Symptoms & Treatment, Life Expectancy Of Small Cell Lymphoma In Dogs

May 23, 2011 | Dog Cancer | Leave a Comment |

Small Cell Lymphoma in Dogs

Small cell lymphoma mostly affects the lymph nodes. This variant is a B-cell lymphoma which affects B cell lymphocytes. Still, about 20% of T-cell lymphomas are small cell variants.

  • The small cell lymphoma that affects dogs often targets the population of middle aged and older dogs. Younger generations are often less like to develop small cell lymphoma. Still, there had been reports of young dogs with this type of lymphoma.

Causes of Small Cell Lymphoma.

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  • Just like most cancers of the lymphoid system, the exact reasons why small cell lymphoma develops are unknown. Still, the following are some of the possible causes:
    • Genetic predisposition. Some dogs inherit risks of developing small cell lymphoma from their parents or other family members.
    • Exposure to toxins, carcinogens, and pollutants. Such factors can trigger many types of cancer.
    • Exposure to strong magnetic fields and UV rays. These environmental factors are reported to have an effect in the ailment.

Symptoms of Small Cell Lymphoma.

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  • Owners should watch out for the following symptoms:
    • Enlarged lymph nodes that can be seen or touched
    • Weakness
    • Pain in parts of the body, especially in the abdomen
    • Loss of appetite
    • Weight loss
    • Lethargy

Treatment of Small Cell Lymphoma

  • Chemotherapy is the best option to treat small cell lymphoma.
  • The medications are often provided on a regular basis, for a certain period of time.
  • What makes this a good option is that it can easily destroy cancer cells without the side effects associated with use in humans, such as hair loss.

Life Expectancy

Prognosis is good if the dog is diagnosed at the early stages. Still, dogs rarely reach 2 years after the diagnosis

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Of all the types of lymphomas, the multicentric variety is the most prevalent. If the cancer is widespread and affects a number of lymph nodes in the body, then it is called multicentric lymphoma.

Multicentric Lymphoma in Dogs

  • It accounts for 80% of the total lymphomas diagnosed in dogs.
  • Middle aged and older dogs are more susceptible to developing multicentric lymphoma.
  • Dogs are also affected by lymphomas.
  • Like in humans, their lymphoid system works to keep the body from infections and diseases. Thus, if the dog has multicentric lymphoma, the immune system is also compromised.
  • It is estimated that about 84 out of 100,000 old dogs (10-11 years) have multicentric lymphoma. This is according to the Pet Cancer Center. Also, 3 out of 200,000 young dogs (below 1 year) have this ailment.

Causes

  • The exact cause of multicentric lymphoma is not known. Still, the following are possible: .
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    • Genetic.
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    • Exposure to carcinogens, pesticides, herbicides, and other toxins

Symptoms

  • It is best to watch out for the following:
    • Diarrhea
    • Vomiting
    • Loss of appetite
    • Weight loss
    • Increased thirst
    • Frequent urination
    • Fever
    • Swollen lymph nodes
    • Although most of these symptoms are similar to those presented in other diseases, the swollen lymph nodes are often the key to diagnosis. There will be multiple swollen lymph nodes in dogs with this ailment.

Treatment

  • Like most cancers and lymphomas, multicentric lymphoma can be treated by chemotherapy and radiation.
  • Chemotherapy uses high doses of certain drugs. This is a good option in dogs as they do not experience hair loss.
  • Half body radiation is also a good option. One half of the body is treated in a session, alternating every few weeks.
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