This column was originally published in the Tribune on Sept. 9, 2002.
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Most people would not consider Baby to be exactly pretty. He is a little pug with more wrinkles per square inch than most Shar Peis. But, as they say about many blind dates, he has a "wonderful personality." Baby is just quiet and agreeable, in spite of his problem.
His problem was a huge bleeding tumor on his front leg. He also had dozens of other tumors all over his little body. Other than that, he seemed healthy enough and didn't seem to think anything was wrong with him. He had pretty normal lab results on his pre-surgical tests.
The tumor on his leg was so big that removing it completely was out of the question. We removed what could be removed and sent it to the lab at Washington State University. The diagnosis was a "plasma cell tumor." These tumors are not highly malignant but this one would probably grow back, since it couldn't be completely removed. All of the other tumors were probably the same type.
Because the tumor was so large, we had to do some special procedures to try and stretch the skin over the surgery site, and we expected it to take some time before it completely healed. But the tumor was growing faster than the skin was healing.
I consulted with Dr. Rance Sellon, an internal medicine specialist at WSU. He suggested chemotherapy.
The suggestion of chemotherapy conjures up a scenario of a miserable vomiting patient, repeated expensive hospital visits and skyrocketing drug costs. "We wouldn't want to put him through that!" is the most common response to the suggestion.
But it doesn't have to be that way, especially in veterinary medicine. There has been extensive research and remarkable progress in chemotherapy drugs and treatment plans in recent years. Also, dogs and cats don't live nearly as long as humans so we don't have to aim for 20 or 30 years of remission. Baby is 7 years old. If we can give him 5 to 7 more years of quality life, that will be about a natural life span for a little pug.
Dr. Sellon suggested treatment with two drugs, neither very expensive. They are both being given at home by Baby's owner.
The main side effect of one of the drugs is an increase in water consumption and urination. They just have to make sure Baby always has plenty of water available and gets to go outside often. The other drug can suppress the production of blood cells by the bone marrow.
For the first couple of months of treatment, until the dose is reduced, we have to draw a blood sample and do a simple blood count every two weeks.
The initial response has been dramatic. The first time we changed the bandage over the surgery site after starting chemotherapy, the swelling from the tumor was gone and the wound was practically healed.
It is too early to say that Baby is cured, and I still can't say he is very pretty, but he has had no significant side effects from either drug and he seems healthy and happy. We will taper off the dose, and eventually either stop his medication completely or continue at a very low maintenance dose.
There are many kinds of cancer. They don't all respond this well to treatment. But if it ever happens to your dog or cat, an accurate diagnosis and perhaps a consultation with or referral to a specialist may give you more hope than you think.
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Roen is a retired Clarkston veterinarian whose columns were published weekly in the Lewiston Tribune for more than 30 years. He may be contacted at jazzvet@cableone.net.
