| Lymphosarcoma is also known as lymphoma or | | | | STAGING, the best treatment can be determined. |
| non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It is one of the most | | | | TREATMENT |
| common cancers treated in practice. Many different | | | | Ninety percent of dogs treated with chemotherapy |
| species develop Lymphosarcoma. | | | | go into remission, which means the cancer is no |
| The most common form of Lymphosarcoma in dogs | | | | longer detectable. Remission is not a cure, but it does |
| is that which starts in the lymph nodes. Your dog | | | | allow good quality of life. Eight to Ten Months is the |
| may feel fine and have no clinical symptoms other | | | | average remission and survival time. Unlike humans, |
| than enlarged lymph nodes. Usually the first place this | | | | less than five percent of dogs experience serious |
| is noticed is under the jaw. Other forms of | | | | side effects from Chemotherapy, which can include: |
| Lymphosarcoma can start in the chest, abdomen, | | | | * Vomiting |
| bone marrow, or skin. | | | | * Diarrhea |
| FACT: In advanced cases, the cancer can spread, | | | | * Appetite Loss |
| which vets call "metastasize", to involve multiple sites. | | | | * Lethargy |
| DIAGNOSIS OF LYMPHOSARCOMA | | | | Dogs don't lose their hair like people (except Poodles, |
| Because Lymphosarcoma can spread to almost any | | | | Old English Sheepdogs) do with Chemotherapy, but |
| tissue in the body, a thorough work-up needs to be | | | | some do lose their whiskers. |
| done to determine stage of disease. This lets us | | | | COMPLEMENTARY TREATMENTS |
| know how advanced the disease has become and | | | | CANCER DIETS |
| ultimately helps us decide what treatment would be | | | | A good diet and a multi-vitamin mineral supplement |
| most beneficial. Typically, staging includes the | | | | are standard for most cases. |
| following tests. | | | | NUTRACEUTICALS, HORMONES, HERBS AND |
| *Cytology - Lymph node cells | | | | OTHER SUPPLEMENTS |
| * Blood | | | | There are quite a few considerations that go into |
| * Abdominal radiographs | | | | designing a supplement program for a cancer patient. |
| * Abdominal ultrasound | | | | Will the supplement interfere with chemotherapy? |
| * Bone marrow analysis | | | | Is immune stimulation potentially harmful? |
| It is not always necessary to do all of the tests | | | | Has the patient lost his or her appetite due to the |
| listed above, however, these help give us an | | | | illness? |
| indication of the stage of your pet's cancer and his | | | | Below is a brief listing of supplements that may be |
| her general health and ability to undergo treatment. | | | | helpful with cancer treatment. No doses are provided |
| STAGES OF LYMPHOSARCOMA | | | | because every animal should receive an |
| Lymphosarcoma is staged from Stage I to Stage V. | | | | individualevaluation. |
| Stage I disease means that the cancer is confined to | | | | SUPPLEMENTS TO CONSIDER |
| only one lymph node. | | | | Look for the * - these are considered essential |
| State I is rarely diagnosed in pets. | | | | supplements: |
| Stage II refers to cancer in more than one node but | | | | * FISH OIL OR OTHER OMEGA-3 FATTY ACID |
| in one region of the body. | | | | SOURCES: fish oil appears to reduce cancer spread; |
| Stage III refers to cancer in nodes generalized in the | | | | enhance natural defense mechanisms and fight |
| body. | | | | inflammation. |
| Stage IV means disease is not only in the nodes but | | | | * VITAMIN A: Vitamin A and beta-carotene enhance |
| also in the spleen or liver. | | | | immune function and may prevent some forms of |
| Stage V refers to all of the above plus cancer in the | | | | cancer. Be careful though - a large study suggested |
| bone marrow, blood or other sites not listed above. | | | | that beta-carotene accelerated development of lung |
| There is also a sub classification of "A" or "B". "A" | | | | cancer in smokers. This might be important if your |
| means that the patient is not ill with the disease while | | | | pet lives with a smoker. |
| "B" means that the patient is showing clinical | | | | * VITAMIN C: like Vitamins A and E, adequate |
| symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fluid in the | | | | Vitamin C levels may lower cancer risk; |
| lungs, etc. | | | | supplementation may enhance effects of cancer |
| Stage IIIA is usually the earliest we detect the | | | | therapy and reduce their potential toxicity. The |
| disease in dogs. Even higher stages of | | | | antioxidant function of Vitamin C may also reduce |
| Lymphosarcoma are very treatable. | | | | inflammation. |
| TREATMENT | | | | * VITAMIN E: evidence suggests that Vitamin E |
| Chemotherapy - means "chemical" treatment and | | | | prevents cancer. Vitamin E does stimulate immunity |
| refers to drug therapy. Anti-cancer drugs can be | | | | and may help counteract the side effects of |
| administered intravenously, subcutaneously or even | | | | chemotherapy. |
| orally depending on the drug chosen. Fortunately, | | | | *SELENIUM: strongly associated with a decreased risk |
| animals tolerate these treatments far better than | | | | of cancer; supplementation may reduce side effects |
