Canine Bladder Cancer (tcc)

2856 Posts | Page(s): Prev 12...207 208 209 210 211 ...285286 Next 

RE: How do I know when it's time

by Chloebeaglemom on Mon Jan 23, 2012 06:14 PM

Quote | Reply
I have been waiting for someone to answer this question for me also. Im like you, there are several different kinds of teavigo green tea out there. Where do they get it and what would the doses be per pound. Would someone let us know? Thanks, ChloebeagleMom Susan

Teavigo

by MomtoChloe on Mon Jan 23, 2012 09:09 PM

Quote | Reply

Hi Susan,

 

I found this article and found it interesting, but it doesn't list a specific brand name or dosages:

EGCG and dog cancer: beyond chemo, radiation and surgery

byDr. Demian Dressler·7 comments

So you feel that there is more than chemotherapy, radiation and surgery for dogs with cancer? So do I, and we are correct!

Here’s just one example: EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate). This is a naturally occurring substance found in green tea.   EGCG has several anticancer effects that are very real.  This substance is in trials at the Mayo Clinicdue to its beneficial effects in human cancers.

Here is the skinny:

In mice, it has been shown to inhibit mammary cancer growth and spread. In the samestudyit was also been shown to shrink these tumors. EGCG has also been shown to cause apoptosis of sarcoma cells (programmed cell death), and cell cycle arrest (stopping the cancer cells from growing). Here is thelink.Simila r findingsin mice were found using prostate cancer tumors, which shrank when the mice were given this compound.

In addition, when EGCG was combined with other drugs for cancer (COX-2 inhibitors, like piroxicam commonly used for transitional cell bladder cancer in dogs), less of these other drugs could be used, with greater effect.  Check it out. The benefit: since these drugs had side effects, one could lower the chances of side effects with less drug by adding EGCG to the regimen.

There are also gobs of test tube studies supporting EGCG’s effect against cancer cells of various kinds.

Pundits will say…well, those are only mice!  Not dogs!  Okay, okay.  But dogs and mice are a lot closer than humans and mice, and the Environmental Protection Agency uses mice to assess whether or not something causes cancer in people.  Next,  they pass laws based on that assumption..so the rodent model has validity!!

And the diligence crew will go out and find a study that was done on dogs available on line that ended up with a bunch of dead beagles at the end of the study.  First of all, the authors of this study should be ashamed of themselves.  They used amounts in the ballpark of one hundred times the standard EGCG supplement amounts for weeks on end and killed these dogs.  What is the point? I was aghast after reading this. Yes, drink a hundred glasses of wine a day, drink a hundred cups of coffee a day, you will die too.  Unbelieveable.

Sorry for the rant but this was an agenda-oriented study that served no good use and is really upsetting.

Anyway, if you feel you have too few options, EGCG is one (of many) that may help prolong your dogs life and keep it at good quality.  A new source of purified EGCG is becoming available called Teavigo.  Talk to your vet after presenting the info I cited here.

CAUTION: do NOT give your dog tea extracts that contain the stimulants that are naturally found therein! Caffeine and methylxanthines in tea can be toxic to dogs!

Consult with your vet before embarking on any treatment plan.

 

Hopefully, we will hear back from the person who is using it on her dog.

Hugs to all,

Heidi and Chloe

 

RE: How do I know when it's time

by bailey661 on Mon Jan 23, 2012 09:41 PM

Quote | Reply

Hi baileys mom...a few of us on here are wondering if you could please tell us where you get the tevigo products and exactly what the product name is and the dosage your dog is taking is. there are a few out there and we are unable to figure out which one your dog is taking. also if you could let us know the type/weight of your dog, maybe we could figure out dosage for ours. Thank you, at this point I am sure we are all so desperate for any help we can get!

RE: Need advice

by livininca06 on Mon Jan 23, 2012 10:44 PM

Quote | Reply

On Jan 22, 2012 5:04 PM totaldweeb wrote:

On Dec 19, 2011 4:45 PM MyPeaches wrote:

