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Cancer Posts From the Wellpet List - Page 1
By Various Authors

My golden Brunzi went through the Smith Ridge protocol for squamous cell carcinoma in 1992. His story is in Martin Goldstein's book (the chapter on cancer, pages 269-271).

The protocol was successful, & in addition to the IAT we used the bionutritional analysis (which he was on the rest of his life). When he was diagnosed with a different form of cancer years later we pulled out all of the stops, using IAT, intravenous vit C, ozone therapy, SPESS (a Chinese herbal preparation), T-UP (an aloe vera preparation) & cesium chloride (from Dr. Alan Hoffman), a whole host of supplements (including astralagus and other supplements suggested by Marina Zacharias), urea & creatinine, and so forth. None of these interventions stopped the disease progression, although Brunzi was happy and frisky right up until the day before he died, and he never lost a pound. I lost him in June of 1997, & I still miss him with all my heart.

I have met & am still meeting many other dogs at Smith Ridge with outstanding results - paralyzed dogs with inoperable spinal tumors now running around the office, a skin&bones Rottie with terminal cancer who is vibrant & healthy 4 years later, etc. Of course not every story is a success. However, considering the fact that Smith Ridge usually sees animals who have gone through all of the conventional treatments & are sent home to die, their success rate is quite impressive. Smith Ridge now uses additional modalities, including polyMVA, and has differing succes rates depending on the type of cancer, the age of the dog, previous interventions used, the overall immune function, etc. The only other clinic that I know of which is doing the same types of treatments is in New Jersey - Mark Newkirk's clinic. However, Smith Ridge will work with any vet who is willing to try these alternative procedures.

Tell your friend to al least call & set up a phone consultation - and be sure to have her list of questions ready.

Carol Marangoni, Ph.D.
http://www.highlands.com/Brunzi
Pawprietor, Brunzi's Best, Inc.
Doggie Organics to Drool For!

Kansas State University News Services
9 Anderson Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-0117
(785) 532-6415; fax - (785) 532-6418
Cheryl May, director of news services

Note: articles you receive from KSUPET-L may be reprinted in newsletters and other publications. You do not need to request specific permission.

Humans are not the only victims:
OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT PETS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CANCER

MANHATTAN -- People are warned about the dangers and warning signs of cancer on a regular basis, but many may fail to realize similar risks exist for their animal companions.
Owners need to be aware of the possibility that their dog or cat could develop cancer so they are tuned in to warning signs and know there is treatment available, said Ruthanne Chun, doctor of veterinary medicine and animal cancer specialist at Kansas State University.

Chun said the best way to detect a cancerous tumor is not an unpleasant task at all.
"I usually tell people the best way to detect a tumor is just to pet their dog or cat a lot," Chun said. "If you happen to feel an abnormal bump or lump, or if the animal seems tender where they didn't used to be, then you ought to have it looked at.

"There are lots of tumors that are benign, meaning they're not likely to spread to other parts of the body or cause the animal's death. Just because there's a bump doesn't mean it's bad, but it isn't necessarily good either. I always encourage people to get it checked out by their veterinarian."
Other physical signs may include a decrease in appetite, vomiting or being less active, Chun said. In addition, any signs of lameness may be an indication of bone cancer.

The feline leukemia virus (or FeLV) and the feline immunodeficiency virus(or FIV) are two diseases that effect a cat's immune system, which often makes the cat more susceptible to developing cancerous tumors. Cats can be vaccinated against FeLV, but there is no vaccination against FIV.

Mammary, or breast cancer, is a common cancer in dogs and cats. Getting a dog spayed before she has completed two heat cycles greatly reduces her chance of getting breast cancer, and having a cat spayed reduces her risk of breast cancer slightly, Chun said.

Chun said spaying an animal and vaccinating for FeLV are known to help reduce the risk of breast cancer and other tumor types, but early detection is the best that can be hoped for with many cancers. Skin tumors, lymphoma (a cancer of the lymph nodes) and osteosarcoma (bone cancer) are unpreventable cancers Chun said she sees frequently in dogs and cats.
"Most of the cancer we see in animals is for unknown reasons," Chun said.

"Herbicides are suspected as a cause of cancer. Use of weed control products greater than label recommendations probably isn't good for the animal or owner. Cigarette smoke has also been a big issue with people, but it hasn't been shown to be as much of a problem for animals. I'd still recommend avoiding exposing your animal to it."

When a dog develops a cancerous tumor, the treatment options are similar to those available to humans. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery are offered, depending on the type type of cancer. Immunotherapy (drug therapy that stimulates the immune system) may also be an option.
Chun said many people have misconceptions about treating their animal with chemotherapy, feeling that it would be unethical or mean.

"Dogs and cats are much more tolerant than people of chemotherapy," Chun said. "They can tolerate the same drugs without getting as sick as people. The treatments also tend to be less aggressive because we don't treat them with the same doses of chemotherapy that would be given to a person.
"They don't end up spending days in the hospital, not being able to be at home with their owners. We still watch for toxicities, but overall their quality of life is good to excellent. They tend to feel good and still want to play and go for walks and eat normal food and everything."