| people. The incidence of side effects tends to be | | | | of chemotherapy. |
| less than 5 percent. | | | | COENZYME Q10: may decrease toxicity of the |
| Will there be hair loss? In general, no. Exceptions | | | | chemotherapeutic drug Adriamycin. Also acts as an |
| include Poodles, which are at risk for chemotherapy | | | | antioxidant therefore, enhances immune functions. |
| induced hair loss. Old English Sheepdogs are also at | | | | * ARGININE: enhances immune function in cancer |
| higher risk. If any hair is lost, it will regrow after | | | | studies. |
| treatment is stopped. | | | | PYCNOGENOL: powerful antioxidant comes from |
| While Lymphosarcoma is a very treatable disease, it | | | | grape seed extract. |
| is not a curable disease. | | | | MELATONIN: suppresses several types of cancer. |
| What are chances of remission and how long will it | | | | GLANDULARS: extracts of thymus gland, for |
| last? It does depend on the TYPE of | | | | instance, may contain agents called cytokines helpful |
| Lymphosarcoma present, but in general, greater than | | | | in managing cancer. |
| 90% of dogs will achieve a complete remission. The | | | | HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS: with anti-cancer effects |
| average length of remission is 8-12 months. | | | | (note: some of these herbs may be quite toxic - |
| What happens after my pet comes out of remission? | | | | even more so than some chemotherapy drugs in the |
| Your pet can be retreated at that time. Second and | | | | correct dosage - so only use under the direction of a |
| third remissions are always possible. | | | | trained veterinarian): Green tea, Turmeric, Soybeans, |
| Cost of treatment - Treatment costs can start at | | | | Garlic, Carnivora (venus fly trap), Cotis, Oregon |
| $500 and reach $2,000 for larger pets. | | | | Grape, Mistletoe, Chaparral |
| RENAL LYMPHOSARCOMA | | | | IMMUNESTIMULANTS: |
| Renal Lymphosarcoma is the term used when the | | | | - Reishi (ganoderma) |
| kidneys are the primary site of involvement. Signs | | | | - Maitake |
| include those of kidney dysfunction/failure; initially | | | | - Ashwaganda |
| cats drink and urinate a lot. Later, cats lose their | | | | - Ginseng |
| appetite, vomit and become depressed. | | | | - Astragalus |
| MEDIASTINAL LYMPHOSARCOMA | | | | HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT OF CANCER |
| The Mediastinum is a term used for "lymph" tissue | | | | There are veterinarians who specialize in homeopathic |
| near the heart and lungs. These cats have difficulty | | | | treatment, and those who have a special interest in |
| breathing because the cancer forms a "tumor" mass | | | | homeopathic treatment of cancer. Any pet owner |
| in their chest or causes excess fluid to accumulate | | | | considering homeopathic cancer treatment should |
| around their lungs. | | | | consult a homeopathic veterinarian. This is a brief list |
| BONE MARROW LYMPHOSARCOMA: LEUKEMIA | | | | of some homeopathic agents often used in cancer |
| If the cancer was confined to the bone marrow, it | | | | treatments and this prescription is best left to the |
| would be called Leukemia. The signs seen would | | | | specialists. |
| relate to the type of blood cell affected in the bone | | | | - Arsenicum Album |
| marrow. The bone marrow normally makes red blood | | | | - Arsenicum Iodatum (Ars-I) |
| cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that fight | | | | - Asterias (Aster) |
| infection and platelets that help blood to clot. A | | | | - Cadmium Sulphide (Cadm-s) |
| decreased number of these cells as a result of | | | | - Calcarea carbonica (Calc or Calc carb) |
| Leukemia would cause: anemia, infections, and | | | | - Carbo Animalis (Carb an) |
| bleeding disorders respectively. | | | | - Carbo |
| DIAGNOSIS | | | | - Carcinosic (carc) |
| Diagnosis is confirmed by a tissue biopsy, which is a | | | | - Conium maculatum (Conium) |
| microscopic examination of tissue from the specific | | | | - Graphites |
| site involved. | | | | - Hydrastis (Hydr) |
| To completely evaluate a dog suspected of having | | | | - Mercurius corrosives (Merc cor, Nitric acid (Nit ac) |
| this type of cancer, a detailed exam is necessary to | | | | - Phosphorus (Phos) |
| determine whether or not the cancer has spread to | | | | - Phytolacca (Phyt) |
| involve any other areas of the body. Veterinary | | | | - Silicea (Sil) |
| cancer specialists (Oncologists) refer to this as | | | | - Sulphur |
| "STAGING". Diagnostic Procedures used to "STAGE" | | | | - Thuja |
| the cancer include: | | | | - Cell salts |
| * Cytology - analyze cells in enlarged lymph node and | | | | - Tumor nosodes - vaccines made from cancer cells |
| look at them under microscope. Removing a few cells | | | | Homeopathic: no food ten minutes before or after |
| with a needle gives a good idea of what's going on. | | | | Silicea 6c - give one pellet once every two days for |
| * Blood tests. | | | | four weeks. |
| * X-Rays | | | | Phosphorus 6c - give one pellet once every two |
| * Ultrasound | | | | days for four weeks for tumors which bleed |
| * Bone Marrow Analysis | | | | persistently. |
| Once the extent of the cancer is determined by | | | | |