Mast Cell ( immune cell ) Tumours:
A Personal Account
These are mostly found on the skin and responding to surgical removal of the tumour with chemotherapy and/or anti-histamine treatment as an adjunct to the procedure. This is a treatable cancer so do not be despondent if your darling companion is diagnosed with this disease. However, be warned that this does not make easy reading but we remain committed to truthful accounts where knowledge and understanding can produce happier outcomes for other Salukis and canine sufferers. Please return to the site for frequent updates on health issues and new treatments.....
Update May 1st 2017:
Sadly we are living through the trials of a beloved Saluki with a mast cell tumour. Our eldest female - Paschale - was diagnosed with this recently. Follow her story on the blog but here is the summary of the whole episode.
July 2017: Paschale died at the end of May . Her last few months were beset by bad luck - she was incorrectly diagnosed and treated although over the years we have never had anything but praise for our regular vet. This one just didn't go right at all. At 14 years old it is likely we would have lost Paschale soon enough - we have only had 1 Saluki who lived to 15, most of them going between 13 and 14 years. However, with more knowledge and different treatment we might well have had her company for a while longer. This is why this site exists - knowledge will help others so please add your stories, with happy or sad ends - we still need to know. Do NOT be despondent - new and effective treatments are available and this is just one story - our story and some years ago now....
The Initial Diagnosis
Paschale was initially diagnosed as having an abscess in her shoulder with swelling throughout her left leg. I believe now that this was incorrect and the swelling was due to a bleeding tumour. I do not blame the vet for this as he was unaware of the underlying lump that we wrongly considered to be a fatty cyst. However, later flare-ups and ever more treatments with antibiotics, poultices etc. were wrong. I could see that from a central hole/break in the skin Paschale was leaking blood and watery fluid. She did not have a temperature and there was no sign of pus. Time was lost and she was weakened already by the time the vet made a thorough examination (including ultra-sound) and concluded that she had an underlying tumour but most likely a benign one.
He put her on a drip and administered a small dose of chemotherapy in the form of Vincristine to stop the bleeding. Another bad luck imp intervened when the result of the biopsy he took was delayed by over a week while the vet suddenly went away to a conference. The locum, a government vet, was available and considered brilliant. No doubt he is generally but for us was a disaster.
Pain sets in with incorrect treatment
On Easter Saturday Paschale went off her food and by the end of Sunday was restless and in obvious pain. When we realized our own vet would not be back for some time we took our dog to the locum. I described how she seemed doubled up in pain - to me obviously some kind of stomach problem. Gastic problems are a known side effect of Vincristine and other related drugs and she had been weeks on a cocktail of medicines beforehand. She was not prescribed anything to counter these possible complications. It would seem that a gastic ulcer should have been diagnosed as the cause of her pain but instead she was prescribed a full daily dose of prednisolone which resulted in extreme pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.
I stopped all drugs and considered asking another vet to put her to sleep. However, our own vet returned on the following Monday, immediately saw the problem and put her on a drip and fresh drugs to counteract the gastric side effects. He gave us the results of the biopsy - grade 2 mast cell tumour - prognosis ambiguous. At least the Vincristine has drastically reduced the tumour - but it was still too large to remove. We were to treat her for a week to make sure her gastric problems were resolved and then consider the op to remove the tumour.
Grade 1 would have been benign and grade 3 or 4 would have been degrees of malignancy - grade 2 was part - benign, part malignant but would need complete removal with wide clear margins to ensure recovery.
All went well at first and she regained strength and began to eat again but the swelling continued to enlarge. At no time did I learn that this type of tumour can bleed but this was what was happening. I just read a lot about histamine release and so requested anti-histamine jabs which did no good at all. The vet said the tumour was now too large again to operate in such a difficult area with many blood vessels etc. so gave her another dose of chemotherapy but this time it was Doxorubicin (we knew all these drugs from when her daughter Shira had been treated for lymphoma).
