Squamous Cell Carcinoma - In Dogs

[ozymandious]

About a week ago my Chi-Chi got an inflamation on the end of her snout. I though it was an infection or fungal in nature. dog went on a course of meds and the inflamation went down but the crowth did not go away. Took her back to the vet and he did a slide sample and put it under the microscope and found some cancer cells.

the normal course of action for this is to extracate the growth or give some radiation treeatment. the latter is not available in Phuket so surgrey is my only course of action.

Here's a photo of my Chi-Chi, Pixie, today I think we're getting at the growth early enough so she'll be ok, but I am worried about the proximity of the growth to the nose.

Has anone else had any experiance with Squamous Cell Carcinoma. How did it turn out afterward. was the recovery good? did it ever come back?

[Nienke]

I'm afraid that surgery alone often doesn't do the trick, as the CAUSE of the cancer won't be taken away.

My Afghan was diagnosed with it. The firsttime it showed up, it wasn't recognised by the vet. So, it could go on for 1 1/2 year. When it should up again it was too late for treatment. It had gone in the bones and three months later I ahd to put my dog to sleep.

Several years ago I ahd a guest dog who received chemotherapy. That was through pills.

But the exact details of that you better ask the forum vets: Bambina and Mangotogo. Also Bina might be better in explaining that.

Nienke

[mangotogo]

HI, whenever you get a diagnosis of squamous cell carninoma it does not look good for the future.

I have treated quite a few cats mainly with similar lesions around the nose or eyelids or ears. Where your dog'slesion is situated : wide margin resection is almost impossible without disfiguring the dog. Another option is cryosurgery: your dog requires an anesthetic and a liquid Nitrogen cryoprobe would then freeze and thaw the area in 3 cycles. This would have to be repeated for a few weeks: the tissue in the area will then be killed and some scar tissue should replace the tumoral tissue. But it all depends how deep the lesion goes as far as prognostic. The whole process is not too painful.

Your dog might get a few years out of it. This type of tumour can metastasise but not often. sun damage is usually at the origin. Specially on areas that lack skin pigmentation.

if nothing is done the growth can be quite rapid and aggressive.

In Phuket you may have to approach a human doctor with a cryoprobe. I deal with Dr Nantapat ( dermatologist/surgeon)in Bangkok and she has some clinics down there i will send a message to my Bangkok office.

I will be back in Bangkok next saturday. I am in the process of exporting my new whippet puppy to Bangkok next friday.

Here in Australia it's fairly staightforward treatment.

Good luck

[ozymandious]

Thank you for your reply Mangotoga.

I took my Chi-Chi in for the extraction procedure today. And I think the Dr. Did a good job.

A piece of the growth is being sent to BKK for a Biopsy with results expected in 3 weeks. I hope the news will be good and that we've got it all out.

My Vet did inform me about Radiation, chemo, and the Cryo option. I wanted to do something ASAP so I went for the extraction (time from appearance of growth to surgery was about a week and 1/2)

I will be watching her like a hawk for any reappearance of the growth and if it does resurface I will fly her to BKK for the Cryo treatment.

Here is a photo of my Chi-Chi today one day after surgery (she hates the head cone) and in my oppinion this close up shot makes it look worse then it appears from normal standing distance.

I think she'll look ok and it will be better when her fur grows back

[mangotogo]

Hi, wish you a prompt recovery for Chi Chi. After debulking if there is some tumour tissue left it will be easier to treat. It is a good idea also to get histopathology done so yo know exactly what type of tumour you are dealing with. I asked about the cryoprobes: should be readily available in Phuket.

[CHEWCHEW]

Dear Mr.Mangotogo,

I got a dog which she has squamous cell carninoma, I found it about last month by accident, it's happen at the tongue of her mouth. I took her to see doctor at thonglor hospital and the doctor said that if we cut the tongue out, may be she can not live after that and the other option is by use chemo, agian doctor said that chemo may be too strong for her, for the last option radiation treeatment also not available in Thailand.

However, I see you talking about a liquid Nitrogen cryoprobe which I'm not sure whether it's another kind of chemo or not?... I would appreciate if you can help me to give me more information about the doctor in BKK? where's it in BKK? or any telephone number which I can contact?, etc or could you please give me your MB number because I really need help, the cancer is grow up very very fast, now my dog can not eat by herself or I really appreciate if you can ***personal information removed per forum rules---please PM this poster--sbk*** . Thank you for your kind help in advance.

Chunhawat C. (Bom)