has a lump in his mouth that we were told was normal and to just watch for changes. It began to bleed about a month back so we got it biopsied. It came back as malignant spindle cell sarcoma of the soft tissue.. he is about 2 years old. We have gotten opinions from multiple vets who have suggested we make an oncology appointment as well as a dental appointment. After doing some research, I found this forum with information about holistic vetiniary practices. I was interested in learning more about it and also getting a list of what suppliments and dietary changed were made that helped your lab.
Thanks!
I'm sorry to hear your news. I know it can be devastating to learn something like this, and while mouth cancers are more difficult, it may not be totally hopeless. For your sake, and the dog's, I am glad to hear you are interested in looking at a holistic approach. All the information you need is in these posts. Some of mine are very complete, so while I can't do the work for you, you can read through everyone's posts, including mine, and make good notes. Discuss them with your vet and see if you can find a holistic vet. Most traditional vets don't understand holistic medicine and, sadly, many don't care or just don't feel they have the time. You may be lucky and have a vet that is willing to help you along this road. Our vet said she is willing to talk to anyone, in any part of the country, about alternative options.
While the program we were on is detailed in my posts, other posters made good and helpful recommendations that you might consider as well.
I hope you will spend the time (it's well worth it if your dog is worth it to you -- and I hope he is!)
and let me know if you have any questions about our program. I'll walk you through the maze if needed.
I just stumbled upon this thread and am getting some great information. I'm already treating my dog with a lot of the holistic approaches listed here but am getting some new ideas as well. But now I need some of your thoughts.
My dog Hunter is 15 1/2 and has had spindle cell soft tissue sarcoma for about 2 years and 4 months. His first surgery two years ago was unable to get good margins, so it has grown back multiple times and I have debulked multiple times, the last of which was in early January. That surgery went well...the tumor, which is on his right flank, was grapefruit size and the vet was able to get pretty deep so that there was no bulge left whatsoever, just a nice, smooth line down his side. So, I thought I had 7 or 8 months (the usual time to regrow) before I would have to deal with it again, but shortly after that surgery I noticed a new lump nearby which is growing and I'm certain is another tumor from the same cancer. Considering his age and the fact that he is as old as he is (he's a beagle/Golden mix so about 90 in human years!) I don't have the heart to put him through surgery again, and think that radiation and/or chemo are probably not the way to go either (I would have done those sooner if I liked the idea.) So, I'm left with just doing things that my holistic vet has recommended to slow down the cancer. However, it's getting larger and I know it the larger it gets, the faster it grows because of how the exponential nature of cancer cell multiplication.
My question is this...do any of you know how this eventually plays out ? If his tumor keeps growing to grapefruit size and beyond, but he still feels well (so far his overall health is still good), what happens then ? Will it ever "max out" and stop growing ? Will it get so big that it bursts ? I find lots of info about what to do about tumors, but no information about what happens if you DON'T do anything (or if you do things to slow it down but can't really stop it.) I can't stand the idea of my poor little guy having a tumor the size of a basketball eventually, but I also hate the idea of having to put him down while he's still otherwise healthy just because he's got a massive tumor. (FYI, it's not massive yet...only maybe golf ball size...but I know from the last one that once it gets about that large things really pick up speed-wise. You can go from a lemon to a grapefruit in a month.)
Would love to hear of others' experiences. Does anyone have a dog with a really, really big tumor and, if so, how is he doing ? (Or if you have experienced it in the past, how did it play out ?) I have actually asked my vets this question, but haven't been able to get a straight answer.
Oh, and one more thing...is it really true that chicken/poultry is bad for cancer as has been said on here multiple times ?? I had read on other pages that beef was the enemy so I've been mostly giving my dog ground turkey with a can or two of salmon mixed in (not at each meal...I make it in week-sized batches and freeze.) I'm reading a lot about mackerel on here, which is generally cheaper than the salmon...can I give that as his only meat/protein ? I can't believe I've been mostly giving him poultry and now it sounds like that was the wrong thing
Also, I saw a mention on one post of tumor swelling/warming before THEN starting to shrink. Has this happened for others of you ? I'm only asking because I started some hardcore holistic stuff a couple of weeks ago and now his tumor seems to have suddenly grown a bit (and, yes, feels warm.) Now I'm hoping maybe that's just the protocols "working"...
