Pet Cancer – ＜Cordy Research Laboratory＞

【Offered by Shiota Animal Hospital】Case Study on the Combined Use of Coriolus Versicolor (Corti) and NMN for Canine Maxillary Fibrosarcoma

Sat, 22 Jun 2019 08:55:34 +0000

Pet Information

Name: Kokoro-chan
Breed: Miniature Schnauzer
Gender: Spayed Female
Weight: 7.45kg at initial consultation
Date of Birth: January 20, 2007
Disease: Fibrosarcoma in the right maxilla

Progress and Current Condition

January 28, 2019

Diagnosed with malignant non-epithelial tumor in the right maxilla at another clinic. Started taking Cordy and NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide).
Dosage: 0.4g/kg/day

February 2

Tumor removal surgery performed, diagnosed as fibrosarcoma through pathological examination. Continued taking Cordy and NMN.

February 16

Weight remains almost the same at 7.55kg. Exhibits no issues with energy or appetite.

March 2

Tumor recurred at the same site as in January, prompting another removal surgery. Continued taking Cordy and NMN.

March 6

Appetite present but difficulty swallowing, with drooling from the right side. Inflammation in the surgical site’s oral mucosa and bad breath present, so Interdog is administered every other day.

March 19

Weight 7.65kg. Bad breath persists, but oral condition is favorable. Appears to be in good health.

March 23

Weight 7.75kg. Continued bad breath, but oral condition and overall health are good. No tumor growth observed.

April 8

Weight 8.1kg. Bad breath persists, but oral condition and overall health are good. No tumor growth observed, no issues with energy or appetite. Continued taking Cordy, NMN, and Interdog.

April 27

Weight 7.9kg. Oral condition is good, but nasal discharge is present.

May 9

Weight 7.8kg. Slight bleeding from the oral cavity observed.

May 14

Tumor removal from the oral cavity.

May 24

Weight 8.0kg. Condition is stable. Continued taking Cordy and NMN.

June 7

Weight 7.5kg. Appetite present but difficulty eating due to pain. Pain relief prescribed.

June 10

Weight 7.8kg. Began subcutaneous injections of liquid-cultured Cordy and NMN (4ml once a day) and oral sprays. Appetite present.

June 15

Weight 7.9kg. Condition is good, bad breath has disappeared, and drooling has decreased.

June 29

Weight 7.85kg. Appetite present, but oral tumor slightly increased in size, and minor bad breath observed. Continued with subcutaneous injections of liquid-cultured Cordy and NMN (4ml once a day), oral sprays, and oral administration.

From the Hospital

1.5 months have passed since the third tumor removal, and the condition remains stable.

Our laboratory is conducting research on the synergistic effects, immune modulation capabilities, and potential anti-cancer properties of Cordy and NMN (β-nicotinamide mononucleotide).

### Precautionary Note on Trace Exposure to Anticancer Drugs During Pet Cancer Treatment

moro — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 03:16:42 +0000

When using chemotherapy drugs for the treatment of cancer in dogs, cats, and other pets, trace amounts of these drugs are excreted through their feces and urine.

In households with small children, special attention should be given to the risk of minor exposure to these chemotherapy drugs.

Unknown Risks of Chemotherapy Drugs

Did you know that when you give your pet chemotherapy treatment, you and your family might also be exposed to potential dangers?

This page addresses the issue of “minor exposure” to chemotherapy drugs. This problem occurs when the chemotherapy drugs excreted by your pet lead to the pet owner being exposed.

Minor exposure to chemotherapy drugs can result in physical discomfort and, in some cases, severe problems.

Despite being a significant issue, most pet owners are not sufficiently informed about to chemotherapy drugs.

Unlike common side effects, minor exposure does not cause immediate major harm.

Symptoms may appear years or even decades later.

Given such a long timeframe, pursuing the facts is extremely challenging.

The full extent of the damage is mostly unknown.

Most people may not experience actual harm from minor amounts of chemotherapy drugs, measured in micrograms, but it is possible that some may have already been affected.

When your beloved dog or cat receives chemotherapy treatment, you and your family living with the pet are potentially subject to minor exposure.
Currently, it seems difficult to obtain sufficient information from animal hospitals.

Therefore, we urge you to carefully review this page and consider protective measures for yourself.

Ways Chemotherapy Drugs Enter Your Body

How do chemotherapy drugs administered to animals affect our bodies?

Chemotherapy drugs given to animals are excreted through various pathways.

Almost 100% of the administered dosage is eventually expelled from the body.

Most are excreted through feces and urine, but chemotherapy drugs can also be found in saliva, breath, sweat, and shedding hair.

Chemotherapy drugs secreted through sebaceous glands volatilize from the body surface.

When living with a pet undergoing chemotherapy treatment, almost invariably, you will come into contact with these substances if you do not take precautions.

At the very least, you will breathe the air exhaled by your pet.

You may be absorbing chemotherapy drugs through your skin and lungs.
Chemotherapeutic agents are compounds that decompose poorly in the natural environment, so even there is a risk of minor exposure to these agents from aged excreta.

While some chemotherapeutic agents are broken down and detoxified within the animal’s body, the majority are excreted either unchanged or as even more toxic active metabolites.

It may be hard to believe that chemotherapeutic agents can volatilize, but it is known that some are highly volatile. Others can become aerosolized and disperse into the air. Naturally, in a closed room, the concentration of chemotherapeutic agents will increase.

Chemotherapeutic agents easily vaporize

Cyclophosphamide (Endoxan), used in the treatment of malignant lymphoma, is particularly well-known for its high volatility. Knowing that mustard gas (a toxic gas) was the origin of its development may make it easier to imagine.

Behavior of Chemotherapeutic Agents in the Body

Typical chemotherapeutic agents (cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents) cause severe impacts on chromosomes within cells.

They bind strongly with DNA in chromosomes or cut the DNA. As a result, cell division fails, leading to cell death.

