Gibli is an 8 years old female belgian shepherd malinois.
In 2021 a physiotherapist found a small lump (0,5 cm in
diameter) in Gibli’s left shoulder. Gibli was checked with ultra sound three
times in years 2021 and 2022. The doctors said, it was a benign cyst in fascia.
On 2th July 2025 Gibli started to limp after agility
training. On 4th July was found mast cell tumor in fine needle aspiration. The
tumor was removed on 21th July 2025. It was grade 2 low grade mast cell tumour.
The tumour was 4,5 cm in diameter, located s.c. and im. and invaded into
triceps brachii and inside triceps muscles. One triceps brachii strand was
removed. The removal couldn’t be made completely.
Sentinel lymph node (prescapular, contrast x-rays were taken
to find sentinel lymph node) was clear. The liver and spleen fna:s were clear.
The blood tests were normal.
In Finland we didn’t have a possibility of radiotherapy,
which was strongly recommended for Gibli. It was very anxious to try to find a
place where Gibli could get radiation. Finally I asked from Utrecht university.
In Utrecht there is Animal Cancer Center. They responded quickly. On Friday 15
th August I got a phone call from there and on Sunday we were on a ferry.
Gibli got radiation 15 times, 5 times a week. They had good
routines. Gibli was treated by the team of oncologists, anesthesiologists and
radiologists.
The dogs must be sedated for every radiation, because they
are not allowed to move during radiation. Gibli got her breakfast 6 hours
before radiation. The radiation was usually 1–2 p.m. After that I drove back to
hotel, which was situated 15 minutes away from Utrecht Science Park. Gibli
continued sleeping. Later in the evening we walked nearby. In the weekends
Gibli didn’t have intravenous cannula in her leg. We could move normally. We
travelled to sea shore and enjoyed our life.
In the last week the vessels didn’t tolerate well the
cannula and it had to be changed many times. Gibli started to be more afraid of
going to the treatment. That’s why she had to be given trazodone pill 3 hours
before driving to the clinic. That helped a little.
Beforehand I studied a lot about side effects of radiation.
The oncologists also told me profoundly the side effects. Luckily Gibli’s skin tolerated
radiation quite well. The skin reactions start normally on the second week.
They are the worst 2 weeks after radiation and normally heel in 4 weeks after
radiation. Gibli started to react slightly after 12 radiations and then the
reaction followed the normal pattern. We got two types of pain killers. Because
Gibli was only slightly and occasionally bothered by the the skin reaction. We
soothened the skin with manuka honey (also to prevent infection) and saline dressings
2 times a day. Afterwards there is hyperpigmentation and fur loss. It can grow back maybe in different colour, or not come back. If the skin is without fur, she must be protected from the sun.
Gibli was also more tired after the treatment period. She
slept more and didn’t for example ”run as grazy” in the woods as normally. The
anesthesia medications affected also. The tiredness continued about 4 weeks,
which was also told to us.
There is a risk
of a relapse. Mast cell cancer can come back to the scar or appear as a metastase.
Gibli is at risk of getting a new mast cell tumor. Radiation exposes him to new
cancer. If new lumps appear, they must be examined.
Now Gibli seems
normal.
I’m grateful to the University of Utrecht for the treatment.
The future will show, how the radiation will help Gibli.
Here is a video of Gibli in October 2025. There is coming another video from the heeling process after I have edited it.
Ei kommentteja:
Lähetä kommentti