Canine Cancer - Hemangiosarcoma

If your dog were diagnosed with cancer, would you know what to do? Where would you turn to find answers to your questions? It’s an overwhelming thought to say the least, and there are tens of thousands of articles to be found on the Internet. How do you sift through this enormous sea of information, sort through the hype and find what you really need to help in your situation? Just one article or blog cannot do justice to any one type of cancer because there is so much to know.  Now is the time, before something such as cancer or other disease strikes, that you need to become informed as much as possible. I believe it is always wise to have a basic knowledge of these things, because as a pet parent, this is part of your responsibility in caring for their health and well-being. Hopefully, it is something that will never come to pass, but being prepared could make the difference between months of sickness and pain or additional months of quality life for your dog.  Even if you don’t have need of it, with the intensifying prevalence of cancer, most likely someone you know will.

Cancer, generally speaking is becoming more common in canines.  According to College of Veterinary Medicine (www.cvm.ncsu.edu), almost 50% of all dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer and approximately one in four dogs will at some stage in their life develop a cancer.  To me, those are staggering and sad statistics, and it’s just as scary a diagnosis in many cases for dogs as it is for people.  So why, why is it becoming so prevalent? What can be done to reverse this trend? It didn’t used to be this way….so in a modern society with such advanced technology in medicine, why the increase? Another downside, this particular type of cancer I am blogging about, hemangiosarcoma is basically inoperable mainly because it is so aggressive and malignant and spreads quickly to other organs like the heart, from its beginnings in the blood vessels (the cells) most commonly in the spleen. It is more common in dogs than any other species, affecting mid age to older dogs (6-13 years), but can also occur in dogs less than a year old.  Mid to large size breeds seem to be more susceptible, especially German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers, Dobermans and English Setters, but any dog can be vulnerable to this type of cancer. More interestingly, hemangiosarcoma is rarely found in humans.

My inquiring mind always asks so many questions.  What causes cancer to develop in the first place, any kind of cancer? That’s important, because I believe that is where it needs to be nipped in the bud.  Prevention, that’s key.  I know, there are no 100% guarantees, no magic bullet, no ‘pure luck’, none of that, but there has to be hope somewhere…hope to prevent it from occurring in the first place, and hope to cure it once it develops.  Obviously, cancer can be very complex, as there is no single cause for cancer.  Diet and heredity play a major role.  Certainly aging doesn’t help, as cancer can develop as the dog’s body weakens in the inevitable cycle of this process. That tells me the important part the immune system plays in this scenario. Sadly, with the growing number of puppy mills, this adds to this very problem, as genetic issues are more commonly seen in puppy mills where dogs with poor health and living conditions are breeding. Perhaps that should be a starting point, and I know there are many rescues working toward stopping this cruel money maker, and I personally would love to see it stop. That aside, however, nutrition and environment, internal and external need to be seriously considered.

There seems to be an ‘app’ for everything these days, it’s the 21^st Century buzz word.  My thought and answer is, ‘there’s got to be an herb for that!’ For some forms of canine cancer, yes…especially when detected early, as these remedies require longer to work through the system and have a positive, healing effect.  Sadly, there is a point of no return in any disease…a period where too much time has passed and progression has advanced, that it becomes too late to turn it around.  So what really helps? What hinders? Where do you start? What role does ‘God’s medicine’ (aka: herbs) play in healing? What about prescriptions drugs? That seems to always be man’s answer…’let’s treat the symptoms’.  But to me that’s nothing more than a ‘Band-Aid’.  I want to treat the cause….get to the core of the problem.  That’s when healing can take place! Quality of life is much more important than quantity of life.  It is very difficult to deal with suffering that comes with illness.  Watching a loved one, our furry companions included, seeing them in discomfort can be a heart-wrenching experience. Many times, we’d rather take their place than to see them in pain.

So, let’s start with the ‘basics’ about cancer.  There are two main forms, carcinomas – growths made up of cells; and sarcomas – tumors that come from connective tissue.  Simply put, cancer happens when uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells go wild, and these renegade invaders better known as free radicals, cause damage to internal organs, tissues, muscles and such, because we now have an immune system that is totally overwhelmed.  This creates a ripe environment for disease, especially cancer to occur.  Internal (diet) and external (environment) are main characters in this development.  Your dog’s system is no different than ours in this situation.  They are just as susceptible to second hand cigarette smoke as a human, and to chemical side effects from synthetic products they are exposed to on a daily basis.  Some of this you have direct control over, others not so much.  So it is important you do what you can, where you can.  It will also benefit you and your family.  Even though society as a whole seems to be ‘coming around’ to taking better care of themselves, we are still inundated with so much that is not only unhealthy, it’s downright dangerous! It’s in our homes and our own back yards!  Once we open the door to this, we allow it to quickly take hold.