Even if you are exposed to small amounts of chemotherapeutic agents, you might not immediately feel any abnormalities. Any issues that do arise are often mild, like headaches or dizziness, making it hard to identify the cause as exposure.

The real damage may be felt years or even decades later.

Some cells may survive despite DNA damage due to insufficient attack by the chemotherapeutic agents.

From these cells, “undying cells” akin to zombies, meaning cancer cells, may emerge. If the immune system fails to function, these cancerous cells may proliferate and eventually form a large cancerous mass.

Comparing Chemotherapeutic Agents to a Gun

Chemotherapeutic agents are not drugs that precisely target only cancer cells. They are more like a machine gun fired blindly. As such, they indiscriminately attack normal cells as well. Most people are aware that chemotherapeutic agents have many side effects, and understanding this characteristic helps make sense of that. Incidentally, the gun that accurately targets cancer cells is our body’s immune system.

People Susceptible to Impact

As mentioned above, there is a possibility that healthy cells could become cancerous due to minor exposure to chemotherapeutic agents.

Chemotherapeutic agents particularly affect cells that are actively dividing.
For example, because reproductive cells are susceptible to damage, I think that couples who wish to conceive and families with infants and toddlers in their growth stages should take special care.

Additionally, if you are raising multiple dogs or cats, take caution as these pets tend to lie on the floor or lick surfaces.

Are Medications a Risk?

From the perspective of a healthy person, all medications are essentially poisons.

The most extreme of these poisons is chemotherapy drugs. Even exposure in microgram quantities might have an impact on future health.

There is a common joke that “kusuri (medicine) backwards is risuku (risk),” but chemotherapy is no joking matter. It is normal for the side effect occurrence rate to be 80% or 90%. While the risk decreases the more diluted the chemotherapy is, it is believed that even if diluted 1000 times, the risk will not be zero.
For reference, 1/1000 of 1 mg is 1 microgram.

About Safe Amounts

No safe amount exists for chemotherapy drugs.

Side effects can occur even at amounts too low to be effective.

Please also refer to this: Reasons Why 90% of Chemotherapy Patients Experience Side Effects (with Illustration)

Of course, the less the amount of chemotherapy drugs, the lower the danger. However, such tests cannot be conducted on the human body.

Even at extremely low microgram levels, it is possible that future health issues may occur.

You have to protect yourselves.

“Not in past literatures” or “No comment from the veterinarian” are not very helpful when it comes to the issue of minimal exposure to chemotherapy drugs.

On Detoxification

There is no antidote for chemotherapy drugs. Procedures aiming to promote excretion through fluid therapy or diuretics are unlikely to be effective for minimal exposure.

There are drugs that neutralize spilled chemotherapy drugs, but they are not for use on the human body.

Although not a detoxification method, I recommend activities such as improving your diet to boost immunity as a future cancer prevention measure.

A Life-Threatening Profession

Recently, even in Japan, the exposure of healthcare workers to chemotherapy drugs is becoming a recognized issue. Administering chemotherapy is the job of nurses, but due to the pressures of their daily tasks, safety measures are often insufficient.

Overseas studies have pointed out a high rate of chromosomal abnormalities among nurses handling chemotherapy drugs. In fact, when examining the floors around IV setups, trace amounts of chemotherapy drugs are found, even without spills. Nurses are exposed to invisible droplets and fumes of chemotherapy drugs and work with anxiety about their future.
Pharmacists responsible for higher-risk tasks, namely “chemotherapy preparation,” have nearly comprehensive safety measures in place. They wear protective clothing, gloves, masks, and goggles to safeguard themselves from chemotherapy splashes. Additionally, to avoid inhaling volatile chemotherapy gases, they prepare the drugs by inserting only their hands into a safety cabinet. The scene resembles a chemical weapons factory.

Incidentally, within the safety cabinet, there is a significant amount of spillage of chemotherapy drugs.

Reference Article

Japan Nursing Association – Exposure Prevention Measures Against Chemotherapy Agents

Expected Health Hazards, Dangerous Acts, Precautions

Below, I have listed what I believe is essential.
Of course, what I have written is not exhaustive. Please make your own decisions.

It is also crucial to consider not only protecting yourself but also your family, acquaintances, others, other animals, plantings, and the surrounding environment.
Please act based on morality, assuming the worst-case scenario.

Examples of Health Hazards (Predicted)

The side effects of chemotherapy drugs disclosed by manufacturers are those observed when a sufficient dose is administered. However, this does not mean that “a small amount is safe.”

The drug-induced damages of chemotherapy can sometimes be life-threatening, so please be cautious.

Examples of Commonly Affected Dog Breeds

An increased rate of cancer occurrence such as lymphoma.
An increased rate of severe immune diseases.
A decrease in pregnancy rates.
An increase in fetal malformations and disabilities.
Worsening of dermatitis, allergies, liver disorders, and kidney disorders.
A decrease in white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets.

Be Aware of These Actions

When spending time with your pet, the following actions and habits may increase the risk of minor exposure to chemotherapy drugs for you or your cohabiting family members.

Actions to Be Careful of When Spending Time with Your Pet

Your pet licking you.
Being sneezed on by your pet.
Contact with infants.
Contact with pregnant women.
Handling your pet’s vomit without gloves.
Cleaning the litter box without gloves.
Coming into contact with blood.
Spending time in poorly ventilated rooms.
Bathing together.
Sleeping in the same bed.
Carrying your pet for long walks.

Other Precautions

Even when not in direct contact with your pet, precautions are necessary. To reduce exposure for you and your cohabiting family members, it is recommended to keep the following in mind.

Additional Precautionary Measures

Wear slippers indoors.
Open windows and wear a disposable mask when cleaning.
Do not leave mopping cloths on the floor.
Seal used litter sheets or sand before disposal.
Wash pet laundry separately.
Do not put items dropped on the floor in your mouth.