Im hoping someone can give me advice on what is currently going on with Peaches.  She has had bladder cancer for 1 1/2 years now.  She has been on Piroxicam and recently I have added Tramadol when I believe she is uncomfortable (I wish they could speak!). About 4 weeks ago, she started peeing blood.  I took her to the vet and they said she could possibly have a UTI which is common with this disease.  She took Cipro for 10 days and it did not clear up the blood.  I called the vet again and told her besides her peeing blood, she seems to be straining to pee and peeing frequently.  She will go outside to pee, then come back in the house and pee again in 10 minutes.  Her urine is not just tainted with blood, it is completely red.  The vet put her on Cipro again, and she is just finishing the 2 week dose, and her symptoms are still the same.  The vet says this is just her disease progressing, and this may never clear up.  Has anyone else seen this in their dog, and if so, what else can be done? My vet is telling me there is nothing else I can do to relieve her besides the Piroxicam and Tramadol.  There has to be something else I can do for her.  Her last ultrasound in Aug showed that her original tumor has grown to over 2 cm, and now there are more tumors in her bladder.  Is she just going to continue to be uncomfortable and have to pee frequently the rest of her life?  I have had UTI's before, and I know how horrible they are.  I don't know what to do.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Wish I could help but I'm just as lost and confused and distressed as you sound.  My dog is going through something similar.   She was diagnosed in September and just yesterday started passing solid streams of blood.  It was terrifying.  I thought she was hemorraging so I rushed her to the emergency vet only to be told that it was a normal progession of the cancer but that it would stop.  She doesn't seem to be in any pain - she is wagging her tail happpily and scarfing down food like they're never going to make any more, but dang - what's next?  Wish they would tell us what to expect. I'm trying to take it a day at a time and enjoying every minute with her but it would be nice not to have these unpleasant (and expensive) surprises.  Does anyone know of a clinical description that describes the "textbook" example of the progression of this cancer?  

Have either of you considered chemo?

RE: How do I know when it's time

by Baileysmom97 on Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:41 PM

Quote | Reply

The brand is Teavigo and a few companies provide it.  The one I get is from Healthy Origins and I order it from IHerb.com .  Dr. Cerf originally prescribed it for Bailey and her dosage was 200mg per day and she was 13 pounds at that time.  The capsules I get now are about 135mg per capsule and she still takes 2 per day without any problems.  I would guess maybe 100mg per 6.5 to 7 pounds of body weight.  I originally got it from Dr. Cerf's office but she is no longer treated at his office...I go to UPenn.  Dr. Cerf also has a website and I think he also has some cancer discussions and helpful advice.  You could probably find it through the Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital website.

Also, for anyone having upset stomach problems with antibiotics, I am giving Bailey some pro-biotic supplements with her food and it definitely seems to be helping.

Teavigo (EGCG)

by Baileysmom97 on Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:46 PM

Quote | Reply

On Jan 23, 2012 11:41 PM Baileysmom97 wrote:

The brand is Teavigo and a few companies provide it.  The one I get is from Healthy Origins and I order it from IHerb.com "" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://IHerb.com " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">IHerb.com .  Dr. Cerf originally prescribed it for Bailey and her dosage was 200mg per day and she was 13 pounds at that time.  The capsules I get now are about 135mg per capsule and she still takes 2 per day without any problems.  I would guess maybe 100mg per 6.5 to 7 pounds of body weight.  I originally got it from Dr. Cerf's office but she is no longer treated at his office...I go to UPenn.  Dr. Cerf also has a website and I think he also has some cancer discussions and helpful advice.  You could probably find it through the Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital website.

Also, for anyone having upset stomach problems with antibiotics, I am giving Bailey some pro-biotic supplements with her food and it definitely seems to be helping.

Sorry, I should have changed to the subject line.

RE: How do I know when it's time

by MomtoChloe on Tue Jan 24, 2012 02:39 PM

Quote | Reply

On Jan 23, 2012 11:41 PM Baileysmom97 wrote:

The brand is Teavigo and a few companies provide it.  The one I get is from Healthy Origins and I order it from IHerb.com "" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://IHerb.com " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">IHerb.com .  Dr. Cerf originally prescribed it for Bailey and her dosage was 200mg per day and she was 13 pounds at that time.  The capsules I get now are about 135mg per capsule and she still takes 2 per day without any problems.  I would guess maybe 100mg per 6.5 to 7 pounds of body weight.  I originally got it from Dr. Cerf's office but she is no longer treated at his office...I go to UPenn.  Dr. Cerf also has a website and I think he also has some cancer discussions and helpful advice.  You could probably find it through the Ridgewood Veterinary Hospital website.

Also, for anyone having upset stomach problems with antibiotics, I am giving Bailey some pro-biotic supplements with her food and it definitely seems to be helping.

Bless you!  Thanks so much!