More chemotherapy
The chemo knocked her flat. For days she hardly moved and refused all food and most fluids. She had been a tough healthy dog all her life and gradually she picked up a bit, ate a little and walked up the layby a couple of times a day but the swelling didn't really go down. Finally it began to reach the size of a small football and , already stretched way beyond our financial limits, we declined to try her on a more expensive still experimental drug - Palladia - she was too old and advanced in the disease. We pinned all our hopes on getting some temporary relief from the prednisolone administered with drugs to counter any side effects; there would be no cure but perhaps a few months of quality life for her. It was not to be.
The tumour swelled hugely and she became lethargic although not in any obvious pain. We chose a day to euthanize but our vet was to be away at a meeting that day, so we would have one more day. The same night Paschale weakened and became very thirsty and only then did I read of a case where internal bleeding of a mast cell case had meant a boxer dog had to be euthanized even though it had formerly been operated on. She slept peacefully for some periods with all her family round her but I discovered her feet were stone cold and her gums white and finally realized she was bleeding internally.
The Final Phase
In the early hours the original tumour site started to bleed, slowly then rapidly and by morning I called Michael to come as it started to gush - the vet would not be there and anyway how could we take her, She needed to be euthanized there and then. Michael called the vet on his mobile and a miracle happened - he was not far from the house, just starting on his way for the day. He came in minutes. As I tried to pick Paschale up and make her more comfortable she flopped completely and was covered in blood. There was a huge pool under her and all the bedding and floor was soaked. She was just bleeding out and had not long to live.
The water pump for the house had burnt out some weeks before and pipes broken. The house owner (I do not live in my own apartment as it is not suitable for the dogs - but let it out) refused to pay for the repairs so I had no running water in this grim situation. I was trying to pour out a bowl from bottles when the vet arrived, so quickly we were surprised and Paschale was mercifully spared any further suffering. She just looked asleep with her paw over her face in her usual way as Michael wrapped her in fresh towels and put her in her basket and then to the car to the vet's father.
Our vet is one of the few with a right to cremate. Her ashes would later be returned to us to rest with her daughter and English aunt under the trees just by the house. She was such a huge character for a power-packed little girl and the loss is still dreadful - a yawning gap that cannot be filled but she lived a full lifespan. I only wish we could have given her and ourselves a less horrible end - be advised anyone who meets with this situation - mast cell tumours are not the light risk they appear to be but as deadly as other tumours.
There are new and hopeful drug protocols to be explored and prompt action is vital - many can be saved by early removal of the tumour - but cancer in any form is always serious. Do not be deceived but get that life-saving diagnosis and treatment a.s.a.p
Update May 1st 2017:
Sadly we are living through the trials of a beloved Saluki with a mast cell tumour. Our eldest female - Paschale - was diagnosed with this recently. Follow her story on the blog but here is the summary of the whole episode.
July 2017: Paschale died at the end of May . Her last few months were beset by bad luck - she was incorrectly diagnosed and treated although over the years we have never had anything but praise for our regular vet. This one just didn't go right at all. At 14 years old it is likely we would have lost Paschale soon enough - we have only had 1 Saluki who lived to 15, most of them going between 13 and 14 years. However, with more knowledge and different treatment we might well have had her company for a while longer. This is why this site exists - knowledge will help others so please add your stories, with happy or sad ends - we still need to know. Do NOT be despondent - new and effective treatments are available and this is just one story - our story and some years ago now....
The Initial Diagnosis
Paschale was initially diagnosed as having an abscess in her shoulder with swelling throughout her left leg. I believe now that this was incorrect and the swelling was due to a bleeding tumour. I do not blame the vet for this as he was unaware of the underlying lump that we wrongly considered to be a fatty cyst. However, later flare-ups and ever more treatments with antibiotics, poultices etc. were wrong. I could see that from a central hole/break in the skin Paschale was leaking blood and watery fluid. She did not have a temperature and there was no sign of pus. Time was lost and she was weakened already by the time the vet made a thorough examination (including ultra-sound) and concluded that she had an underlying tumour but most likely a benign one.
He put her on a drip and administered a small dose of chemotherapy in the form of Vincristine to stop the bleeding. Another bad luck imp intervened when the result of the biopsy he took was delayed by over a week while the vet suddenly went away to a conference. The locum, a government vet, was available and considered brilliant. No doubt he is generally but for us was a disaster.