Consider Others

To protect others and the general public from minor exposure to chemotherapy drugs, it is essential for pet owners to practice certain considerations, situational awareness, and empathy.

Considerate Actions

Do not take your pet for grooming immediately after chemotherapy administration.
Ask the groomer to wear gloves and a mask.
Inform other veterinary clinics if your pet is undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Avoid outdoor toileting for a few days following chemotherapy administration.
Use a yellow ribbon on the leash during walks to prevent contact with others.
In upstream areas (such as mountain campsites), bring back feces and urine.

Protect Other Animals

Consideration for your cohabiting pets as well as animals encountered during walks is necessary. Avoid situations that may lead to grooming or fights.

Examples of Behavior that Does Not Involve Other Animals

If you have multiple pets, isolate them.
In a veterinary hospital, wait in the car, etc.
Do not let cats out of the house.

Strengthen Immunity to Reduce Exposure Damage

In Japan, which has a small land area and is one of the world’s leading users of anticancer drugs, it is strictly speaking impossible to completely prevent even minimal exposure to anticancer drugs.

This is because anticancer drugs released into the environment are believed to already contaminate the air, tap water, agricultural products, livestock, and fish.

However, the risk when administering anticancer drugs to pets is significantly higher compared to these natural exposures.

Exposure to anticancer drugs can damage genes, potentially causing various diseases. Therefore, it is important to minimize exposure to anticancer drugs as much as possible.

Moreover, ensuring a robust immune system can help reduce the risk of damaged genes becoming cancerous, even if there is minimal exposure.

Improving liver function to enhance detoxification is also beneficial. It is expected that quality of life (QOL) can be further improved through liver measures using domestic SPF pork-derived placenta powder.

For households with multiple pets, small children, or pregnant women, it is especially advised to proactively undertake immune and liver health measures.

At the Cordy Research Laboratory, we also study the human applications of Cordy and domestic SPF pork-derived placenta powder, which are expected to modulate immunity. If you have any questions about Cordy or domestic SPF pork-derived placenta powder, please contact us.

監修獣医師：林美彩　　所属クリニック：chicoどうぶつ診療所

代替療法と西洋医学、両方の動物病院での勤務経験と多数のコルディの臨床経験をもつ。　モノリス在籍時には、一般的な動物医療（西洋医学）だけでは対応が困難な症例に対して多くの相談を受け、免疫の大切さを痛烈に実感する。
ペットたちの健康維持・改善のためには薬に頼った対処療法だけではなく、「普段の生活環境や食事を見直し、自宅でさまざまなケアを取り入れることで免疫力を維持し、病気にならない体づくりを目指していくことが大切である」という考えを提唱し普及活動に従事している。

所属：

獣医保健ソーシャルワーク協会

著書：

Articles on Anti-Cancer Drugs

Suppressing Cancer Stem Cells to Overcome Cancer in Dogs, Cats, and Pets

moro — Wed, 09 Jan 2019 02:47:17 +0000

Cancer stem cells are the ringleaders of cancer in dogs, cats, and other pets. In this article, we will explain the characteristics of cancer stem cells and methods to effectively address their power. While it is difficult to attack cancer stem cells with chemotherapy and other treatments, consider implementing immune defenses to prevent cancer stem cells from endlessly producing cancer.

What You Will Learn in This Article

Why can’t we defeat cancer? Why does it recur even after treatment? Recently, there has been an important discovery that unravels this mystery—the discovery of cancer stem cells.

Cancer stem cells cannot be defeated by conventional cancer treatments. They tenaciously survive throughout the animal’s body and promote cancer growth.

Overview of Cancer Stem Cells

Cancer stem cells are special cells that exist in small numbers within a cancerous mass.

Cancer stem cells have the ability to produce cancer cells indefinitely, serving as the source of cancer cells—the primary cells behind cancer proliferation. They can migrate throughout the body and are deeply involved in the mechanisms of recurrence and metastasis. The true culprit behind cancer growth can be said to be “cancer stem cells.”

Additionally, unlike general cancer cells, they possess several mechanisms that neutralize cancer treatments.

Many studies have been initiated worldwide to target these cancer stem cells. Practical treatment methods are anticipated to emerge, but it may still take some time.

Below is an illustration of cancer cells. The red spheres represent cancer stem cells, while the blue spheres represent general cancer cells.
Here’s your translated text:

—

If we consider cancer as a hierarchical society, the cancer stem cells are the ones reigning at the top. Imagine them as the queen ants continuously producing worker ants.

Cancer stem cells produce cancer cells infinitely and show no signs of weakening. They withstand various cancer treatments and demonstrate particularly high resistance to anti-cancer drugs.

The image below illustrates the situation after administering anti-cancer drugs. Only the common cancer cells are destroyed, while the cancer stem cells remain intact.

Future cancer treatments will need to focus on either eliminating or pacifying cancer stem cells.

So far, no effective treatment methods have been established. Since the existence of cancer stem cells was only recently proven, this is somewhat unavoidable. Even the latest anti-cancer drugs and molecular targeted therapies show little effectiveness against cancer stem cells.

It should be noted that these studies target humans. Research on dogs and cats is virtually nonexistent.

The most practical approach is to utilize the immune strength of pets. In the latter part of this page, we will introduce two simple methods to improve immune function. We hope you find them useful.

Characteristics of Cancer Stem Cells

Characteristics: Two Reasons Why Cancer Grows Almost Perpetually

Cancer stem cells have several key characteristics. The first two points to understand are:

They can divide infinitely, continuously supplying young cancer cells, thus allowing the tumor to grow.
They have high environmental adaptability, enabling them to survive in metastatic sites and resume cell division to form new tumors.

If a malignant tumor (cancer mass) is left untreated, it continues to grow larger. This is because cancer stem cells continuously produce highly proliferative young cancer cells.