Poultry is high on the inflammatory list. The key is to feed a diet as high in anti-inflammatory foods as possible. Canned chub mackerel is excellent as it is very anti-inflammatory. Salmon is good as long as it is not farm-raised, but it is not as high in anti-inflammatory properties as mackerel. Plus, it's more expensive.
You are correct that beef is believed to be cancer causing. Some cuts are more inflammatory than others. Organ meats, for example, are especially inflammatory.
Our dog's tumor on his stifle got big and hard and hot, and eventually ruptured in a spot which continued to ooze. I put healing meds on it daily and sewed a soft pantaloon for his one leg so that the skin would be protected from rubbing on the floor or his bed when he lay down. In time it healed up.
His array of supplements was essential to keeping him feeling good and going as long as he did. We kept at it until we could see that he was growing less comfortable, and he knew that his time was coming to an end. We couldn't keep weight on him any more, and hard as it was we wanted to let him go with dignity. He was 12 when diagnosed, 14 and 3 months when he went to the rainbow bridge.
Last day photos attached. Oh how he loved his tennis balls! You can see he's still alert and happy. Typical lab. He was beautiful and devoted, with a sense of humor, and we still miss him terribly. He lived 2+ years longer than best vets and specialists thought he would, thanks to holistic treatment and careful attention to diet.
I wish every one of you dealing with terrible cancers of all kinds the same success, even better (if possible) than we had and hope this is an encouragement to everyone.
Thank you so much for that info. Your dog was beautiful ! Larger than my dog, but similar in looks, actually. I appreciate all of your input. My fella lost interest in chasing tennis balls & frisbees a couple of years ago, but still trots around the neighborhood when I walk him (at least on his better days), smiles a lot and LOVES his food. (I make homemade, but he'll literally eat anything) I'll try to attach a picture later...i'm new to this site and haven't figured it out yet
Hi Bethiea. My Labrador Molson has a spindle cell tumor on her chest. I first noticed it in October 2014 and after speaking with many surgeons elected not to do surgery due to the size of incision, recovery period and her age - she'll turn 14 next month. This type of tumor will 100% likely grow back and decided it was not fair to put her through an aggressive type surgery only for it to grow back. Molson's tumor has grown to the size of a grapefruit and just this week started to open up. I am now faced with the decision to let her be and enjoy the last few weeks with her or put her through surgery and have it de-bulked - it only to grow back a short time later and will be faced with the inevitable again. Taking wide margins is out of the question. If I do nothing now the tumor will ulcerate, get infected and tissue will start dying from the inside out. She is healthy, happy and in excellent spirits. I'm just not ready to say good-bye yet - I'll never be ready.
I took Molson to the vet last night to get a prognosis on her tumor. It's starting to gather liquid at the bottom of the tumor and weep. My vet said in the very near future the tumor will rupture and will ooze liquid and will require immediate care to prevent infection and necrosis. I am at a cross-road now to decide letting her be until the time comes and letting her pass or try to de-bulk the tumor with surgery and risks that come along with surgery, her age, post operative care, etc. Waiting for pre-op blood work to come back before making any decisions. Needless to say I got no sleep last night as my mind is running worried.
We were in the same situation with an oozing tumor. De-bulking was discussed but our vet said that while it can be done it is complicated and rarely successful. I applied an Eastern herbal powder called (I think) "The Great Mender" which the vet recommended. It kept the oozing spot in check and fairly dry. In our case, the vet said that the tumor won't burst. With the powder it never quite healed over but we did avoid infection, postponed the inevitable and kept him comfortable.
RnSLabs, I'm sorry to read your latest...it's a difficult place to be and I know you'll do what's right for you and your canine companion.
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She's happy otherwise, spunky like a pup at least once a day and loves her morning long walk. 
