myxo-sarcoma

As some of you may remember, my mom adopted Paddy 2 years ago when his owner Sheila (Bumble) passed away. He's been a wonderful companion to my mom. He had a lump on his neck that was aspirated and they said it was a fatty lipoma. It grew and my mom wanted him to have surgery because it was pulling his neck sideways (according to the chiropractor), plus it looked nasty and was obviously growing.....so 2 weeks ago he got it removed, he did great in surgery. He's a strong little guy, especially for being almost 15. Today the vet called and said it was a myxo-sarcoma. She believes she got all of it. She said if it comes back it can spread to his lungs. He seems happier and healthier since it's been removed. Please keep your fingers crossed that it doesn't come back. Wondering if anyone had any experience with these.

I have not heard of this type, but I am glad Paddy is doing well!

It's a new one on me too. Hope it never comes back!

Here's some info from a forum called Oncolink:

Lili Duda, VMD, Editor of the OncoLink Veterinary Oncology Section, responds:




Myxosarcomas are a type of generally "low grade" soft tissue sarcomas
that arise from the connective tissues of the body. Low grade tumors are
locally very invasive and aggressive, but are unlikely to metastasize
(spread to other body parts). The "grade" of the tumor is determined by
both the appearance of the tumor cells under the microscope and how
rapidly and invasively the tumor is growing.

If there is no evidence of tumor spread (i.e. to lymph nodes and lungs)
then the treatment of choice is complete surgical removal, or a
combination of surgery and radiation
therapy. It can be very difficult to adequately remove a large tumor on
a limb with surgery by itself short of an amputation. Chemotherapy is
not considered a primary mode of treatment for low-grade tumors
(although it might be recommended for the much less common high-grade
versions of these tumors).


If you or your veterinarian have not already done so, please consult a qualified veterinary oncologist.



And a link: http://www.vetbook.org/wiki/dog/index.php/Myxosarcoma

he went back to get his staples removed today and I told my mom to get a copy of the report so we can see what grade it is because either the vet didn't mention it to my mom or my mom didn't retain it. He also had a bladder infection last time and got a shot of an antibiotic, and they got another sample of his urine today and said it's worse than it was before so they gave him a different antibiotic in pill form. He will have to go back for another test in a week or two. Now they're wondering if something else is going on in his bladder. I will mention the oncologist to my mom. I'm not sure if the vet did or not. Oh and good news. He had a chest x-ray today and his lungs are clear.

The oncologist is the suggestion of the vet on Onco link. I think it would be a personal decision based on what the grade is, how clean the margins were and how much invasion your mom wants to put Paddy through.

I saw the copy of the pathology report and it is a grade 1 YAY
and the report also had a note on the bottom suggesting seeing an oncologist
I asked my mom if she wanted to, there is one fairly close, and she said maybe, she's still thinking about it
The vet said she got it all and the margins were clean, and since his chest xray came back clean, I think we're good.....