The produced cancer cells multiply rapidly. While it is believed that the division pace of regular cancer cells eventually slows down, cancer stem cells keep supplying young cells, causing the tumor to continue growing.

Cancer stem cells also possess high environmental adaptability, which is one reason why cancer can metastasize easily. Let’s use a typical example of a metastasizing cancer, mammary gland tumors.

Cancer stem cells accustomed to the mammary environment can survive in the lymph or blood after detaching from the mammary gland. Once they reach the lymph nodes, they adapt to the new environment and start proliferating again. Furthermore, they adjust to the environment of the lungs, create new cancer cells, and form tumors, leading to lung metastasis.

Due to these characteristics, cancer never stops growing and can suddenly metastasize to distant organs (lungs, liver, brain, etc.).

Characteristics: Two Reasons for Their Immortality

Cancer stem cells exhibit high resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy due to the following two features:

They have a slow cell division pace and can switch between dormancy and proliferation modes. Therefore, anti-cancer drugs that target cell division are mostly ineffective.
They can detoxify reactive oxygen species. Thus, anti-cancer drugs and radiation therapies that use reactive oxygen species as an attack mechanism are mostly ineffective.

Cancer stem cells are initially considered immortal, and they are often referred to as invincible because of their characteristics.

Standard cancer cells are typically destroyed by chemotherapy. Most chemotherapy drugs target cancer cells during their division process. Since standard cancer cells divide rapidly and have many vulnerabilities, they become prime targets.

In contrast, cancer stem cells do not divide as quickly. They can remain dormant, similar to hibernation, and not proliferate at all, making it rare for chemotherapy drugs to target them during this period.

Radiation therapy is also less effective against them. One of the mechanisms of radiation therapy is its indirect anti-cancer effect through reactive oxygen species. However, cancer stem cells can detoxify reactive oxygen species, rendering the treatment ineffective.

The Reasons for Recurrence After Surgery

Recurrence after surgery involves two characteristics: the unlimited proliferation ability and the high adaptability of cancer stem cells.

Recurrence after surgery is common, and it is due to the remnants of cancer stem cells. These cells may be hiding in blood or lymphatic vessels, around the tumor, or within distant organs, and they can be left behind after surgery.

This is not a surgical failure. It is fundamentally impossible to remove cancer stem cells scattered throughout the body through surgery alone.

You might have heard phrases like “only God knows” regarding recurrence, but you may now understand that recurrence is more common if no action is taken.

Considering these factors, postoperative care is crucial.

Basic measures like enhancing physical strength and immunity are essential. While large tumors are removed surgically, it’s the immune system’s role to suppress the residual, scattered cancer cells.

Why Chemotherapy Isn’t Effective

Most cancers are not cured by chemotherapy. This is a well-known fact and is almost common knowledge among doctors and veterinarians.

This can be easily explained by the characteristics of cancer stem cells, specifically their slow cell division pace and detoxification ability against reactive oxygen species.

Let’s explain briefly about cell division. Cell division is the process by which a single cell divides into two (or more) cells. Normal cells also divide, but this process occurs frequently within tumors. During cell division, DNA is replicated. As the DNA unfolds from its compact structure to replicate, it becomes more susceptible to drug effects.

Most chemotherapy drugs attack during this cell division timing. Since cell division occurs repeatedly within tumors, chemotherapy drugs often show a good response. Temporarily, chemotherapy can sometimes reduce the size of the tumor.
Cancer stem cells present within tumors are less affected by anticancer drugs. This is due to their slow cell division pace. The temporary shrinkage of the tumor occurs because general cancer cells are destroyed. However, the cancer stem cells remain.

Additionally, cancer stem cells can switch between a proliferation mode and a hibernation mode, where they do not undergo cell division. Anticancer drugs are considered nearly powerless against cancer stem cells in hibernation mode.

Some anticancer drugs attack cancer cells using reactive oxygen species (ROS), but cancer stem cells resist this attack as well. They produce a substance called glutathione inside the cells, which removes ROS and weakens the attack from these drugs.

The high adaptability of cancer stem cells allows them to adapt even to the harsh environment during chemotherapy. Once adapted, they can regrow even during treatment, leading to drug resistance. It is believed that young cancer cells derived from cancer stem cells also possess resistance to anticancer drugs, indicating an increased malignancy of the cancer.

Even with highly malignant cancer, changing the anticancer drugs might temporarily reduce the tumor size. However, continuous use of anticancer drugs may eventually overwhelm the body and mind. Forcing it too much can severely compromise the immune system, counteracting the treatment’s effectiveness and essentially giving free rein to the cancer.

Why Radiation Therapy is Ineffective

The ability of cancer stem cells to detoxify reactive oxygen species weakens the effectiveness of radiation therapy.

While radiation therapy might be perceived as a method to burn and kill cancer cells, it slightly differs. Radiation therapy aims to damage the DNA of cancer cells and cause their cell division to fail.

There are two mechanisms for damaging DNA: the first is direct DNA fragmentation by radiation, and the second is the indirect DNA fragmentation caused by energizing water within the cell, which then produces ROS to attack the DNA. The combination of these two mechanisms exhibits anticancer effects.

As mentioned earlier, cancer stem cells can detoxify reactive oxygen species, demonstrating strong resistance to the second mechanism.

Suggestions to Implement Immediately

You may already understand that conventional cancer treatments find it very difficult to suppress cancer stem cells. Therefore, fundamentally curing cancer with chemotherapy or radiation therapy is also extremely challenging.

To provide better cancer treatment for your dogs and cats, owners need to adopt some thoughtful strategies. Here, we’ll introduce two methods. Both are simple and safe, and they are worth trying immediately.

Improving diet
Supplements administration

Improving diet aims to boost physical strength while reducing the supply of nutrients to cancer cells. By increasing protein intake and decreasing carbohydrates, the goal is to cut off the nutrients essential for cancer growth. Specifically, you should provide proteins from meat or fish in their regular meals and reduce grain (carbohydrates) and potato-based foods. Also, ensure to include quality fats.

