Treatment for spleen cancer

Treatment for spleen cancer
 
Written by Ann Louise Truschel
Dogs from middle to old are more likely to suffer from spleen cancer.
golden retriever image by chirny from Fotolia.com

The spleen is a flat, oval organ located just below the stomach. The red pulp of the spleen stores blood, recovers iron from dead red blood cells and eliminates parasitic infections. The white pulp acts as a lymph node and is involved with the transport of lymphocytes in the immune system. The cancers that arise in the blood vessels of the red pulp are called hemangiosarcomas. Mastocyte and lymphosarcoma tumors are cancers that grow in the white pulp.
Hemangiosarcomas

The majority of spleen cancers in dogs are hemangiosarcomas, and most occur in middle-aged or older animals. German shepherds, golden retrievers and farmers are at greater risk. Hemangiosarcomas are aggressive tumors that disperse (metastasize) quickly, usually to the liver and lungs. Symptoms may include abdominal swelling, weight loss, weakness, sudden collapse, loss of appetite, acute bleeding, shock, pale gums, cold body and anemia.
Mast cell tumors

A mast cell contains granules containing histamine, which causes the secretion of stomach acids and produces inflammation during an allergic reaction. Splenic mast cell cancer symptoms include spleen growth, inflammation and increased secretion of stomach acids. Although mast cell tumors are less common in dogs than in cats, dogs with this type of cancer usually have little chance of overcoming it.
Linfosarcoma

Lymphosarcoma is cancer of lymphocytes. One of the most common tumors in dogs, lymphosarcoma usually occurs in middle-aged or older animals. Golden Retrievers have a particular risk. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, weakness, pale gums, loss of appetite, and loss of energy. Lymphosarcoma is not curable.
Diagnosis

A veterinarian can usually feel a large mass in the spleen area. X-rays of the abdomen and chest will confirm whether this mass is related to the spleen and whether the cancer has spread to the lungs. A blood test can detect a possible chronic hemorrhage caused by a tumor. The analysis of serum biochemistry, ultrasound and other imaging studies can be performed to confirm the presence of tumors or to determine if the cancer has spread.
Splenoctomy

The tumors in the spleen are broken in the end. When this happens, the spleen starts to bleed, and the loss of blood can be life-threatening. Therefore, initial treatment always involves the removal of the spleen or splenectomy. Euthanasia should be considered if the dog is not a candidate for splenectomy.
Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy can prolong the life and quality of a dog with splenic cancer after splenectomy. Survival depends on the general health of the dog and how advanced the cancer is at the time of diagnosis. Dogs treated with splenectomy and chemotherapy generally survive a year or less. Dogs diagnosed with hemangiosarcomas have a shorter survival time, while dogs with lymphosarcomas tend to have a longer survival.
Requirements

The dogs will require analysis for their disease, as well as for the discomfort caused by the treatment. Dogs with cancer require a special diet