My American Pit Bull Terrier has Mast Cell tumors

by Dawn
(Long Island, NY)

Four years ago I brought Pauly to the vet about a lump on his face in the cheek area. She said it was nothing to worry about. Evidently, she was fresh out of college. Fast forward to last September when the thing swelled up. I took him to the vet office and a different vet was there and handled things properly. She took a biopsy. Pauly had mast cell cancer.

As most would understand it's like the end of the world. But, along with being upset I was furious that he could have been diagnosed much sooner if the vet that I normally used had been there that day. It burns me.

So after a series of cortisone injections, the mass is removed, well most of it anyway. It was too big to fully remove.

So here it is April and it's back. Bigger and more spread out, getting worse every day. It is beginning to obstruct his vision. I have ordered an herbal remedy in the mean time. I hope it works. I can't lose him to something like this. He may be 14, but he has some good years ahead of him. He is energetic and happy.

Now there is a new drug out called Palladia. It targets Mast Cell Tumors. It was supposed to have come out early this year. It seems to have a resonable success rate. For the time being canine oncologists will be the only ones able to administer the drug. There is hope.