Question Details
Sarcoma L Chest
by Lauren Chattigre - March 3, 2010
Hi there. Galo is a 13yr MN labrador retriever recently diagnosed with a low-intermediate grade sarcoma on his L thoracic wall. The mass looks and feels like a lipoma except it's attached to the 11th rib near the costochondral junction. Diagnosis was FNA; o has declined surgical Bx. Other Hx: slightly high Cholesterol, flea bite hypersensitivity, corn allergy (patchy hair loss on face prior to diet change), very stiff hips (worse morning and cold weather), twitchy to palpation entire thoracolumbar spine, mild generalized muscle atrophy, non-repeatable slow CP on RH. Tongue is mildly lavender, pulses are slippery and right side is weak. Personality is very friendly and social with humans and other dogs that he knows; nippy and barking with unknown dogs.

I'm thinking damp cold bi, blood deficiency (muscle atrophy), blood stagnation and phlegm (mass), and SP qi deficiency (weak R pulse). I'm considering Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang for the mass (except that it doesn't address phlegm), and Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang for the damp cold bi. Suggestions?

Pulses improved after acupuncture - GV20, bai hui; BL11, 17, 20, 23, 25, 40; SP10; ST40; LI10. Other points? Thanks!
Replies
by naturevet
March 3, 2010
Hi Lauren,

I think your formulas are a fine place to start, or even just XFZYT alone, with San Leng and E Zhu added for antineoplastic effects.

Another thought I have is Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang, which is a Blood mover and Qi tonic. The Qi tonic is Huang Qi, which also helps to promote Damp drainage through urine formation, although it is not generally used in this way. It's an anticancer formula, a Blood tonic, and a Wei Qi tonic. So it's potentially a better fit for the Tai Yang/Wei Qi; Spleen; and Blood points you have listed, and has the general outward push you need to improve immune surveillance peripherally and increase muscle tone and strength. You can also use the two together - BYHWT and XFZYT - to get things started.

That's probably how I would start, and I would wait on the DHJST to avoid diluting the actions of my blood moving herbs, while meeting most of the goals that you want DHJST to achieve.

Hope that helps!

Steve
by Lauren Chattigre
March 4, 2010
Thanks!
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