Diagnosis and Treatment of Canine Breast Cancer

Overview

Canine Breast Cancer is the most common type of cancer in female dogs. Female dogs have five pairs of mammary glands with the possibility of tumors forming in any one of the glands. Breast cancer can spread from one gland to another. Spaying a female dog dramatically reduces the odds of getting breast cancer if done early in the dog’s life.

Breeds With A Higher Incidence of Breast Cancer or Mammary Cancer

• Spaniels
• Terriers
• German Shepherds
• Toy and Miniature Poodles

Pictures of Dog Breast Cancer

Inflammatory Mammary Carcinoma in a Dog

Signs of Breast Cancer in Dog Picture - Malignant Tumors

Dog Breast Cancer Symptoms

Dog breast cancer symptoms or signs include slow growing multiple or single masses at a nipple. About half of patients have more than one mass. Masses may be ulcerated, movable and fixed to body wall or skin.

Diagnosis of Dog Breast Cancer

Your veterinarian will look for visible signs of canine breast cancer or mammary cancer tumors. Signs can include swelling, or soft or hard lumps near the mammary glands. If tumors are not visible, diagnosis is made when other symptoms are investigated and a tumor is found to be the cause. Owners can role their hand down the chest of the abdomen feeling for any lumps and bumps, rolling the tissue between the fingers. Look for any hardness in the vicinity of the nipple.

A Fine Needle Aspiration (FSA) test or biopsy is used to take a tissue sample for testing prior to the recommendation of surgery. Though rare, a tumor may look like cancer when in fact it is a benign cyst. The FSA test will allow for a definitive diagnosis.

Other necessary tests include a CBC, chemistry profile, urinalysis and 3-view thoracic X-Rays, which help the veterinary oncologist check if the disease has spread.

A veterinarian will not need rule out several other causes before a diagnosis of dog breast cancer is made:

• Lipoma
• Mastitis
• Mammary hyperplasia
• Mast Cell Tumor

Treatment of Mammary Cancer in Dogs

Surgery is the most common form of treatment for breast cancer that has not spread (lumpectomy, mammectomy, mastectomy). Localized cases use surgery as a complete cure, the case if the tumor is small and the margins or the tumor are easily identified and removed. Chemotherapy is used in more advanced cases. Surgery is recommended in cases where the cancer has spread to the lymph node.

Dog Breast Cancer Tumor Being Prepared For Mammary Surgery
Source: Purina

Consult with your veterinarian if you see any lumps near the mammary glands. It is possible that tumors are benign (non cancerous). If this is the case, most veterinarians will remove the tumor and then send to a lab for a definitive evaluation.

In addition to surgery, your veterinarian may recommend chemotherapy treatment to make sure that malignant cells (cancer cells that spread quickly) do not spread to the lungs. Chemotherapy drugs such as Adriamycin and oral Cytoxan are used. Recently other drugs such as mitoxantron (Novantrone™) and Adriamycin or Carboplatin (if other drugs are proving to be ineffective) have been used. One study shows that the 2-year survival rate for8 dogs treated with surgery alone was 29% while the survival rate for 8 dogs treated with the chemotherapy medications adjuvant 5-fluouracil and cyclophosphamide was 100%.

Chemotherapy usually lasts for a span of 6 months with the number of treatments defendant on the severity of the disease (possibly 4 to 6 per week).

Another approach to possibly extend an intact female dogs life with canine breast cancer is not not only have the malignant tumor removed surgically, but to undergo an Ovariohysterectomy (OHE). Recent studies have shown that the benefit could result in a 45% increase in the length of survival after treatment.

Other approaches that are dependent on tumor type and that should be discussed with your veterinarian include Radiation Therapy, Estrogen Therapy and the use of Cox-2 Inhibitors.

Hormonal therapy may help unspayed dogs who have an adenocarcinoma or carcinoma.  According to Veterinarian's at the University of Pennsylvania, dogs that were spayed "at the same time or within two years prior to the tumor surgery lived significantly longer than dogs that remained unspayed after their tumors were removed."

Supplements are not a cure, but can be used as a supportive measure to speed healing, strengthen healthy cells and to reduce the severity of symptoms. They are not a specific treatment, but work to strengthen the body's natural defenses. Supplements used in breast cancer cases include Inositol hexaphosphate and 1-3-beta glucan.

Natural remedies such as C-Caps may be of some help as a supportive therapy during and after treatment. If your dog is undergoing chemotherapy or radiation do not use any supplements unless advised by your veterinarian or veterinary oncologist.  In this case they are best used during the recovery phase after chemotherapy is completed.

For dogs with large breast tumors (> 3.0 cm), the prognosis tends to be poor since there is an 80% chance of recurrence of the tumor within 6 months after canine breast cancer treatment. The survival rate of dogs with what is termed gross metastasis or widespread spreading of cancer is 5 months. The overall rate of 2 year survival is between 75% and 90%.

Diet for Dog With Mammary Cancer

Dog's that eat a high fat diet or are obese see an increased risk for tumor growth. From a diet perspective do not over feed your dog.

Aftercare of Mammary Tumours in Dogs

Dog Mammary Cancer Life Expectancy

Several factors will impact the post-surgical dog breast cancer survival rate. Dogs with localized disease that are discovered early can be cured.

This includes:

• Clinical stage of the tumor
• Size, Grade and Type of Tumor
• Has the cancer spread

Even if the tumor is benign, it is possible that new tumors can be both malignant and benign.  In general, small tumors when surgically removed (3 - 5 cm or less) have a better dog breast cancer life expectancy as it has a lower chance of recurrence or spread. If the tumor is completely eliminated, a dog can live for many years after surgery. The key to a good prognosis is detection and early surgical removal.

If the breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, in dogs with rare types of malignant tumors, mixed tumors, papillary and tubular carcinoma and carcinosarcoma and solid carcinoma had median  survival times of between 180 days and 195 days. Ask your veterinarian since survival times can be significantly higher.¹

Brochures on Breast Cancer in Dogs

References

  Guide to Canine Cancer

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