Treating an Oral Tumor on a Limited Budget
by Vinnie
(Houston, TX)
I have a 14 year American Eskimo, male, 26 pounds with some Gingivitis. About 7 days ago on April 7th we discovered a growth on his lower jaw on the gum line by the molars about the size of a dime. It is the same color (pink) as the gums. We don't have a lot of money for expensive treatment since I was recently laid-off from work.
We took him to our vet to discuss our options and were advised the following from our vet.
1. She put him on clindamycin for a few days to get rid of some the infection so she could get a better idea. We did notice some abscess which we cleaned. It has grown very slowly over the last week but is still about the same size.
2. Yesterday she performed a cytology since the biopsy was expensive. The cytology did not show any abnormal cells.
3. Next, she suggested surgery to remove the tumor soon. She prefers blood work for anesthesia but to keep the cost down she is willing to use gas anesthesia (which is the safest) if we skip the blood work.
4. She will try her best to surgically remove as much of the mass as possible at the tissue level but won’t be able to do any radical surgery like removal of the bone.
5. According to her this is the best option if we were not able to take him to a specialist for more advanced surgery or further treatment. However the tumor can grow back even
Questions:
1. Are there ways to treat after surgery to prevent reoccurrence incase some cells were left behind and we cannot afford radiation or chemotherapy. Is bleomycin therapy for epulides an alternative. I read there are some medicines like piroxicam with cisplatin or mitoxantronepretnozone, hemimandibulectomy or holistic medicines like Thuja 6c
2. What is Rim Excision as a Treatment
Thank you very much for your assistance.
We’re sorry you’re dealing with this on top of losing your job. Your vet’s plan sounds caring and practical. A clear cytology is reassuring, but it often misses tumor cells in gum growths, so the most valuable step is to send the removed tissue to a lab for histopathology. It costs less than a separate biopsy and tells you what the growth is, which decides whether anything more is needed. At 14, even basic pre-anesthetic blood work is worth asking about.
A rim excision removes a tumor along with the top edge of the jawbone while keeping the jaw intact. It’s used for small tumors near the gum line and is less extensive than removing a section of jaw. Injections of bleomycin into the tumor have been reported for acanthomatous ameloblastoma, a benign tumor, and anti-inflammatory drugs such as piroxicam are sometimes used for squamous cell carcinoma. Both only make sense once you know the tumor type and need a vet’s guidance. There’s no good evidence for homeopathic remedies such as Thuja.
Many benign growths are cured by complete removal. If more treatment is needed, ask about veterinary teaching hospitals, payment plans and animal charities. See our guide to mouth cancer in dogs for treatment options.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
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