Well this sucks to try to start the story so I'll just tell it.
I noticed an out-of-place tuft of hair on my 5 yo lab, Bo's left rear ankle, I initially thought it was a tick, but it wasn't. Each day it got a little larger, but I couldn't find a wound. Over the course of about a month it grew to the size of a golf ball. I had began giving him baytril with no real results ( still thinking maybe snake or spider bite). Trip to the vet...new antibiotic, size of growth had stabilized by now, no smaller or larger, but had an opened wound now, after a couple weeks on the new drugs, we went back...scheduled a surgery for the next week early Dec. After the vet finished, he said he didn't like what he found and would be surprised if it wasn't a tumor. The results of the biopsy are below.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Biopsy
Microscopic description: Subcutaneous mass lateral left carpus: These sections contain an infiltrative neoplastic mass characterized by dense proliferation of fusiform to ovoid cells arranged in interwoven bundles and whorls associated with a fibrous stroma. In some areas, the tumor is arranged in nest and whorls resembling nerve bundles. There is nuclear and cellular pleomorphism and some mitotic figures. Mitotic figures vary from 1-5/10 hpf. Scattered binucleated-multinucleated tumor cells are also evident.
Microscopic Findings: Subcutaneous mass lateral left carpus: Neurofibrosarcoma (peripheral nerve sheath tumor) grade II
Comment: Neurofibrosarcomas are locally infiltrative and often recur after surgical excision, but metastasis is rarely encountered. Tumor cells are seen in the borders of the specimen examined. The prognosis is guarded.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We get the stitches out tomorrow, and I think after reading all I can find on the Internet, we'll to do a chest/lung x-ray also to try to find if it's spread.
This is new ground for me, I'm meeting with an oncologist this week hopefully (turns out they are pretty busy folks, although I feel like my buddy is the only one in the world with cancer) I've pretty much decided on amputating, and mainly seeing the oncologist to find out about radiation and Chemo,as well as hopefully a more thorough prognosis. I looked at some of the other threads as well as the pics of other amputees, and the story about the Kress's, Austin, and can only pray for at least this good of an ending.
But anyway, if any of you have any advice on this...especially this type of cancer, please pass it on. The uncertainty seems to be the worst part for now, I need a crystal ball so I know the next step.
Thanks
Brad
I noticed an out-of-place tuft of hair on my 5 yo lab, Bo's left rear ankle, I initially thought it was a tick, but it wasn't. Each day it got a little larger, but I couldn't find a wound. Over the course of about a month it grew to the size of a golf ball. I had began giving him baytril with no real results ( still thinking maybe snake or spider bite). Trip to the vet...new antibiotic, size of growth had stabilized by now, no smaller or larger, but had an opened wound now, after a couple weeks on the new drugs, we went back...scheduled a surgery for the next week early Dec. After the vet finished, he said he didn't like what he found and would be surprised if it wasn't a tumor. The results of the biopsy are below.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Biopsy
Microscopic description: Subcutaneous mass lateral left carpus: These sections contain an infiltrative neoplastic mass characterized by dense proliferation of fusiform to ovoid cells arranged in interwoven bundles and whorls associated with a fibrous stroma. In some areas, the tumor is arranged in nest and whorls resembling nerve bundles. There is nuclear and cellular pleomorphism and some mitotic figures. Mitotic figures vary from 1-5/10 hpf. Scattered binucleated-multinucleated tumor cells are also evident.
Microscopic Findings: Subcutaneous mass lateral left carpus: Neurofibrosarcoma (peripheral nerve sheath tumor) grade II
Comment: Neurofibrosarcomas are locally infiltrative and often recur after surgical excision, but metastasis is rarely encountered. Tumor cells are seen in the borders of the specimen examined. The prognosis is guarded.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We get the stitches out tomorrow, and I think after reading all I can find on the Internet, we'll to do a chest/lung x-ray also to try to find if it's spread.
This is new ground for me, I'm meeting with an oncologist this week hopefully (turns out they are pretty busy folks, although I feel like my buddy is the only one in the world with cancer) I've pretty much decided on amputating, and mainly seeing the oncologist to find out about radiation and Chemo,as well as hopefully a more thorough prognosis. I looked at some of the other threads as well as the pics of other amputees, and the story about the Kress's, Austin, and can only pray for at least this good of an ending.
But anyway, if any of you have any advice on this...especially this type of cancer, please pass it on. The uncertainty seems to be the worst part for now, I need a crystal ball so I know the next step.
Thanks
Brad
