My dog had mammary cancer surgery. What's her outlook and next steps?

Question

My female dog had removal of a mammary cancer carcinoma. Biopsy said it was malignant and cells most likely spread into lymphatic system. However, the ultrasound and thoracic xray did not indicate any other tumors. How long should I expect my dog to live? and is there a possibility that the removal of the local mammary tumor and surrounding tissue with clean margins helped to prevent further spread? What stage of cancer would this be considered? And in this case would chemotherapy help ? Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Female

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, the metastatic spread may be so small that it cannot be visualized just yet on x-rays or ultrasounds. Only time will tell if there has been spread or not. It certainly is possible that this surgical removal can remove all of the cancer, but J will need to continue to be monitored. I would have local lymph nodes sampled to see if the cancer has spread to them, and if it has, then it would be considered Stage 2. Keep in mind, however, because I can't see J in person and I'm not treating her, I can't say for certain. Chemotherapy may be a good idea, and I would discuss with your vet if they feel it is a viable option for her. Check out this article on mammary tumors from the UPenn Veterinary School as this provides a lot of information you may find helpful: http://www.vet.upenn.edu/docs/default-source/ryan/oncology-handouts/mammary-tumors-in-dog_ek-ks.pdf?sfvrsn=4

My dog had mammary cancer surgery. What's her outlook and next steps?

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