Chun said treatment for a 30-pound dog with a common tumor, like lymphoma, would be $800 to $1,000 for a six-month treatment. This would prolong the dog or cat's life for an average of one year. Chun said it is always important to think in animal years, not people years. She said to a dog or cat that one year is a long time.

Chun said it is also important to recognize that animals can benefit from treatment even if they are older.
"I hate to tell people whether or not to treat an animal as it should be the owner's decision," Chun said. "However, I do tell them that age is not a disease. All else being equal, if the animal is feeling good to begin with and she's been eating and going for her walks and doing everything normal before you notice this lump, then yes, you should take proper steps in addressing the disease. But if she has kidney failure and heart failure or a lot of other problems, the treatment may be a lot harder on her - it depends on the overall health status of the animal, but not the age."

Prepared by Bree Bisnette. For more information, contact Chun at (785) 532-5690.

Lymphosarcoma
originates from any tissue other than epithelial or glandular cells. Cancer in animals is particularly fond of liver and lungs, and may spread through the lymphatic system (increasing rapidity of disease). Vets usually recommend a combination of chemo, radiation and surgery, though one newer technique called (I think) iodine radiation is showing good results. It's expensive, not many hospitals do it, and it requires a stay of at least 5 days usually. Surgery is aimed at slowing growth. Radiation is administered over a few weeks and destroys the cancer cells' ability to reproduce. Chemo is usually used for blood and lymph cancers and is targeted at the specific kind of cancer. My vet told me that for cats, anyway, they don't aim for a cure, but rather to slow its progression. I do suspect that vets in bigger cities than mine, with better equipment, would aim for a cure.
My vet also told me that animals handle chemo much better than humans do. Some pet parents agree that their pets have tolerated it, though most get sick in some way. Other pet parents have said they'd never put their pets through it again. Having been spared that choice I can't say personally.

Lymphosarcoma is one of the most common cancers in animals. In cats it's usually seen with FeLV but not always. It involves the "neoplastic proliferation of white blood cells" called lymphocytes within the lymph nodes and lymphatic tissue. Most often it doesn't affect just one system or organ, but sometimes it is organ specific.

Vets have a difficult time giving animals a prognosis of anything definite, unless the cancer is well advanced. They usually say "two months to two years." Many pet parents have managed to keep the cancer under control for as long as two years with homeopathic treatment and a change in diet. Supplements and remedies such as shark cartilage, essiac tea, kelp, thuja, cat's claw, yucca, vitamin C, are just some of the things that people have reported good success with. Homeopaths can tailor specific remedies for pets, but supplements can generally be added without vet consults (though of course it's best to do it with the vet).

Regularly trained allopathic vets will often not suggest these things unless they are very enlightened because generally they simply don't know about them.

My cat is currently on prednisone, one of the catch-all drugs that vets prescribe when they don't know what else to do or when the aim is not to cure but to make the pet as comfortable as possible for the time they have left. This is not a criticism against vets generally, simply that other than chemo and surgery, most vets really can't prescribe beyond that. If you have a good working relationship with your vet you can always suggest alternate treatments and have them direct you to the best of their ability. I do with mine but I've found that most of Kashmir's care is directly in my hands (research and administration).

Prednisone is a steroid, derived from yucca (which is not necessarily an anti-cancer herb, but is a natural steroid). It will help the pet gain weight and appetite, hopefully help to flush its system a little. Also helps as a pain reliever of sorts. I can send more info on pred if you like, some great emails from a doctor who helped me lots (I think I still have them!) Another temporary option is injection of subQ fluids, not as scary or annoying to the pet as it sounds. Simply sodium chloride injected in the loose folds of the skin, generally while the pet is distracted but can't run away from you. Doesn't have to be in a vein or muscle or anything. Helps to rehydrate the pet and flush its system.
During all of this pet care it is of prime importance that you take care of yourself too!!! Not only because the pet will sense your pain and upset him or her. Also because you are more able to make decisions for your pet. Cry and get angry and love and cherish and cuddle your baby.

But don't let yourself get paranoid about it. Easier said than done, I know. I lost 2 whole months of thesis work watching Kashmir's every breath. I don't regret it for a second. But I've also learned that it doesn't help!! Doesn't necessarily hurt, but it doesn't help.

One other thing to remember is that your pets do know how much you're doing for them and they do appreciate it. They understand that you're doing everything you possibly can for them, even if that means simply making them comfortable. They understand. You need to understand too that they know you love them.

Take care.
Kathy, Kashmir and Annie

P.S. One thing I found very useful to get needed energy into Kashmir was called NutriCal, for dogs and cats. They go nuts over it and it's a really high calorie supplement. Might help if they're not eating. Also, try chicken broth or tuna water in their water or on their food to add to the appeal. If it's moist food, try heating it up just a little to make it more appealing.

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