Mouth Cancer??

[SNKSMOMSUE]

Hi All -
Been a while since I've posted - owning your own contracting business these days is....ummm.....like a 24/7 root canal.

Anyway, just wanted to put this info out on board -
Took King Sol in today for his annual teeth cleaning (he will be 11 in August) and he is healthy as a horse.  The vet called me almost immediately and told me there was a tumor UNDER his tongue, that they only found when they pulled his tongue out to get the air tube in.  YIKES.  He suggested removing it, which I readily agreed to (Hello?  My baby?!?!?).
When I went to pick Solomon up this afternoon, the vet spent about a half hour with me explaining things.  He did not seem positive.  He told me that mouth cancer in dogs is the worst to have, and can be deadly as soon as two months after diagnosed.  The tumor was sent out to the lab, and within a week (A WEEK!!!!) we should know if its cancerous or not.  The vet said sometimes these can be caused by the dog biting his tongue and getting infected, or by an absessed tooth.  We know his teeth are okay - so we just pray for infection (never thought I'd say that) or at the worst a benign tumor.
I know you guys will add King Sol to your prayers, and I'm sorry I can 't post more often these days.  Mostly, I want this info out so it can help and reassure someone else.

I will keep you posted -

XOXOO
Sue

[DeeanDave]

Sue,

Sending positive rays King Sol's way!  We've missed you!  Waiting a week to get the results is probably going to be the longest week ever!  We're sending rays to the King!  Dee, Dave, Sarge & Duggie

[Merion]

Sue,
Just to let our original male Moosie had a mouth tumor. It was a malignant melanoma.  The vet here wouldn't touch it but Madison did.  It wasn't a cure but gave us more time with our 17 year old dog. They said after removing it with chemo it would be maybe 4 or 5 months.  The chemo didn't bother him at all.  He lasted another 7 months till we couldn't get the needle in to do more chemo. once we stopped the chemo once a month it grew really fast and we ended up putting him down after the 8th month.  I am sure they must have gotten better at this after all these years. That was is 1988.

Will send a ton of HHHHHH's & PPPPPPPP's for Sol the King to get well soon and that it isn't malignant.

Merion & the ZZ's

[sollysmom]

Solly and I are sending healing rays and prayers for a good report on King Sol.  Interestingly enough, my Solomon is 11 years old, too.  Here's my King Solomon:

[Kari]

OMG Sue! I'm going to be on pins and needles waiting to hear the outcome. We are sending mega rays and prayers your way! We miss hearing from you!

[papbouv]

Rays to Sol the King hope the report is good news. Awhile back some one in a Dog Fancy article dog had cancer in the mouth they use unconventional Holistic medication and the dog lived a very long time and did quite well. I bet if you write or call Dog Fancy they could find the article for you? Good Luck with your baby.
Papbouv

[Sandishooligans]

Loads of rays to our King Sol.  It's a drag you have to wait a whole week for results.  Sheeeesh!  I bet he just bit his tongue.  Let's get those rays crankin' to The King!

[cheryl186]

Sue, mega rays heading your way for you and King Sol.....   Waiting for the results a whole week..... is just terrible.  Stay positive :thumb:  Hugs and kisses to King Sol.  These rays are definitely crankin

[Mike]

Sue, try to get hold of Rich.  Stormy was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer in his mouth a year ago and the last I heard was in complete remission. 

Sending rays for all in the King's family for a good diagnosis...

[Barb]

We miss all of you - and are sending massive rays and prayers that all comes out clear for our Sol.  Please let us know as soon as you find out and know that we are here for you.  Sol is one of our own....  Smoochies to both boys and a big hug to mom....

[SNKSMOMSUE]

Thanks for the well-wishes and prayers - you guys are still THE BEST!!  I will keep you posted.  Sol doesn't quite seem like himself yet, but he hasn't lost his appetite!!  The vet said not to give him rawhide for 5 days - so I didn't.  However, he and Kirby must have some kind of secret arsenal because twice I turned around last night and they both had rawhide.
:scratch:

I will let you guys know as soon as I hear.  Thanks again!

[Ruth in MT]

Oh!  King Sol    :bow:

Get well soon !

[Leslie]

Holy c*** SUe.  Sending rays to King Sol. All Hail the King! Praying for some stoopid little cyst and not the big C.

[Rich]

Hi Sue - we know exactly how you feel. In February 2007 a tumor was discovered in Stormy's mouth during a dental. The biopsy came back squamous cell carcinoma. We took him to Iowa State University to their vet school and the diagnosis was confirmed - only he had two tumors instead of one. The did another biopsy and confirmed that this was inoperable.  The oncologist said that some dogs in some studies had had favorable results with a drug called piroxicam.  They also told us that he probably only had 3-5 months unless we took him to the University of Missouri and let them keep him there while he underwent radiation therapy which didn't really promise much more time. We decided to take a chance on the piroxicam and just to love him as much as possible in the time he had left.

Now, one year and 5 months later, he is symptom free. We have been incredibly lucky that he and his particular tumor were sensitive to the piroxicam which he is still on since the oncologist said it couldn't hurt to continue.  Piroxicam is actually an analgesic - a NSAID (non steroidal anti inflammatory drug - i think it stands for) like Aspirin, Ibuprofen and Naproxen. It was just by accident that some researchers in Great Britain noticed that in some dogs it had anti-tumor properties.  Our regular vet has a Corgi that is on piroxicam for a tumor and has had some positive results. We are hoping that when you get the results of the tests that you will get good news, but if you do not, you may want to talk to your vet about this drug.  If you google "piroxicam" you will find somewhere in the results some references to anti-tumor results in dogs.

Mind you, this is not a promise of results. My mom had a dachs with bladder cancer and she put him on piroxicam with no results. But I believe that the results for mouth tumors is more positive.  If you want more information, you can email me.