On the Eve of my first 5k of 2016, I give you this thought...
I am REALLY ok if THIS is the face of
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Liver Cancer).
I am REALLY ok with it....because I SURVIVED!
This is our first Saturday Spotlight of 2016!
My Mom and I want it to be an incredibly important one because this is the cancer that I was diagnosed with last May, 2015.
It is not pretty. It is scary. It takes a GREAT amount of courage to face this diagnosis.
However, with Hepatocellular Carcinoma, surgery CAN be CURATIVE!
Hepatocellular Carcinoma is one of the only cancers that can absolutely have a curative result. Let me say that again....CURATIVE RESULT! I am living proof of that!
Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Dogs
Hepatocellular carcinoma describes a malignant tumor of the epithelial tissues of the liver (the tissue that lines the cavities and surfaces of body structures – in this case the liver). This type of tumor is less common than benign liver tumors in dogs, but accounts for more than 50 percent of all types of malignant liver tumors combined. Extrahepatic (outside of the liver) forms occur very rarely in dogs. There are no breed predispositions, but affected dogs are on average older than ten years of age and tend to be male.Symptoms
The following symptoms are typically absent until the disease reaches an advanced stage:
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite (anorexia)
- Weight loss
- Polydipsia (excessive thirst)
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Hepatomegaly (enlarged liver with uneven size); precedes development of overt clinical signs
- Abdominal hemorrhage
Causes
- Unknown
- May be associated with chronic inflammation or hepatotoxicity (chemical-driven liver damage)
- Toxins
Diagnosis
Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam on your dog, including a complete blood profile, chemical blood profile, a complete blood count, a urinalysis and an electrolyte panel. A microscopic study of fluid taken from the liver by needle will be done to detect dysplasia (a pre-cancerous change in cells and tissues) and overt malignant features of cancerous cell spread. Occasionally, the only finding of the study is necrotic (dead) cells in the liver. A hepatic biopsy will need to be conducted in order to make a conclusive diagnosis. This will require that your veterinarian surgically remove a sample of liver tissue for laboratory analysis. A needle biopsy is not recommended.
Diagnostic imaging may include abdominal radiography to localize the tumor, and X-ray imaging of the chest to check for metastasis into the lungs.
Treatment
Treatment will be given on an outpatient basis, unless surgical intervention requires postoperative critical care during recuperation, or bleeding tumors require transfusion of blood components or whole blood transfusions. Your veterinarian may consult a veterinary oncologist for assistance.
Surgical removal of the tumor is recommended when possible, and is often most successful when the tumor is massive and singularly located. Up to 75 percent of the liver can be surgically removed without pronounced loss of function. However, nodular and scattered (diffuse) forms are often not good candidates for surgery. Chemotherapy is not recommended, as it has not been found to be successful in the treatment of liver cancer.
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Keep HOPE alive should you ever face this diagnosis.
Get a GREAT surgical team in place, and keep HOPE alive!
See you after the finish line tomorrow!
xoxo
Kadie
