Can Mast Cell Tumors be Cured?
The short answer is YES. These tumors do respond very well to modern therapy, by using a combination of surgery or chemotherapy (sometimes radiation) along with immunomodulation therapy such as K9 Immunity or some equivalent immune system enhancers. In fact, this type of cancer has one of the best outcomes of any canine cancer. Lets look at what Mast Cell Tumors are, how they form and the different treatment options available today. What Are Mast Cells? Mast Cells are a special type of cell, which are involved in immune function and found primarily in the skin (although they are also found throughout the body). They make up about 20% of the skin cells in a dog, and are responsible for allergy response, among other things. When the body is exposed to particular types of harmful substances, the mast cells release chemical called histamine, which causes the typical allergy-like response. They also produce other vital chemicals which the body needs to survive, called cytokines. Even though
