New Treatment for Mast Cell Tumors (MCT)-STELFONTA

New Treatment for Mast Cell Tumors (MCT)-STELFONTA

VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital now offers STELFONTA as a cutting edge treatment for Mast Cell Tumors (MCT). STELFONTA is a prescription medicine used in dogs to treat mast cell tumors on the skin or in the tissues just under the skin. Given as an injection directly into your dog’s tumor, it destroys the tumor by breaking down cancer cells and starving their blood supply. A “pocket” or wound is left at the injection site where the tumor was. This is generally a healthy wound ready for skin and hair to grow back in a few weeks.

Pretreatment involves oral medications, including corticosteroids and antihistamines, prior to the injection of STELFONTA. These medications are very important to reduce the risks associated with inflammatory substances that can be released from the tumor as the mast cells are destroyed. Premedication is given 2 days pretreatment and continues until 7 days post treatment. It is essential that you give all medications as prescribed.

Most dogs do not need sedation or anesthesia during the procedure although occasionally, dogs may be sedated. 

Side effects reported in dogs treated with STELFONTA were generally mild and short lasting, but they can be severe, especially if not treated in a timely manner. 

The most common adverse reactions included wound formation, injection-site pain, lameness in the treated limb, vomiting, diarrhea, and hypoalbuminemia (low levels in the blood of the protein albumin). Although most side effects/adverse reactions seen in clinical studies were mild, the most serious side effects occurred in the first 4 days. Excessive pain, lameness, tiredness, refusal to eat for more than one day, repeated vomiting or diarrhea, trouble breathing, changes to the treated tumor site (including increased or excessive swelling and bruising, extensive wound formation, increased irritation) or any other symptoms should be examined immediately and treated accordingly. 

Irene Vazquez, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology)

Medical Oncologist
VCA Hollywood Animal Hospital

Pet CancerCare Center

vcahollywood@vca.com

May- Patient of the Month "Bella"

Orthopedic surgery, MRSA, Mast Cell tumors (MCT), Paralysis, Spinal Surgery.

These are only a few of the aliments that our May patient of the month had to overcome in the last four years.

Bella, a 7 year old boxer, was first seen in 2009 for orthopedic surgery on her knee by Dr. Jon. A year later, during her annual visit, she was diagnosed with mast cell tumors that had to be surgically removed. In the following year, more tumors were found and successfully removed but in 2012 she became acutely paralyzed. A referral to a neurologist resulted in spinal surgery and she was unable to walk for several months. Once she regained mobility she developed an aggressive MRSA skin infection and while being treated, additional MCTs were found.

Today, after a diagnosis and treatment for hypothyroidism, medical and supportive care for the skin infection and successful removal of the mast cell tumors, Bella, is as good as new!  But (clearly) the past few years have not been easy! 

Why Bella is so special to us though is not just for the various obstacle she has had to endure to regain her health but rather because of  the style in which she and her mom addressed them.

 As with many of our Patient’s of the Month, we find a highly committed pet and owner. Bella’s story is no different. This team stuck together through what may have seemed like insurmountable odds and obstacle only to be beautifully standing today.

This story has many more details. The day to day steps that both Bella and her Mom had to take to regain her life could fill pages. But today, we honor them both for their commitment and honor Bella as our Patient of the Month.