Infiltrative Lipoma & Radiation

[RedTucker]

Has anyone dealt with infiltrative lipoma post surgery treatment? My 11 year old Australian Shepherd just underwent surgery to remove two. The first lump while large was removed successfully and no additional problems expected. Unfortunately his second lump is a rarer infiltrative lipoma and the surgeons at NC State could only get about 70%. The "bad" lump formed around his rectal area and snaked down his back leg. They got the portion of the lump around his tail but the part in his leg remains. It will grow back but its uncertain how long it will take. Recommendations include two radiation options or a wait and see approach. Would really appreciate learning about other experiences so I can way my options a little better.

[Julia423]

I hope someone here has some experience with this and can provide some information. I know how difficult making decisions regarding radiation can be as I've faced it with one of my dogs. Good luck to you and your guy.

[RedTucker]

Thanks for your support. I've decided to go for a consult. I'm not much of a wait and see kind of person.

[Julia423]

I hope all goes well. Let us know how he's doing and what you've decided. I have a shih tzu, Max, who is probably about 14 (he's shelter adopted so I don't know specifically). He has insulinoma (pancreatic tumors) and I've decided against surgery primarily because he is in no condition to go under anesthetic. I know how dificult those life changing decisions are.

[RedTucker]

Well we went to the Oncologist today and as I sit here typing this thread I think I've made up my mind. Although the remaining portion of his lump isn't cancerous it will continue to grow and might start to impact his colon again, it might cause injury/damage to his back leg. The only option open to him is a radiation treatment designed to slow the growth and ease his pain. Right now he's a healthy, happy, very playful 11 year old without any signs of pain. Think I'm going to take a wait and see approach at least for a couple of months. There is no way to tell what kind of growth rate we're talking about so I'll hold my breath and monitor him closely.

[tiffers]

I hope all goes well. Usually I can offer advice to many of the members here, but...I've no experience with this. So, all I can do is send my best wishes.

[RedTucker]

Thanks - Much Appreciated.

[zoeygrl]

Hi there, just wondering how the radiation came out? I have a 10 year old chocolate lab and she has an infiltrative lipoma in her shoulder. I had it removed 2 years ago and it's back. Today she is not walking on her leg and I intend to take her to the vet in the morning. I feel so bad that no one told me radiation was an option. Can you tell me how your experience with this has been please? Thanks!

[lindsayanng]

Our family dog just passed from the same thing. There was one or two lumps that our groomer pointed out to us on one of his last groomings, so my mom pointed it out to the vet. He said we SHOULDNT remove it, and that since he is young (only 8 years old) its probably a fatty syst. Well, the next grooming, a few weeks later she showed us another few lumps that had popped up. At that point, my mom decided she HATED her vet and would start going to my vet.. They said it is DEFINITELY a lymphoma and it should be removed. They removed the biggest 3 lumps on his legs and foot. Right after he recovered from that (about 2 weeks) we noticed more lumps around his neck, chest, and stomach.

They gave us the choice of radiation treatment (since they couldnt be removed) We talked to a few well renown oncologist and some other doctors in NYC and they all said that with a dog who is that covered, radiation would be a bad choice. We let ozzie have another week or two with us, but once he got to the point where he could not swallow, we had to have him put down> it was AWFUL to watch him like that, and putting him downw as definitely for the better.

But one thing we learned about radiation, is that the choice to do it is never really for the betterment of the dogs life. They USUALLY end up sick for the rest of their lives until the cancer wins. Not many dogs get CURED by the radiation, it just added another year (or months) which are not the best quality.

It one of those things, like with people too.. do you want to live the rest of your life of radiation, sick all the time, and then die.. or do you want to just go when it's your time peacefully in your own home surrounded by you loved ones knowing that your last months were as good as any other.

Ozzie's last week was not the best, but his last months were not any different than the rest of his life. If he was on radiation, it MIGHT have added a few months on to his life, but i wouldnt take a YEAR or more of time with my dog if it meant he was going to be ill that time. My last memory of Ozzie was him jumping up and wiggling to say hi to me. that was 5 days before he was put down. it makes it HARDER for us humans to deal with, but its easier for the dog.

[tiffers]

They said it is DEFINITELY a lymphoma and it should be removed.
Lymphoma or Lypoma!? ...two totally different things. I'm going to assume Lypoma (fatty tumor) because you can't remove Lymphoma (cancer).

...I do agree with the radiation bit. We've a few patients on radiation now, and they are certainly miserable. Many have died miserable suffering deaths. I don't think I'd put my dog or my cat or any of my pets through Chemo or Radiation, simply because they make the pet absolutely horrible sick.

Also, Lypomas are nothing but fat. Little balls of fat thrown across the body. I don't see what Radiation would do for them...we also generally do not remove them (as the cause no problem other than bad placement and affecting the pet that way) unless the patient is knocked out for another more important surgery or if they're getting so big they interfere with everyday life.

[lindsayanng]

Hmm.. maybe i am wrong, but it wasnt fatty, it WAS cancerous and the doc. said it was lymphoma and they removed SOME of the lumps but couldnt remove all of them.. maybe i am confused.. but i also would not see how radiation would help a fatty tissue lump if its not cancerous..

I guess thats what confused me.

[tiffers]

I guess thats what confused me.
I am at a loss, too.

The OP is talking about Radition for Fatty Tumors, too. ...even the infiltrative one's. I guess I shall have to ask the doctor's about this one. :)

How did your vet, Lindsay, know it was Lymphoma? Did they remove on and send it out?

[Julia423]

I assumed the OP was talking about lymphoma...are lympomas ever considered infiltrative? I didn't think that was descriptive of lympomas. I do know that lymphoma definately can be infiltrative. What in the world would radiation do for fatty tissue? Bacon, anyone? ;)...ok, bad joke.

I, too, would like to know how the OP's dog is doing.

[lindsayanng]

yes, they removed the lump (lymphnode) and had it tested. They originally did a needle biopsy which shows lymphona too, but they wanted to be sure by sending one out to see how aggressive it was and such..

I guess i'm just generally confused about what the vet told the OP..

[tiffers]

...well, Lypomas can certainly spread...by getting bigger and causing all sorts of problems because they're so big or spreading wider across the body. I think we're all confused. lol

I hope the OP will come back and clear up...and also tell us how the puppers is doing.

By the way, Julia...your radiation joke made me spew my drink all over the monitor... shame on you. lol

[ferJenna]

This is the first time I've read this thread. I'm now just as curious. We had a Bassett Hound that used to come in with chronic Lypomas. Our doctor never used the term infiltrative.. So I'm not sure if you could consider that the same thing. I do know that the dog underwent plenty of lump removals, and still is, I'm sure. They had sent in a few of them to the pathologist, and they all came back as fatty tumors.. So there was no cancer in any of them.

I hope the OP comes back soon.

[Julia423]

I went ahead and sent a PM to RedTucker to see if all is well. I hope we'll hear good news.