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  Discussion on Lymphoma
Author Message
Member:
Lark41

Posted on Monday, Aug 18, 2003 - 4:06 pm:

Dear Doctor. My vet biopsied two rather large lumps on my mares neck and they were lymphomas. She has a smaller ome near her anus as well.
She has had several occur since 2000, one was biopsied and was malignant, the others that caame up shortly after that my former vet injected with triamcinalone with good results. Now this year she got larger faster growing lumps. My current vet wants to start right away with prednizolone and chemo therapy. I am resistant to the Chemo as she seems very healthy good appetite and energy...what do you think? Thanks
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2003 - 9:43 pm:

Other than the prednisolone what drugs does the vet want to use?
DrO
Member:
Lark41

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 20, 2003 - 1:15 pm:

In addition to the prednisolone my vet is simply calling it "Chemo" and treatments are as follows:1 injectable treatment weekly and 1 injectable treatment every 3 weeks for 6 months. Also weekly blood counts hope this helps
Member:
Lark41

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 20, 2003 - 3:08 pm:

Sorry She wants to adminster prednizone not prednizolone
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Aug 21, 2003 - 9:46 am:

She should note that prednisone is not effective in the horse! See our article » Equine Medications and Nutriceuticals » Anti-inflammatories, Steroids, and Arthritis Treatment » Prednisone, Prednisolone, Methylpred and you can give her copies of the scientific references. Without knowing what other drug is given I cannot help you with side effects.
DrO
Member:
Lark41

Posted on Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 - 6:40 pm:

My vet will not returm my calls I guess she is upset that I wanted a second opinion! So I cannot give you info regarding the chemo. Any how Another vet I know was very sceptical regarding the chemo treatment. He wants to inject the existing lymphomas and start steroids (I will give the article regarding prednizone and prednizolone)
He is a very open to ideas. Does this sound ok? Or should I pursue the Chemo. Personnally it scares me but I want to do the right thing. I know you have'nt seen the horse and can't make a diagnosis but any inpui=t based on your experience would be helpful.Thanks
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Aug 29, 2003 - 6:35 am:

The decision to pursue other types of chemotherapy should be largely determined by you and your veterinarian. It will depend on such factors as your resources (money and time), value of the horse, local availability and cost of drugs, veterinarians experiences, etc...

In general specific anticancer therapy is very expensive for a little bit of improvment in prognosis, whether this is worth pursing is up to you. Your first step is to find what is available and what it would cost.
DrO
Member:
Jjet

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 16, 2003 - 2:12 pm:

Hi Larkin, I am sorry it took me so long to reply to your post but I couldn't remember the name of the drug that was used as chemo for lymphoma on my neighbor's horse. Her horse, Blue, is part of a study being conducted at UC Davis, CA. The name of the vet doing that study is Dr. Alaine Theone. The phone number for the large animal clinic at UCD is 530.752.0290; his assistant's name is Sass. It's often easier to get through to her first as he's very busy, naturally. Also his accent (French) is harder to understand until you get used to it.

I was the transporter for Blue during her treatments and ended up having to spend the day each time she was treated. The program began with prednisolone injection to shrink the existing growth on her side (larger than a large orange) and any smaller ones in her lymph nodes. Then she received periodic IV infusions of Doxorubicin. The initial prednisolone injection really did shrink the lymphomas amazingly small to begin with, but the chemo has turned her into a new horse, besides turning that big tumor into a depression rather than a protusion and shrinking the rest of them back to normal!

Prior to the therapy, she had always been very quiet, more like an old gelding, and we now know she was depressed, now that we understand that that was not "just her personality". She had always been very indifferent to people, and not that excited about other horses, either. She had never lost weight, though, and seemed healthy and cooperative. But since the Doxorubicin treatment she has blossomed into a fat, very shiny, loveable creature with personality to spare.

We know this probably won't last forever but it will give her a wonderful reprieve for some time, anyway. As my understanding of how chemo goes, her reaction was not unusual. That means she reacted to the chemo a little more with each treatment. She began to go off her feed a little more each time for 24 hrs after her treatment until the last two, where her respiratory function was a little impaired, that means it was noticeable but she did not appear to be in great distress. We left her overnight at the facility those two times and she always bounced back before the 24 hours were up.

So far, it has been only months since the chemo was completed, but her change has been phenomonal. Because she was part of a study the cost to the owner was minimal, mostly for having the vet out to take blood, etc. between vistits. It would have been extremely expensive otherwise, as the drug is still on patent (I don't know when it will be off.). However, the study is ongoing, your horse might qualify as a participant. You might give them a call just to check it out and discuss your options with another vet.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 17, 2003 - 4:07 am:

Excellent information Jan.
DrO
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