Hugs,

Heidi and Chloe

 

RE: How do I know when it's time

by barbef on Wed Jan 25, 2012 08:46 PM

Quote | Reply

On Jan 20, 2012 11:25 PM Baileysmom97 wrote:

Hi Barbara--

My dog Bailey was diagnosed with TCC about a year ago.  She is on Piroxicam, Pepcid and green tea extract (brand name of Teavigo which seems to be most pure EGCG).  I would definitely recommend the green tea...I've read some good studies where they have shown green tea to have results similar to some chemo drugs and Bailey is doing pretty well all things considered.  The Teavigo is very pure EGCG (green tea) and comes in a relatively small capsule which I stick in a piece of meatball.  You can also get fish oil capsules and do the same.  I know with Bailey, if I try to put it directly on her food she won't eat it.  Give the green tea a shot...it seems to be working with Bailey and even the Doctor at UPenn is recommending it to her patients!

Hi.  I'm sorry to hear about Bailey.  It's such an awful disease that our poor babies have to endure.  How old is Bailey and have they done anything else besides Piroxicam, Pepcid and green tea? That is amazing that Bailey has been able to endure this for a year.  I was wondering if she has to urinate a lot and does she drip urine on the way out to go and stop several times to complete the peeing?  My Molly urinates about every hour or two and if I don't run to the door fast enough to let her out, she starts going on the floor.  I know I'm asking a lot of questions, but I was also wondering where the mass is on Bailey.  Molly's is at the neck of the bladder.  I hope you have a moment to get back to me because your information about the green tea is very promising and I'd love to hear more about your success.

With gratitude for your concern and feedback,

Barbara, Molly's mom

RE: How do I know when it's time

by Baileysmom97 on Thu Jan 26, 2012 09:48 PM

Quote | Reply

Hi Barbara--Bailey just turned 14 in December.  It is an awful disease but I count my blessings because all in all, she is doing pretty well.  It is very strange with her peeing habits.  During the day she goes every 3 or 4 hours, but at night it seems to be every hour after she eats.  I had trained her as a puppy on wee wee pads so at night she can just go on the pad.  Sometimes she leaks at night and other times not...there does not seem to be any rhyme or reason why.  Bailey does not drip while on the way out and seems to have a very steady stream with no problems of stopping and going.  The only thing I will say is that she seems to have more frequency of having to go when she has a UTI going on.  This is now her 4th infection in less than a year.  She's been on antibiotics for almost a month now because the first go-around didn't clear up the infection.  We'll be going for a re-check next week but they may still want to keep her on antibiotics for another 3 weeks! 

We got really lucky with where the tumor is and it was discovered quite early.  Bailey's tumor is in an area which does not interfere either with the kidneys or the urethra so she's got that going for her.  Also, her 2nd ultrasound in March of last year, showed a 2nd smaller tumor at the urethra.  After a month of the piroxicam and green tea, her doctor at UPenn could find no evidence of the 2nd tumor!   I think the green tea definitely helps...Bailey was actually off the piroxicam for about two months because they thought it was affecting her kidneys.  Her doctor was super excited upon her last ultrasound because she thought the tumor was fairly stable in size.  Right now, she only takes the piroxicam every other day but the green tea she still takes 2 each day.  I also met a woman at UPenn whose dog had TCC and lived 5 years with it only being treated with an anti-inflammatory!  I guess it all depends.  UPenn did recommend chemo but I did not want to put Bailey through that, although I understand that most dogs handle the chemo extremely well.  As crazy as this sounds, I don't think the cancer seems to affect her as much as the UTI's.  She sleeps a bit more but she still acts like a puppy at other times.  Her appetite is great and we try to go still for long walks on the weekend...she even did a two-hour hike on New Year's Day! 

Please don't hesitate to ask me any other questions.  I am happy to help as much as I can and hope we can all help each other beat this disease.  Good luck to you and Molly.

Karin

 

RE: How do I know when it's time

by Iloverio on Thu Jan 26, 2012 10:15 PM

Quote | Reply

Hi, Karin,

I was wondering how do you know if there is a UTI or if the bleeding and frequent urination are just a result of the disease itself.  My dog had stopped bleeding altogether, but I noticed a little blood and straining over the weekend.  He seems to have gotten over that on his own, but other than taking him in for a urinalysis, I didn't know how to determine what was going on.

Also, does anyone know if green tea can be used during chemo?

2856 Posts | Page(s): Prev 12...207 208 209 210 211 ...285286 Next 
Subscribe to this message board discussion

Latest Messages

View More

CancerCompass Poll

Did you or your loved one seek a second opinion before starting cancer treatment?

Gateway for Cancer Research
CNCA Health

We care about your feedback. Let us know how we can improve your CancerCompass experience.