Cancer is an immune dysfunction disease. Lymphocytes are white blood cells in the lymphatic system that protect the body against viruses, bacteria and cancer. Ironically, altered lymph cells multiply and develop into cancer cells that cause lymphoma.
Canine lymphoma comes in five forms: bone marrow, external, gastrointestinal, mediastinal (chest) and skin. Malignant tumors can affect the lymph nodes, liver, spleen digestive tract, eyes and skin.
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Symptoms and Diagnosis
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Dogs suffering from lymphoma are often middle-aged to older dogs, from 5 to 9 years old. Symptoms can depend on organs affected. Symptoms may include loss of appetite, weight loss and lethargy. Other signs include crusting skin, erratic behavior, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst and frequent urination.
Diagnosis involves biopsy, blood tests, fine needle aspirates, urinalysis, X-rays or ultrasound. When diagnosed, over 80 percent of dogs indicate metastasis, or a transfer of disease from one part of the body to another.
Treatment Options
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Treatment options for lymphoma include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. As the most common canine cancer, accounting for about 7 percent to 25 percent of all canine cancers, lymphoma has a higher remission rate than other cancers. With treatment, the dog's survival rate can increase to 60 percent to 90 percent.
Surgery
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Veterinarians may use surgery as a primary treatment to remove the malignant lymphoma tumor. If surgery includes removal of a portion of the diseased organ, fatal complications may follow. If the tumor is very large or threatens vital organs, treatment options can include surgery combined with chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy
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After surgery, chemotherapy can kill residual cancer cells. The oncologist selects drugs with the lowest toxicity to healthy cells. As the most effective and common treatment for lymphoma, chemotherapy uses powerful drugs either as a single-drug therapy or a drug mixture. An example of single-drug therapy is doxorubicin. With fewer treatments than a drug mixture, doxorubicin has a response in four out of five patients and can extend the life for several months. An example of a drug mixture is COPLA: cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisoloe, L-asparaginase ad doxorubicin.
Forms of chemotherapy include injections. Combination chemotherapy often includes both radiation treatment and chemotherapy drugs.
Radiation
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Radiation or radiotherapy works on local tumor control, especially on small tumors. While surgery can be the primary treatment, full body or half-body radiotherapy alone or with chemotherapy can control residual cancer cells. Treatment varies in dose and duration. Two types of radiation include curative radiation for long-term control, and palliative treatment for pain management and improved function. The dog receives radiation under general anesthesia.
Immune System Booster
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In addition to chemotherapy, an immune system booster, or immune system modulator, can increase a dog's survival. An immune booster includes glyconutrients needed to maintain a healthy immune system. Note that an improved immune system does not ensure the destruction of all cancer cells. Herbs and natural supplements may be used as supportive therapy.
Examples of herbal supplements:
Astragalus membranaceous--extract can restore immune functioning.
Viscum album (Mistletoe)--herb with anti-tumor properties, lowers blood pressure and improves immune system.
Echinacea purpurea (Coneflower)--antibiotic, immune stimulant and tonic for lymphatic system.
Withania somnifera (Yarrow)--tonic herb that has anti-tumor properties and can slow cancer development.
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