Pain sets in with incorrect treatment
On Easter Saturday Paschale went off her food and by the end of Sunday was restless and in obvious pain. When we realized our own vet would not be back for some time we took our dog to the locum. I described how she seemed doubled up in pain - to me obviously some kind of stomach problem. Gastic problems are a known side effect of Vincristine and other related drugs and she had been weeks on a cocktail of medicines beforehand. She was not prescribed anything to counter these possible complications. It would seem that a gastic ulcer should have been diagnosed as the cause of her pain but instead she was prescribed a full daily dose of prednisolone which resulted in extreme pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.
I stopped all drugs and considered asking another vet to put her to sleep. However, our own vet returned on the following Monday, immediately saw the problem and put her on a drip and fresh drugs to counteract the gastric side effects. He gave us the results of the biopsy - grade 2 mast cell tumour - prognosis ambiguous. At least the Vincristine has drastically reduced the tumour - but it was still too large to remove. We were to treat her for a week to make sure her gastric problems were resolved and then consider the op to remove the tumour.
Grade 1 would have been benign and grade 3 or 4 would have been degrees of malignancy - grade 2 was part - benign, part malignant but would need complete removal with wide clear margins to ensure recovery.
All went well at first and she regained strength and began to eat again but the swelling continued to enlarge. At no time did I learn that this type of tumour can bleed but this was what was happening. I just read a lot about histamine release and so requested anti-histamine jabs which did no good at all. The vet said the tumour was now too large again to operate in such a difficult area with many blood vessels etc. so gave her another dose of chemotherapy but this time it was Doxorubicin (we knew all these drugs from when her daughter Shira had been treated for lymphoma).
More chemotherapy
The chemo knocked her flat. For days she hardly moved and refused all food and most fluids. She had been a tough healthy dog all her life and gradually she picked up a bit, ate a little and walked up the layby a couple of times a day but the swelling didn't really go down. Finally it began to reach the size of a small football and , already stretched way beyond our financial limits, we declined to try her on a more expensive still experimental drug - Palladia - she was too old and advanced in the disease. We pinned all our hopes on getting some temporary relief from the prednisolone administered with drugs to counter any side effects; there would be no cure but perhaps a few months of quality life for her. It was not to be.
The tumour swelled hugely and she became lethargic although not in any obvious pain. We chose a day to euthanize but our vet was to be away at a meeting that day, so we would have one more day. The same night Paschale weakened and became very thirsty and only then did I read of a case where internal bleeding of a mast cell case had meant a boxer dog had to be euthanized even though it had formerly been operated on. She slept peacefully for some periods with all her family round her but I discovered her feet were stone cold and her gums white and finally realized she was bleeding internally.
The Final Phase
In the early hours the original tumour site started to bleed, slowly then rapidly and by morning I called Michael to come as it started to gush - the vet would not be there and anyway how could we take her, She needed to be euthanized there and then. Michael called the vet on his mobile and a miracle happened - he was not far from the house, just starting on his way for the day. He came in minutes. As I tried to pick Paschale up and make her more comfortable she flopped completely and was covered in blood. There was a huge pool under her and all the bedding and floor was soaked. She was just bleeding out and had not long to live.
The water pump for the house had burnt out some weeks before and pipes broken. The house owner (I do not live in my own apartment as it is not suitable for the dogs - but let it out) refused to pay for the repairs so I had no running water in this grim situation. I was trying to pour out a bowl from bottles when the vet arrived, so quickly we were surprised and Paschale was mercifully spared any further suffering. She just looked asleep with her paw over her face in her usual way as Michael wrapped her in fresh towels and put her in her basket and then to the car to the vet's father.
Our vet is one of the few with a right to cremate. Her ashes would later be returned to us to rest with her daughter and English aunt under the trees just by the house. She was such a huge character for a power-packed little girl and the loss is still dreadful - a yawning gap that cannot be filled but she lived a full lifespan. I only wish we could have given her and ourselves a less horrible end - be advised anyone who meets with this situation - mast cell tumours are not the light risk they appear to be but as deadly as other tumours.
There are new and hopeful drug protocols to be explored and prompt action is vital - many can be saved by early removal of the tumour - but cancer in any form is always serious. Do not be deceived but get that life-saving diagnosis and treatment a.s.a.p