She gave us some great information, about what to look for in food, and what pets with cancer actually need in their diets. So we started cooking all his meals and what a difference a good diet made. We took him off grain diet (dry manufactured food),And started him on lean meat and vegetables and fruit. 
What is Dog Cancer?
In cancer, cells mutate and grow abnormally, often destroying the good cells. Cancer is not just one disease but several.
Some cancers attack the skin, while others may attack the bones, blood, organs and even the connective tissue.
Any organ or system within the body can harbor or host cancer. Some cancers are curable however most are not at this time. Although most cancers are not curable in some cases, there are natural medicines that work very well in the fight against cancer.
We are presently using a blend of medical mushrooms these have been around for decades. The Chinese have used these for years and have had great success using mediclinical mushrooms to fight cancer.
They are however being more widely used in the US over the past few years.
It is helpful to understand some of the types and meanings of these cancers.
The 10 early warning signs of Dog Cancer:
- Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
- Sores that do not heal
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
- Offensive odor
- Difficulty eating or swallowing
- Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
- Persistent lameness or stiffness
- Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecation
What Causes Canine Cancer?
Cancer does not have just one cause there are several
here are just a few suspects that may cause cancer in pets.
- Environmental substances
- Rancid Food
- Age
- Vaccinations
- Trauma
- Viruses
- Heredity or congenital factors
- Other unknown causes
A FEW CANCER STATISTICS
* Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs and cats over ten years old.
- Average life span of a dog treated for lymphoma is 15 months.
- Over 8,000 dogs are affected by osteosarcoma each year.
- 80% of dogs with advanced oral and digital melanoma die within 8 to 10 months of treatment.
- Hemangiosarcoma accounts for 5% of all non-skin malignancies in dogs.
- 60 to 70% of all oral cancer is squamous cell carcinoma.
- Approximately 450 out of 100,000 dogs will develop some sort of skin cancer.
- 20 to 30% of all dog skin tumors are malignant.
- About 12% of all canine skin growths are histiocytomas (benign tumor).
- Perianal growths are the third most common growths in dogs of which 91% are benign.
- Lymphoma affects 84 in 100.000 dog over ten years old.
Types of Canine Cancer
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers seen in dogs. In fact, we estimate that lymphoma occurs about 2 to 5 times as frequently in dogs than in people. Although there are breeds that appear to be at increased risk for this disease, lymphoma can affect any dog of any breed at any age. It accounts for approximately 20% of all canine tumors, and less than 80% of cancers originating from blood cells.
Most of the time, lymphoma appears as “swollen glands” (lymph nodes) that can be seen or felt under the neck, in front of the shoulders, or behind the knee. Occasionally, lymphoma can affect lymph nodes that are not visible or palpable from outside the body, such as those inside the chest or in the abdomen. In these cases, dogs may accumulate fluid in the chest that makes breathing difficult, or they may have digestive problems (diarrhea, vomiting, or painful abdomen). If left untreated, dogs with lymphoma will generally succumb to the disease within 3 to 4 weeks.
Treatment with prednisone (a corticosteroid) alone generally can induce short-lived remissions (usually less than 8 to 12 weeks), but frequently renders the disease resistant to further treatment. Durable remissions are achievable in lymphoma, so the disease is considered “treatable.”
Multi-agent chemotherapy consisting of L-asparaginase, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone, which is the standard-of-care for this disease, will induce remissions of 12 to 18 months in many cases. However, there are various subtypes of lymphoma that exhibit different behaviors, and some of the more aggressive types are unresponsive to any available treatment.
Canine Mammary Carcinoma
Female dogs are at high risk for developing malignant mammary tumors. Mammary tumors are the most common types of tumors in non-spayed female dogs. While 40 percent to 50 percent of these tumors are malignant, complete surgical removal is often curative.
Canine Squamous Cell Carcinomas
Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common cancers found in dogs. Common sites are the mouth and the toes (nailbeds). Early detection and complete surgical removal is the treatment of choice and fewer than 20% develop metastatic disease. SCC of the tonsil and tongue are quite aggressive and fewer than 10% survive 1 year or longer despite treatment measures. More info: Squamous cell
Canine Mast Cell Tumors
A common malignant tumor in dogs is the mast cell tumor. Mast cells are immune cells that are responsible for allergies. Mast cells can be found in all tissues of the body but typically form tumors on the skin in close to 20 percent in the canine population. MCTs range from relatively benign to extremely aggressive, leading to tumor spread and eventual death. Particular breeds of dog are at risk for the development of this tumor, indicating a role for genetic factors.
Malignant Histiocytosis
Malignant histiocytosis (MH), while rare in people, occurs frequently in certain breeds of dogs including Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers, Flat-Coated Retrievers and Bernese Mountain Dogs. There is no reported effective therapy for this disease and nearly all patients die within two to four months of diagnosis. Recent work suggests Lomustine (CCNU) is helpful in extending pet survival.
Brain Tumors
Tumors in the brain may occur in dogs and cats as primary or as metastatic tumors. Epileptic-like seizures or other extreme behavioral changes may be the only clinical signs. CAT scanning will allow precise localization of these lesions. Surgical excision followed by radiation therapy is the indicated treatment if the tumor is in an accessible portion of the skull. Radiation therapy alone can control some inoperable tumors.
Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer occurs in dogs with some breeds, Westhighland Terriers, at higher risk than others. This is a slow developing cancer and pets may not show symptoms for 3 to 6 months. Once symptoms occur, urinary obstruction and bleeding is common. Piroxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, palliates symptoms in most dogs for 3 to 9 months. In combination with various chemotherapy drugs this can be extended for 3 to 18 months. Radiation can be palliative in some.
source:National Canine Cancer Foundation:Web Site
What Is Cancer
It is helpful to understand some of the types and meanings of different cancers.
# 1 Mass Cell Tumors:
This is probably the most common but not all tumors are cancer and not all cancers are tumors. A tumor is defined as a swollen area in which an independent growth arising in tissue that grows independently of surrounding tissue.
This my be malignant or benign.
# 2 Neoplasm:
You may also here your veterinarian use the word neoplasm this is also an abnormal growth or tumor. For more on Neoplasm visit: medical-dictionary
# 3 Malignant versus Benign:
These are two descriptions of how a tumor may act.
A benign or neoplasm means the tumor is in one place and will not spread past the tissue it is in, these can usually be removed with little difficulty, however just because a tumor is benign dose not mean that it can't be dangerous, they can cause problems depending on their location within the body.
Malignant on the other hand means just the opposite they will spread to other parts of the body (Metastasize) if not caught quickly.
The third type is intermediate malignancy it will spread locally but will not metastasize.
# 4 Sarcomas,Adenomas,and Carcinomas:
Sarcomas: are a type of malignant tumor that comes from connective tissue within the body not the skin, usually found beneath the skin. Def. by Wikipedia.
Adenomas: are tumors that are usually benign and found on the skin. Def.by Wikipedia
Carcinomas: are malignant tumors arising from skin cells and cells that line or cover different organs.
For more info: veterinarypartner.com