3 year old Boston terrier diagnosed with lymphoma
Hi all: So today my 3 year old dog was diagnosed with lymphoma. All his lymph nodes are inflamed and the vet prescribed a medicine by the name of, "prednisone", this whole week to see if he gets better. I've been looking up info. online in regards to what lymphoma is and average survival rates, but the websites haven't really told me a straightforward answer. Could anyone tell me from past experience the chances of my dog being able to reach remission and if the current drug he's taking is good and if there is any better one out there. Thank you so much and I wish you all the best.
I am so sorry to hear your dog has been diagnosed with cancer. There is a whole lot of information out there and things can get confusing. I would look up Dr. Dressler's dog cancer blog for tips if you plan to take a holistic approach. It's also a good idea to read about his stance on steroids and all the further comments:
http://www.dogcancerblog.com/blog/common...-too-soon/
Actually, the article is not by Dr. Dressler but from Susan Ettinger, a veterinarian oncologist. I would recommend discussing with a veterinary oncologist to find the best options for your dog.
Has your vet talked about chemo? Here is what I found in regards to remission/survival times. Quoted:
" More than 75% of dogs with lymphoma can be expected to achieve a complete remission with chemotherapy. The duration of the first remission is variable, depending on the chemotherapy protocol used. The stage and the immunotype of the lymphoma also affect remission duration. Median remission times have been reported from 6 months to 20 months, depending on lymphoma stage and treatment protocol. The second remission is more difficult to achieve, with approximately 40% of dogs with lymphoma achieving a complete remission with the second course of chemotherapy. Less than 20% of dogs with lymphoma will achieve a third complete remission. Approximately 40-45% of dogs with lymphoma live one year with treatment. Less than 20% of dogs with lymphoma live 2 years, with treatment. Without treatment, the average survival time of dogs is one month from the time of diagnosis. This is difficult for many pet owners to believe because their dog often appears to be quite healthy at the time of diagnosis." Source: http://www.vetcancerspecialists.com/reso...-lymphoma/
As Daisy suggests, seeing a veterinary oncologist is your best bet as these are the specialists in the field who know best. The initials DACVIM follow the name of veterinary oncologists.