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Teri and
John have received bad news about their 7-year-old
golden retriever.
Harlo has
been diagnosed with lymphoma, and they are wrestling
with treatment options.
Harlo was
diagnosed by his regular veterinarian and referred to a
veterinary cancer specialist, an oncologist.
Lymphoma
is the most common form of cancer veterinarians deal
with in canine patients. It involves the lymph system, a
part of the circulatory system, and is specifically part
of the immune system. It is made up of many feet of
lymph vessels and structures connected to them, called
lymph nodes.
Lymphoma
occurs when lymph cells reproduce in an uncontrolled
fashion. It results in an increased number of lymph
cells — lymphocytes — in the bloodstream or as
masses in the lymph nodes. It is this nodular form that
is most common. This disease is almost always fatal.
In cases
of nodular lymphoma, caretakers will feel lumps in
various locations on their dog's body. Common areas
include under the neck, in the armpits, in front of the
shoulders, in the groin region, and behind the knees.
These are normal locations for lymph nodes but, with
this cancer, these nodes become enlarged. Early on,
there may be no signs, but any dog with enlarged lymph
nodes should be seen immediately by a veterinarian.
There are other possible causes for enlarged lymph
nodes, but do not wait to find out.
For Teri
and John, the news was devastating, but treatment
options provide some hope. They were told by the
veterinary oncologist that with medical therapy, they
could expect remission of Harlo's cancer and survival
times in excess of six months. A long-term cure is
unlikely.
Teri and
John are concerned about Harlo's quality of life and are
considering alternative therapies because of the
potential side effects of chemotherapy.
Alternative
therapies can be beneficial as part of a therapeutic
approach in the treatment of lymphoma. I encourage Teri
and John to seek out an expert in this area. I do not
recommend alternative therapy over conventional
treatment.
———
(
Jeff Kahler
is a veterinarian in
Modesto
. Questions can be submitted to Your Pet in care of
LifeStyles,
The Modesto Bee
, P.O. Box 5256,
Modesto CA
95352.)
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