You might wonder, “Can this really improve the condition?” Since diet is a daily matter, ensuring sufficient intake of necessary nutrients while limiting the nutrients that feed cancer cells forms the basis of cancer treatment.

Believing that commercial dog food or cat food is the ultimate diet will prevent you from aiming for better treatment. The advantage of commercial food is its “convenience,” but it does not contribute to cancer treatment or prevention.

Many might think that feeding human food to dogs and cats is not advisable. However, it is crucial for everyone to know that much of the ingredients used in pet food are those not eaten or not fit for human consumption.

Human food has certain standards. Meat from cattle, pigs, or chickens that die from diseases, for instance, is not discarded but is often bought cheaply, or taken for a fee, by pet food manufacturers who then use such meat in pet food. This practice is legally acceptable.

Of course, there are companies that set and maintain strict voluntary standards for the food quality they produce, but in many cases, the quality of ingredients used is as above described.

When a cherished family member falls ill, why not use higher safety standards with human-grade ingredients for their health recovery? It may be daunting to change all parts of their diet, so starting with about half might be a good initial step.

With the aforementioned dietary improvements bolstering physical strength, the immune response gradually improves. However, if time is of the essence, proactively supporting the immune system can help achieve a better condition quickly.

The immune system is a natural defense mechanism that animals possess, providing an incredibly efficient countermeasure against cancer. Immune function is a superior self-treatment system beyond any other treatment available.

While immune system research against cancer stem cells is ongoing, the fundamental role of the immune system in identifying and attacking foreign bodies in the body should not be underestimated.

Immune function can easily decline due to trivial factors such as stress, pain, emotional sorrow, improper diet, and poor-quality sleep. If there are aspects that can be improved, please address them immediately.

Immune Modulating Functions Expected from Cordy

Experiments have shown that administering Cordy helps to regulate the entire immune system.
Our laboratory is currently conducting research to determine whether administering Cordy to dogs and cats actually enhances their immunity.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

監修獣医師：林美彩　　所属クリニック：chicoどうぶつ診療所

所属：

獣医保健ソーシャルワーク協会

著書：

The Risks of Vaccination During Cancer Treatment in Dogs and Cats

moro — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 02:58:31 +0000

Caution Needed for Vaccination During Cancer Treatment

At Monolith, we believe that vaccinating dogs and cats with cancer could disrupt vital immune functions and sometimes exacerbate the disease. Therefore, we do not recommend vaccinations for dogs and cats with cancer. If possible, we advise against vaccinating them.

About Vaccines

Vaccines are preventive medicines against infectious diseases. The contents of a vaccine include dead pathogens (such as viruses) or attenuated pathogens with reduced toxicity. They are medicines designed with the principle of “fight fire with fire.” Most vaccines target infectious diseases with high mortality rates or those without effective treatments.

When a vaccine is administered into the body, it tricks the immune system into thinking a pathogen has invaded, thus training it to remember the type of pathogen. This trained immune system is expected to work efficiently when the actual pathogen invades.

Note that vaccines do not have therapeutic effects, so they are ineffective in dogs and cats that are already infected, and there is a risk that they might even worsen the condition.

The most common vaccine is the rabies vaccine, with annual administrations reaching 5 million. There are also numerous vaccines available for dogs and cats.

Why Vaccines Are Not Recommended for Dogs and Cats with Cancer

Administering vaccines to dogs and cats almost certainly causes some level of immune disruption. This can lead to the emergence of diseases that the immune system fights off, including infections and cancer.

Therefore, vaccinating a dog or cat with cancer might promote the proliferation of cancer cells. Even if the cancer is well-controlled, vaccination could lead to a sudden deterioration in conditions.

In cases where the animal is already exhausted from cancer treatment or the progression of cancer itself, vaccine side effects are expected to manifest more severely. The worse the physical condition, the more likely it is to experience stronger side effects from the vaccine, further deteriorating their health.

Many veterinarians are likely to advise against vaccinations during or after cancer treatment, but there are also many who actively recommend it. Apart from the rabies vaccine, vaccines are not mandatory. It is up to the pet owner to decide whether to vaccinate, taking the above factors into consideration.

※Note: The rabies vaccine is legally required, so no veterinarian publicly opposes it.
When facing the potential loss of life due to cancer, is there a necessity to worry about preventing other diseases? During cancer treatment, it is considered that the focus should be on the cancer treatment itself, and the priority of vaccinations is very low.

It is also possible to avoid even the rabies vaccination if undergoing cancer treatment. Please refer to the article below for more information:

About Deferral Certificates for Rabies Vaccination

Cases When Vaccination Should Be Delayed Other Than Cancer

The risk and side effects of vaccines can significantly vary depending on the condition of dogs and cats. In the following cases, careful consideration should be given to whether or not to proceed with vaccination. If multiple conditions apply, even more caution is warranted.

Not in good health.

It is not limited to vaccines, but administering drugs to an animal in poor health can easily lead to side effects or severe adverse reactions.

If the pet is unwell, do not hesitate to postpone the vaccination and wait until it recovers before proceeding with the vaccination.

Previous adverse reactions to vaccinations.

Some dogs and cats become unwell after vaccination. While they cannot communicate directly, symptoms like “nausea,” “chills,” “fatigue,” “numbness,” “dizziness,” “headaches,” and “joint pain” might have appeared. Pets that have shown health issues after a previous vaccination are more likely to experience similar or even more severe adverse effects with subsequent vaccinations.

Do not assume “it will be fine this time” without basis; consult a veterinarian for medical and scientific advice before making a decision.

Old age.

The immune function of elderly dogs and cats is naturally weaker compared to when they were younger. There is also a significant possibility that they may harbor small cancers in their bodies. Vaccination could trigger the onset of cancer or an infectious disease.

