Caninecancer.org.au

My Shar-pei Murphy has mast cell cancer. He was diagnosed September 2014 and given 12 rounds of chemo, vinblastine and Palladia he also was on pred. His 3 tumors which were on his backside (the primary one) and inside legs and all showed clear margins with no metastasis to lymph nodes, his ultra sounds came back clear also. We were thrilled...then a dark red rash appeared on his stomach and more mast cell tumours appeared. Our oncologist had us carry on with the Palladia and pred but nothing stopped them growing an multiplying. Last week I was told there was no more they could do for him and to stop the Palladia and pred. Trouble is his tumours are growing and one on his leg is the size of a softball. He is still eating well and going to the toilet fine but they are giving him pain and I don't know what to do. I really need some help. Is there really nothing else I can do except sit back and wait for these tumours to grow so large they take over his body. Please help!

Hi Shar-pei2

Sorry to hear about your dog. From an owners point of view I understand the desperation trying to help them as I went through it myself with Frodo. I also know many others that will try anything to save their dogs.

I am not an oncologist so I wont comment although I do know of another drug that is used. Where are you based as sometimes this can affect what is available. For instance here in Australia it is harder to get some of the drugs than say in the USA.

It is the weekend so it might take a day or two to get a response from an oncologist but I am sure you will.

Lisa

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1. Sending tumours to the lab saves lives
2. Pet insurance allows you to give your dog the best treatments available
3. Using an oncologist gives your dog the best chance of survival.

Thanks Lisa. I live in Australia too so the other drugs I could try are not available here. Every day Murphy is finding it harder to get up and walk which is hard to watch as when he does finally get up he is constantly stopping and looking back at his tumours. I have never felt so helpless.

My heart goes out to you as I know how hard it is watching a dog go through something like this and how helpless you feel. I get so many emails, facebook messages and similar from people like you that are desperate. I have to say it gets to me sometimes as I wish I could do more.

There is one thing you can do for the future if your dog is a purebred Sharpei. The AHT desperately needs cheek swab samples from that breed who have mast cell tumour. If you can help please do so.. My website has donated kits to the AHT so that dog owners do not have to pay to send these samples. Without samples it is going to take so much longer to get better treatments and cures.

http://www.caninecancer.org.au/researchuk.html

Vickie can get these kits out straight away and they take about ten days to get to Aus.

_________________
1. Sending tumours to the lab saves lives
2. Pet insurance allows you to give your dog the best treatments available
3. Using an oncologist gives your dog the best chance of survival.

Dear Shar-pei2,

Mast cell tumours can be a very frustrating disease to treat, and when they are of their most aggressive form, sometimes we have no options that can successfully treat them.

However, there are several chemotherapy agents which have proven benefit in treating MCTs, other than vinblastine. I would suggest speaking with your oncologist about other options. The odds may not be great, but if we have a dog that is still happy, then I will always continue to keep trying until we either exhaust all options, or our patient is no longer enjoying a good quality of life.

Best wishes,
Amy

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Small Animal Oncology
Registered Specialist in Veterinary Oncology
Newcastle Region

Masivet or kvax may be an alternative,but is very difficult to get.
You would need a script from your vet,then approval from A P V M A,
Then a supplier,eg Viovet,or similar.
Ask your oncologist about this.
Its awful seeing this happen to our wonderful furry best friends.
I lost my darling boy 2 years ago,and I still think of him every day,
But we kept fighting as long as we could.
Anything that may help is worth trying,but the quality of life,is the
Most important issue.
Thinking of Murphy....