Over 50% of canine malignant tumors are discovered when they are in stage 2 cancer. At this stage, the condition is still manageable and treatable through surgery. However, it’s important to act as soon as a clear diagnosis is obtained, to prevent the spreading of the cancerous cells. Some cancers may be aggressive and advance at a fast rate, while others may le slower. Detecting the origins of the cancer is also important.
Stages of Cancer
The cancer may manifest in several means and there may be various types of cancer, depending on where the initial tumor is located.
However, all cancers have 4 stages, which may be described as follows:
- Stage 1 is when the tumor is very small and will not affect any tissues or blood vessels
- Stage 2 cancer will involve several tumors (smaller than 5 cm long)
- During stage 3, the tumors become than 5 cm and the tissues and blood vessels around them may also be affected
- Stage 4 cancer indicates that the cancer is in metastasis and has spread to the lungs or the neighboring lymph nodes
Stage 2 Cancer in Dogs
Over half cancerous tumors are detected when they are already in stage 2, as this is when the dog starts having more symptoms. During stage 1, the dog may have subtle symptoms or no symptoms at all.
The symptoms of stage 2 cancer may include:
- Lethargy
- Lack of appetite
- Visible lumps (at this stage, there may be several tiny tumors in the body, typically near the place of the original tumor)
- Coughing and breathing issues (if the dog has lung cancer)
- Skin discoloration, if the dog has skin cancer
- Bad breath and drooling if the dog has oral cancer
- Pain in the area affected by tumors
- Limping if the dog has bone cancer and the cancer is located on his joints
- Other symptoms that are specific for each type of cancer
The cancer may transition from one stage to the other in just a few weeks or months, depending on how aggressive the cancer is. Typically, skin and bone cancers are more aggressive.
Treatment Options for Dog Cancer
At this stage, the cancer is still fully treatable. This is due to the fact that the tumors are small in size and can be removed through surgery, without posing risks to the pet’s health.
The surgery will have to remove the existing tumors along with a margin of tissues that surround the tumors, as these may be cancerous. After surgery, the dog needs to get a chemotherapy treatment, which will increase the chances of eliminating the cancer for good.
The prognosis after a surgery on a pet with stage 2 cancer is variable; some dogs may not develop new tumors, while others will have new tumors, which may be located in different areas of the body.
The dog will have to be evaluated periodically and x-rays will be needed to detect possible growths.