While it takes time for cancer to manifest, making it difficult to prove a causal relationship with vaccines, logically, it can be inferred that vaccines carry substantial risks.

Older pets have a diminished immune response compared to their younger counterparts. Vaccinating pets with weakened immune systems may not provide the expected benefits due to inadequate immune education.

Additionally, elderly animals have a reduced ability to excrete drugs, making them more susceptible to side effects.

Receiving steroids or other immunosuppressants.

Even young dogs and cats receiving immunosuppressants can experience similar issues to elderly pets, making it hard to gain benefits from vaccinations.

The primary immunosuppressants are steroids (such as prednisolone). It is generally advisable to vaccinate after the course of steroid treatment is completed.

If continuing with immunosuppressants is unavoidable, carefully weigh the benefits and risks of vaccination.

Adding Immune Measures to Cancer Treatment

At the Cordy Laboratory, we are conducting research on adding Cordy as an immune measure in veterinary cancer treatment to potentially improve prognosis.
Currently, many reports suggest that even if tumors do not completely disappear, there may be improvements in energy, appetite, and overall quality of life (QOL).

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

監修獣医師：林美彩　　所属クリニック：chicoどうぶつ診療所

所属：

獣医保健ソーシャルワーク協会

著書：

Sure, here is the translated text: “Early Cancer Detection: Symptoms and Tests for Early Cancer in Dogs, Cats, and Pets”

moro — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:55:39 +0000

Early detection of cancer in dogs and cats can lead to earlier treatment and potentially higher cure rates. However, the reality is that early detection and early treatment are often not achieved. Why is that?

Early Detection of Cancer in Dogs, Cats, and Pets

Pet owners likely think, “I want to find cancer as early as possible and start treatment as soon as I can.”

As you may know, the number of cancer cases in dogs and cats is increasing significantly in Japan, and many of them are losing their lives to cancer. Just like in humans, early detection and early treatment of cancer are crucial for pets. If you are aware of the symptoms of early cancer beforehand, you may be able to notice abnormalities quickly, and the earlier that treatment begins, the higher the chance of cure.

However, there are several reasons why early detection of cancer in dogs and cats is difficult:

Many early cancers exhibit no symptoms.
There are no good methods to detect early cancers.

In many cases, cancer is found at an advanced or terminal stage. Often, early cancer is discovered serendipitously during examinations for other purposes.

Symptoms of Early Cancer

Similar to humans, it is said that symptoms of cancer in dogs and cats do not appear until the cancer has progressed significantly. Changes in a pet’s health condition often occur only after the cancer has grown substantially or metastasized.

Therefore, it is difficult to detect cancer early based on changes in a pet’s health condition.

However, there are some cancers that can be detected from changes in appearance. For example:

Cancers in Dogs and Cats Detectable by Changes in Appearance
Type of Cancer	Early Symptoms/Changes
Mammary Tumors	Lymph nodes near the skin may swell, which can be detected by touch. Lymphomas growing in internal lymph nodes, spleen, or intestines are harder to notice until they progress. There are no subjective symptoms in pets.
Malignant Lymphoma	Lymph nodes near the skin may swell, which can be detected by touch. Lymphomas growing in internal lymph nodes, spleen, or intestines are harder to notice until they progress. There are no subjective symptoms in pets.

Testing for Early Cancer in Dogs and Cats

As mentioned above, early cancers often exhibit few symptoms, making it difficult to notice cancer from changes in a dog’s or cat’s condition. If it is hard to detect early cancer based on symptoms, the only option left is to find it through testing.

Some tests can detect small tumors just a few millimeters deep within the body. However, various issues make it challenging to find a test that reliably identifies early cancers at this time.

Some tests that can detect internal cancers include:

Type of Imaging Test	Effectiveness in Detecting Cancer
X-ray Examination	An X-ray captures a transmissive photograph of the body. Abnormalities are found based on the density shades in the photos. While there is radiation exposure during the imaging, the burden on the pet is relatively low. However,distinguishing millimeter-scale lesions is difficult, and early cancers are often missed.
Ultrasound Examination

You can observe the state inside the body in real time. You can identify abnormalities by examining the swelling of organs. Since the procedure does not significantly burden the body and takes little time, you can frequently check the inside of the body. However, it is not good at finding small changes occurring somewhere in the body. CT Scan You can capture a wide area of the body at once and confirm small abnormalities of just a few millimeters. However, there are several major issues. It involves much higher exposure to radiation than X-ray examinations. General anesthesia is administered to keep the body still during the procedure. The cost of the examination is high, and there are limited veterinary hospitals that can perform it. MRI Scan This examination can investigate internal organs in great detail. If you’re lucky enough to have a tumor within the scanning range, it can be detected. However, MRI is also not suitable for early cancer detection. The scanning range is narrow, making it difficult to locate cancer when its position is unknown. Additionally, the procedure takes time, requires general anesthesia, and is costly, with limited facilities available in veterinary hospitals. PET Scan This test is specialized in detecting cancer. By modifying glucose to be absorbed by cancer cells and then imaging with specialized equipment, the location of cancer can be identified. However, it is not uncommon for cancers to be found with CT or MRI scans that were not detected by a PET scan. By the way, PET stands for Positron Emission Tomography, and it is not intended as a test for pets (companion animals).

Things You Can Do to Prevent Early-Stage Cancer from Progressing

You may already know this, but there is a theory that cancer cells are generated within an animal’s body every day, and this idea is currently the most plausible. The number of cancer cells produced in a human body is estimated to be 3,000. Considering the size of the body, it is believed to be several hundred to several thousand in dogs and cats. Even with that number of cancer cells in the body, there are no particular health issues. Of course, there are no symptoms of cancer. Incidentally, the cancer cells that are produced are usually eliminated by the body’s innate immune system.

