Hi Kathy, >From the experiences I have had with mast cell tumors, your vet's comments are accurate. As long as the tumor is excised so that the edges are clean, it is unlikely that the tumor will return. I've had several Berners, middle-aged and older (6+ years), that have had grade 1 mast cell tumors removed and none had further problems with them. These Berners each passed away years later of other causes. Fritz had a mast cell tumor removed at about ten years of age, and lived to be 14 yrs old :-) His death at 14 was caused by hemangiosarcoma.
You are right to be optimistic -- this is good news in the world of lumps and bumps!! Berner wags, Suzanne Hostetter Kathy wrote: > Last week I had a lump taken off Gunner. It was on his side just under the > skin. I found out this evening it's a mast cell. The vet said that's it's a > grade 1 (I guess if you have a mast cell that's the good news). He said the > pathologist could not definitely say they got it all. So the vet wants to go > back in and get more out to make sure. Gunner's going back next Wed. to > have that done. My vet said when he's had grade 1 mast cells and gotten it > all out that he has not seen it come back, though that doesn't mean it > won't. > > I'm not at all worried about Gunner going under anesthesia again. When he > went the first time he was in at 9:00 am, they were done at 11:00 and at > 1:00 they called and asked me or my husband could take Gunner home because > he was walking around, which we did. They let him stay in the back with > them were they work instead of in a crate. That evening he was trotting > around the backyard with a toy. > > My vet is not one that sugar coats anything, he tells it like it is, and I > like that about him. My question is, does it sound right what he said about > grade 1 mast cells? If they get it all it probably won't come back? Gunner > turned 6 yrs. old in Sept. and has been doing really good, though he's still > a couch potato, that's just part of his charm. I did get a lot of weight off > him in the last year and Greta has made him feel young again. He hasn't > lost his appetite at all. I know I should know more about mast cells from > reading the L. But since I lost Mattie I just can't bring myself to read > about other Berners with cancer. > > I guess what I'm asking is how worried should I be? I tend to be overly > optimistic, but I want to be realistic. Thanks for any info. > > Kathy Schmitz, Woodstock, Georgia > Gunner & Brighteye Meine Liebe "Greta" CGC > "Mattie" Matterhorn Princess CD, NA, CGC (in loving memory, always the > light of my life) > Two stray kitties
