THere's a pretty good article here: http://www.kateconnick.com/library/mastcelltumor.html The thing is, right now, I don't know the stage - do you know that the liver, spleen, etc are free of tumor (has she had an abdominal ultrasound and bone marrow aspirate?) If so, and this is stage I grade II, she could really do very very well. The thing is that grade II is a cop out diagnosis. I've talked to LOTS of oncology people about this and most feel that the tumors are either very aggressive (like those reported to be grade III) or very benign in their behavior (like those reported to be grade I). When the pathologist won't call it, you can't predict the behavior very well, but you will be left with something either very aggressive or, well, not - not usually something behaviorally in the middle.
My parents' dog who died recently had a grade II cutaneous mast cell tumor on his trunk - but his initial workup revealed tumor in the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and he did not live more than about six weeks from the original time of diagnosis. So I - and the oncology people I talked with - would consider that he really had grade III mast cell disease, not grade II, if that makes sense.
On the other hand I have removed gazillions of MCTs from some dogs and they just pop up all over but aside from the occasional degranulation crisis (treated with antihistamines and steroids and antacids) there is never any distant metastatic behavior by the tumor or any real problem and the dogs do well for years.
I will definitely check out the link. Thank you for all the information. The vet told us that she doesn't have it in her liver, spleen or lymph nodes but he hasn't done those tests you mentioned. I am guessing he will suggest the tests once I talk to him again.
http://www.kateconnick.com/library/mastcelltumor.html
The thing is, right now, I don't know the stage - do you know that the liver, spleen, etc are free of tumor (has she had an abdominal ultrasound and bone marrow aspirate?) If so, and this is stage I grade II, she could really do very very well. The thing is that grade II is a cop out diagnosis. I've talked to LOTS of oncology people about this and most feel that the tumors are either very aggressive (like those reported to be grade III) or very benign in their behavior (like those reported to be grade I). When the pathologist won't call it, you can't predict the behavior very well, but you will be left with something either very aggressive or, well, not - not usually something behaviorally in the middle.
My parents' dog who died recently had a grade II cutaneous mast cell tumor on his trunk - but his initial workup revealed tumor in the mesenteric lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and he did not live more than about six weeks from the original time of diagnosis. So I - and the oncology people I talked with - would consider that he really had grade III mast cell disease, not grade II, if that makes sense.
On the other hand I have removed gazillions of MCTs from some dogs and they just pop up all over but aside from the occasional degranulation crisis (treated with antihistamines and steroids and antacids) there is never any distant metastatic behavior by the tumor or any real problem and the dogs do well for years.
I don't know what to suggest here.
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