Let’s consider whether symptoms will appear in a dog that generates 500 cancer cells a day. If the number of cancer cells increases by 100 to become 600, will symptoms appear? No, they will not. What if it doubles to 1,000? Again, no symptoms will appear. What about 10,000, which is twenty times the original number? You might call this ultra-early-stage cancer, but symptoms are still unlikely to appear.
When the number of cancer cells exceeds 100,000, it is likely that cancer will eventually develop. However, it is still uncommon to be diagnosed with cancer at this stage because it is difficult to detect even with examinations.

When the number of cancer cells exceeds 100 million, abnormalities start becoming visible through tests or to the naked eye. If a lump forms, it might be about the size of a 1 cm ball.

However, dogs and cats rarely exhibit symptoms that they can be aware of.

If the cancer is in areas such as the skin or the mouth, you may notice swelling or other abnormalities. Lymph nodes just under the skin might be detectable through touch.

When it develops deep within the body, detecting abnormalities can be challenging. Pets that live outdoors might also not be easily monitored. If discovered at this stage, it is often considered early-stage cancer. On the other hand, if metastasis is found, it is classified as terminal cancer. The distinction between early-stage and terminal cancer is not determined by the number of cancer cells, but rather by factors like the extent of penetration through organ walls or metastasis to lymph nodes and other organs. Note that even if it is classified as early-stage cancer, there might already be invisible metastasis.

Currently, in Japan, the number of pets losing their lives to cancer has increased significantly. Malignant tumors, i.e., “cancer,” are among the top causes of death in dogs and cats. For elderly pets, cancer is the leading cause of death.

As written on this page, early detection of cancer is challenging even with repeated tests. Therefore, it might be more beneficial to focus on cancer prevention.

It can be said that having a strong immune system makes it less likely to develop cancer.

Cancer is a “lifestyle disease.” In other words, changing lifestyle habits could prevent cancer.

It is said that two-thirds of cancers can be prevented. Recent advancements in medical science have clarified that even if there are high-risk underlying conditions or genetic predispositions, improving diet and lifestyle can suppress the carcinogenesis process.

The immune system is surprisingly delicate and can fluctuate greatly due to mental factors and daily diet. This means that having a good time daily serves as cancer prevention and learning about proper diet also helps in prevention. Instead of focusing solely on early detection, why not prioritize daily prevention?

What You Can Do for Immune System Measures

At our laboratory, we believe that by using Cordy to regulate the immune system, reviewing diets, providing necessary nutrients, and improving the environment, the prognosis of pets suffering from cancer can be improved. We are conducting ongoing research in this area.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

監修獣医師：林美彩　　所属クリニック：chicoどうぶつ診療所

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獣医保健ソーシャルワーク協会

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Basic Knowledge of Cancer and Tumors in Dogs, Cats, and Pets

moro — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 06:43:38 +0000

Over the past 10 to 20 years, the incidence of cancer in dogs and cats has been rapidly increasing. This is closely related to their longer lifespans. With more pets being kept indoors, illnesses and abnormalities are detected earlier. Traffic accidents are also on the decline. As pet owners become more conscious of disease prevention, deaths due to heartworm have significantly decreased. It used to be common for dogs to die from infections or injuries around the age of five, but now living for over 10 years is the norm. Diet also plays a role. Let’s consider ways to counteract this issue.

What you will learn in this article

It’s natural for cancer to increase

No matter how much lifespans are extended, a time will come when dogs will be called to heaven. If it’s not from old age, their lives will be taken by some illness or injury.

Currently, the most common causes of death in dogs are cancer and heart disease.

Both are difficult to cure, but heart disease can be managed for a long time with medication. Conversely, cancer, aside from some early-stage cases, is not only difficult to cure but also hard to control. Even with standard treatment, extending the life just a bit is a challenge.

With the cancer incidence rate clearly higher in older dogs compared to younger ones, as dogs avoid dying from other diseases and live longer, the number of dogs dying from cancer increases.

What exactly is cancer?

Cancer: Understanding the Disease

Cancer is the name of a disease. It might help to think of it as a condition in which millions to billions of cancer cells exist within a dog’s body. The term “cancer” is sometimes used to refer to a mass of cancer cells, but it is more appropriate to use the term “tumor.”

A tumor of 1 cubic centimeter consists of roughly one billion cancer cells. For a sugar cube-sized tumor, it would be about three billion cells.

In fact, it is normal for a dog to have one or two cancer cells in its body. It is likely that there are hundreds to thousands of cancer cells. However, this number does not constitute cancer, and virtually no concern for cancer should arise for many years.

※ For humans, it is said that it takes about ten years for a single cancer cell to repeatedly divide and form a mass the size of a sugar cube.

Determining “Cancer”

Cancer is a disease name. It is not defined by a specific number of cancer cells.

When a mass of cancer cells (tumor) is detected through a physical examination or imaging, it is often referred to as “suspected cancer.” If a subsequent biopsy or histological examination of the removed tumor reveals it to be a mass of cancer cells, it is diagnosed as cancer.

There are also types of cancer that do not form masses. These can be diagnosed through blood tests, fluid examinations, or by examining swollen lymph nodes.

※ It is common to refer to mass-forming types as “cancer” and to include non-mass-forming types under the general term “cancer.”

The Origin of Cancer Cells

Where do cancer cells come from? They are not transmitted from other dogs nor do they spontaneously appear from nothing. Initially normal cells undergo changes and become cancer cells.

A dog’s body consists of several to tens of trillions of cells. Each cell has a nucleus containing DNA, which stores various genetic information. The first step in the development of cancer is a mutation or alteration in this DNA.

Hearing about DNA mutations might sound scary, but it is actually a common phenomenon. Mutations probably occur tens of thousands of times each day. Organisms have the ability to repair minor mutations in DNA, making it difficult for normal cells to transform into cancer cells easily.

However, if DNA sustains continuous damage beyond repair or if the repair mechanisms fail to function correctly, normal cells may lose their ability to maintain normalcy.

