juliepoudrier Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Some of you know that over the past couple of months I have been dealing with a tumor on the inside of Willow's hind leg (in her groin region). We started out with a holistic treatment (bloodroot) which seemed to have removed the external part of the tumor, but when she had her recheck, the vet felt that we should go ahead and remove what could still be felt under the skin. So on Januray 3rd Willow had surgery. At the time, the vet was more concerned about a heart murmur Willow has (never before diagnosed, so probably something new), so they used strictly inhalation anesthesia and all went well. (She said she had considered just using a local, but when she got in there and saw the number of blood vessels, she's glad she didn't). All of Willow's bloodwork was pretty normal, thank goodness. Today I received the pathology report. There is nothing indicative of a mammary tumor (my vet was concerned because of the proximity of the tumor to one of her nipples), but there were cells that were considered cancerous. The good news is that the tissue that was removed had good, clean margins, so it's very likely that the vet got it all during surgery. The tumor is considered pretty low grade and her prognosis is good, but I will have to watch for recurrence, since that is a characteristic of this type of tumor (apparently it can send out little "fingers"). Unfortunately I neglected to ask exactly what *type* of tumor we're talking about (duh!), but since Willow has to go in Thursday for a follow-up and to have sutures removed, I will ask then. Anyway, I just wanted to update folks, since some of you were asking at the clinic this past weekend. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valhalla Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Good news, Julie! Holly had a mammary tumor that was removed last year. It was pretty invasive and the vet suspected that it would return in about 3 months.... so far she is still clear, so the tough old lady is still goin' strong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoofly Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 That seems like pretty good news, whew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
painted_ponies Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 It does sound like good news. I'm sorry they discovered cancer cells, but glad Willow has a good prognosis and I hope she's one of the ones without a recurrence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSmitty Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 I'm glad to hear that Willow's prognosis is good. What a relief! I'll keep her in my thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DixiesDad Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 Glad to hear she got a good report after surgery. We will keep Willow in our thoughts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tranquilis Posted January 15, 2008 Report Share Posted January 15, 2008 That's got to be a relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancy Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Fergie, Chuck and I - maybe even Maggie the Mauler - will still keep fingers, eyes, and toes crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journey Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Good news! Thanks for the update on her. I know the tension of the "unknown" is now gone - what a relief.. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Very best wishes for Willow and you, Julie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebecca, Irena Farm Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 I am glad she is safe for now. Our best wishes for the future - she is in good hands, I know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dexter9607 Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 That is awesome news, Julie! Yay for Willow!! I hope she has a speedy and full recovery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc friend Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Glad the news was good and hopefully she'll remain healthy. Thanks for letting us know the results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixie_Girl Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Glad to hear all is well. Hoping it stays gone. As someone who is dealing with a cancerous dog, I know the worry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allie Oop Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 I'm glad that things are going so well for Willow. Dealing with Cancer is always scary, but I'm glad your news was good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorellan Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 I send my very best wishes to Willow and yourself, and all the best of luck! The news sounds good, I'm glad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carson Crazies Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Good news Julie! I'm thinking lots of go away and never come back tumor thoughts for Willow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisK Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 That's great! May you and Willow have many more good news days!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pipedream Farm Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Good news Julie. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eileen Stein Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Hi Julie, So glad to hear this good news. I just wanted to mention that my old Floss also was diagnosed with a type of cancer that I was told was very prone to recur at the site. It was in a tight area at a joint, so that was of particular concern to me, but she lived for many years after its removal and it never did recur. Please post when you learn what type of cancer Willow's was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted January 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Hey everyone, Thanks for the well wishes on Willow. I ended up taking her in yesterday to have the stitches removed and read the histopathology report for myself. Willow's tumor was a Grade II mast cell tumor. Apparently the pathologist recorded no mitoses in the viewing field at 10X magnification. What this means for a prognosis is this: If there are fewer than 5 mitoses present at 10x magnification, then the life expectancy is 70 months (i.e., nearly 6 years). For a dog Willow's age (nearly 11) this pretty much means that she's likely to die of old age before this cancer could get her. Obviously that prognosis could change if other tumors arise, but given that the tumor removed had good, clean margins (meaning that they likely got all of it during surgery), I'm hoping we won't have any recurrences. She is back on antibiotics because the incision site appears to be a bit infected (probably from when the little dear took off and jumped in the creek), but the vet who examined her yesterday didn't seem overly concerned. And the other piece of good news is that her weight is back up to her normal 37-38 pounds from a low of 32 right before the surgery. She's my heart, and the dog who got me started with all this (and she's a rescue): J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrisK Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 That is such good news....and I love the picture! She really is a beauty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OurBoys Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 I'm glad to hear the good news, Julie. I hope and pray she continues to live for many more years. And I agree with Kris. She's a beauty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK dog doc Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Oh, yay. What a relief! And Go, Willow! Way to addict your mom to BCs! (Well, look how well that's worked out. That Willow knew what she was doing, I'd say. Her nefarious plan has come to fuition.) Here's hoping for many years of good active time for her ahead. Give her a snuggle from me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journey Posted January 17, 2008 Report Share Posted January 17, 2008 Yay! Great report and good for her jumping in the creek, she feels good too! Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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