Cancer symptoms include lumps, swelling, sores and decreased appetite.  Neutering (males) and spaying (females) can prevent some kinds of cancer, namely mammary cancer in females.  Exposure to chemicals, like those many people spray in their yards to prevent ‘weeds’ and over-vaccination are major components that contribute to cancer formation.  It is quite common for cancer to cause anemia because internal bleeding can occur.  One easy way to watch for this is to monitor your dog’s gums. Healthy ones are pink.  If your dog has pigmented or colored gums, you can check the mucus membranes in the eye. You can do this by gently placing a finger below the bottom of the eye on the bone, and pulling the skin down to view the membrane.  Remember, pink is healthy. (Note: Blue, pale, yellow, cherry red, white, brick red or brown is considered an emergency….call your vet immediately!)

With hemangiosarcoma, internal and external bleeding is a problem.  It is uncertain what the causes of this type of cancer are.  Treatment is aggressive, not likely curative.   Combining surgery, chemotherapy and prescription drugs is standard treatment.  Due to the expense, this would unfortunately not be an option for most pet parents. The most common sight is the spleen, but it can also be dermal.  This appears as rosy red or black growths on the skin and are associated with sun exposure.  Dogs with short white haired fur (Dalmations and Pit Bull Terriers) are predisposed to the development of this tumor.  Because these are most easily removed, they have the greatest potential for complete cure.  The subcutaneous or hypodermal variety are more complex. Visceral – spleen is a rapidly spreading malignancy.  A test is done to determine if malignant.  Twenty-five percent of dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma also have heart based hemangiosarcoma.  Visceral – heart tends to be life-threatening from the effects of bleeding.

Prognosis is two months, to six to ten months.  Fewer than 10% of dogs survive more than one year.  I certainly don’t like reading those kinds of statistics, it is very bleak.  And if that’s not bad enough, a blood disorder most commonly accompanies the presence of hemangiosarcoma known as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).  As I mentioned earlier, there is so much to this.  I simply cannot say it all in one blog.  I certainly don’t know all about every cancer, I don’t know every answer, either.  What I can glean from all I have researched and that which I know regarding canine nutrition, I can fit pieces together to help. Is there a possible cure? Miracles can and do happen every day, and I believe there is hope by stepping away from conventional (mainly Western) medicine and exploring alternative practices such as holistic, herbal and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).  I will research these further and blog on them in the near future.  All this is a very time consuming, yet a very informative journey for me, and I feel a great need to pass it along to you.  I have said so many times how much I love dogs…all dogs.  I want to do everything I can do assist you to have a healthy family member with whom you can enjoy making many years of memories.  Really delving into the clues to genetic basis, finding better ways to diagnose the disease early and developing new and effective treatments are all necessary to put an end to canine cancer.  I believe we can reverse the trend.

So now you have a start.  There are a few things you can begin doing right now.  Whole foods are an important player to deter cancer, as are whole food supplements. Vitamins C and E need to be at the top of your preventative supplements list.  Most people do not realize that Vitamin C is a ‘complex’ vitamin, meaning there’s more to it than ascorbic acid, that is only the ‘outer ring’.  Rutin, bioflavonoids (Vitamin P), Factor K, Factor J, Factor P, Tyrosinase and Ascorbinogen are what round out the complex, making it whole and most beneficial to the body.  Some of the best foods you can add to your dog’s diet that contain Vitamin C are broccoli, green pepper and dark leafy greens…collard and dandelion (yes, those ‘pesky’ weeds that grow so abundantly in your yard every year) are some of the best eatin’ you can provide for your pooch.  A company by the name of Standard Process carries whole food supplementation for dogs.  There is a ‘Canine Musculoskeletal Support’, which would be excellent for hemangiosarcoma, as this product aids blood vessels.  You can search for a veterinarian in your area who carries these by going to: www.standardprocess.com/Home, enter your zip code and find one closest to you.  Also, did you know that raw meat contains Vitamin C? That overcooked, dry kibble you feed your dog doesn’t have this…and what has been added isn’t a whole complex by any stretch of the imagination.  The heating/cooking process destroys this water soluble vitamin and many other enzymes.  Raw is simply best.  I am truly blessed to have a raw meat supplier in my area who distributes raw meat especially for dogs which contains the organs and bone ground in with the meat…just like wolves and wild dogs eat!

I would also like to share with you a couple of really good websites I came across while researching to write this blog: www.caninecancer.com and www.dogcancergroup.com.  The later one has a couple books you can download for free titled: ‘Fighting Canine Cancer: An Alternative Approach’, which is 175 pages in length, and a 130 page Part 2 which contains bonus materials (http://www.fighting-canine-cancer.com/bonus-materials) This has much valuable information such as a 10-day fighting canine cancer action plan, a supplement starter kit, and how to fight cancer on ANY budget.  I will be reading through all this material over the next couple of months, and share with all my blog readers my findings.  Don’t give up, please! Cancer is a devastating disease, but I do believe given the right tools, we can beat it and add many quality years to these precious furry companions that bring so much joy and purpose to our lives!