This is the birth of cancer cells.

※ There are various hypotheses regarding the mechanisms of cancer development.

Causes of DNA Damage

There are several reasons why DNA may become damaged. Common causes include reactive oxygen species, ultraviolet rays, radiation, chemicals, and anti-cancer drugs. These factors can oxidize DNA, break it, add extraneous elements to it, or cause abnormal bonds within the DNA, thereby damaging it.

Additionally, failures in DNA replication during cell division can occur.

Mechanisms of Attacking Cancer Cells – Natural Healing Power and Immunity

It’s not the end of the road or a countdown just because cancer cells have formed. Most cancer cells actually disappear without any treatment. Animals have an extraordinary system in place to eliminate cancer cells.

One such system is apoptosis. This is a self-destruction program encoded in DNA. It activates when DNA repair fails, and the cell is on the verge of becoming a cancer cell. The DNA of cells that activate this program gets fragmented, leading to cell death.

Another mechanism is natural immunity, where natural killer cells play a significant role. They find and destroy cancer cells.

Adaptive immunity is a system wherein multiple immune cells work together to destroy cancer. Immune cells that detect cancer and signal others to attack, and those that use this signal to target the cancer cells, all have specific roles in this process.

Types of Cancer in Dogs

Common cancer diagnoses in dogs include mammary gland tumors (breast cancer), mast cell tumors, malignant lymphoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.

Breast Cancer

This cancer primarily occurs in female dogs. Half of mammary gland tumors are benign, while the other half are malignant breast cancers. It is more common in unspayed dogs, and any lump found from the chest to the abdomen should be a cause for concern. These tumors form in the mammary glands and often metastasize to other glands. They can grow rapidly, causing the skin to break, bleed, and become infected.

While early removal is ideal, once it progresses, it may metastasize to lymph nodes or the lungs, significantly worsening the prognosis.

*Even at an early stage, there is a possibility of microscopic metastasis.

Breast Cancer in Dogs and Cats

List of Articles Related to Mammary Tumors

Mast Cell Tumors

Mast cells are cells deeply involved in inflammation and allergies, and they have the ability to release histamine. This disease occurs when mast cells become cancerous. Excessive release of histamines can lead to gastric ulcers, and in some cases, can cause death due to shock.

※Histamine is a representative substance involved in allergies and inflammation. It also has various effects such as promoting the secretion of stomach acid.

Most often, it appears on the skin and can be found by pet owners. However, it is not always clear if it is a mast cell tumor, so it is safer to have it examined.

Although the name of the disease includes the word “mast,” it is not related to the dog being overweight.

Mast Cell Tumors in Dogs and Cats

Malignant Lymphoma

One of the types of white blood cells, the lymphocytes, become cancerous. There is no benign form once it is called lymphoma. Although referred to as a type of blood cancer, it can be noticed by the swelling of lymph nodes. It can also form masses in internal organs.

Unusually, chemotherapy is likely to be effective against this cancer. However, even if it appears to improve, it usually recurs. Chemotherapy alone cannot eliminate all cancer cells.

Steroids are also often used. They can enhance the effects of chemotherapy and are expected to improve the quality of life by boosting energy levels and appetite.

Case Reports of Lymphoma

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Common sites include the mouth, nasal cavity, paws, and anus. While it is ideal to remove all of the cancer, it is often difficult depending on the location. In some cases, surgery may lead to significant facial deformation or the loss of a limb.

※ During surgery, it is crucial to assume that the cancer has spread to the surrounding areas and to remove it with a sufficient margin, not just the tumor alone.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Dogs and Cats

General Cancer Treatments

Surgery and chemotherapy are the common treatments. Some university-affiliated hospitals also provide radiation therapy.

Surgery

A scalpel is used to excise the tumor. If all the cancer cells can be removed, this can be a fundamental treatment. Since the boundary between cancer and normal tissue is not clear, not only the tumor but also the surrounding tissue (taking a margin) is excised to avoid leaving any cells behind.

Laser scalpels are gradually becoming more common as an alternative to metal scalpels. Laser scalpels significantly reduce bleeding during surgery, making transfusions unnecessary and greatly shortening the surgery time.

General anesthesia is inevitably required for surgery, so risks must be considered for elderly dogs.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is chosen when the cancer has already metastasized, cannot be addressed by surgery, or has a high likelihood of recurrence after surgery.

The treatment’s effectiveness in completely eliminating large tumors is limited. Tumors often shrink, but whether this contributes to prolonged survival is uncertain.

Lymphoma, which is a type of blood cancer, cannot be treated with surgery but is a rare type of cancer that responds well to chemotherapy. If the patient has the strength to endure the side effects, chemotherapy should be considered.
## Postoperative Chemotherapy

It’s not very clear how effective postoperative chemotherapy is in preventing recurrence. I estimate the effectiveness to be around 2% to 20%. The side effects depend on the type and dosage of the chemotherapy drug, but the incidence of side effects can range from 50% to 100%. Thus, the actual benefits are minimal.

Chemotherapy has the issue of resistance, meaning that its effectiveness diminishes over time, rendering continued treatment less valuable. Hence, switching to a different chemotherapy drug mid-treatment may be necessary.

Boosting Immunity in Cancer Treatment for Pets

When a pet is diagnosed with cancer, there are often cases where aggressive treatments that stress the body cannot be pursued due to reasons related to age or physical strength.

Even in such cases, if we can manage immune support without burdening the body, we believe it can lead to peaceful days for the pet.

In our research laboratory, we are continuing studies to determine whether administering Cordy at times of immune suppression caused by surgery or chemotherapy can accelerate immune recovery. We are also researching whether Cordy contributes to maintaining immune strength.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

監修獣医師：林美彩　　所属クリニック：chicoどうぶつ診療所

所属：

獣医保健ソーシャルワーク協会

著書：