22/06/2025
Let's talk hemangiosarcoma. It's a dreadful word. A nasty word. One that immediately facilitates panic, fear, constant worry, sadness, OCD behavior (checking the color of his gums about 400 times a day 😅), and hopelessness. From the moment you hear that your dog is diagnosed with that dreadful word, your life changes. Especially after the first bleed, which happened this past Sunday, June 15th at 10pm. Marley is doing great, like nothing even happened now, but more on that in the next post.
From researching everything hemangiosarcoma I can get my hands on to balancing that with the time you may or may not have left with your dog, your best friend, it's a whirlwind of emotions.
"Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is a highly malignant and aggressive cancer that originates from blood vessel cells. It's a common and deadly cancer in older, large breed dogs, affecting the spleen or heart most often. HSA can develop slowly without obvious signs, but can also present as an emergency after a sudden collapse. Tumors can occur anywhere in the body, but often appear in areas with a rich blood supply, making them especially deadly. "
"Hemangiosarcoma typically affects middle-aged to older dogs; but it has also been reported in puppies only a few months old. Some breeds may be predisposed to hemangiosarcoma, including: German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers, Pit Bulls, and dogs with thin hair coats: Whippets, Greyhounds, Italian Greyhounds, Beagles, English Pointers, Dalmatians, and Basset Hounds."
"Clinical signs of hemangiosarcoma vary with the organs involved. A hallmark of hemangiosarcoma is the ability to bleed profusely, primarily because the tumors are made from blood cells and vessels. The tumors are invasive at the primary tissue site but also distantly aggressive, rapidly growing and spreading to other sites in the body.
The three most common sites are Splenic hemangiosarcoma, Cardiac hemangiosarcoma, and Cutaneous/subcutaneous hemangiosarcoma."
Since Marley's tumor was on his spleen, we'll focus on splenic hemangiosarcoma. Although symptoms can vary, the most common with a splenic mass are weakness, pale gums, lethargy, decreased appetite, and distended abdomen. None of which Marley had. We found his tumor by investigating his GI issues. We caught it early and hopefully that'll buy us more time in the long run.
It likely has a genetic link, as shown by the predisposed breeds. Currently 1 in 4 dogs will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lives. Although that statistic is high, there are some things you can do to reduce the risks. Exposure to some forms of chemicals, insecticides, toxins, and radiation have all been linked to hemangiosarcoma development. So is that beautiful w**d free grass worth it? Do you hate bugs so much that you're willing to risk toxin exposure to not only your pets but your family too? I HATE bugs, but I also try to use all natural herbs to combat them, especially now. Household cleaners too, have harsh chemicals that can get airborne when you use them. Rethink your products and opt for all natural alternatives, being mindful that some herbs used in natural cleaners are also toxic for dogs. Also look at your air fresheners, there are chemicals there too releasing airbourne toxins into your home. Explore alternative methods to keeping your home smelling fresh and clean without all the added bad stuff.
Water was a big one for me. Most of us just fill up their water bowls from the tap. Did you know that there are trace "acceptable" amounts of pharmaceuticals, minerals, pesticides, etc in tap water? Not only is it bad for you, but it's bad for your furry family members. The best alternative is distilled water or better yet invest in a reverse osmosis system for your house, free of all the bad stuff; truly clean, purified water.
While this diagnosis might have crushed our spirits, I must remain hopeful. Hopeful for Marley's sake and hopeful for my own. There are support groups out there and they have been amazing!!! From advice to grievance support to talking about little known forms of treatment everyone is doing. It's like having thousands of people researching every bit of information they can get their hands on tucked in your back pocket. I learned I'm not alone. I have thousands of people from all across the world ready and willing to help with any silly question or concern I have or just a willing ear to listen or cry to. They have been amazing in this healing journey and I couldn't be more grateful for them.
They taught me strength in the presence of evil because that is what hemangiosarcoma is. They taught me to focus on the moments and the treatment rather than the probable outcome. They give me hope and a willingness to keep pushing and advocating for Marley despite the dire diagnosis.
Here's to hemangiosarcoma, may we soon find a cure and crush this evil once and for all!!! And if you're willing and able, give to research dedicated to finding a cure because a cure for hemangiosarcoma can potentially be a cure for all cancers, even human ones.
https://wearethecure.org/shop/hsa-research-donation/
💕🙏💕
