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Thank you to everyone who has documented, reviewed and shared photos of their dog’s STELFONTA journey.
Click on our four legged heroes below to see pictures of their mast cell tumor journey.
Note: Some images are graphic at the point in the process where the destroyed tumor sloughs away.
Please consider helping other dog owners facing a mast cell tumor diagnosis for their dog by sharing your photos with our community of pet owners. We will create a slide show for you. Simply email up to ten photos to Gemma@stelfonta.com. Be sure to include a photo of the tumor before the STELFONTA treatment, and on or after day 28, and we will create a slide show for others to see the tumor destruction and healing.
Check out Clinical photos, taken by veterinarians documenting their patients’ STELFONTA Journey.
Arch Duke
10.5 years, Chihuahua
Arch Duke had an MCT on his lower leg treated with STELFONTA. Mindy, his owner, explained Arch Duke was “not a perky little boy for the first few days, and was reluctant to put weight on his foot”. But he completely bounced back to normal and “was back to 3.5lbs of pure sass within ten days”. Mindy reports “the wound fully healed and he’s now cancer free”. Great to hear!
FDA-CVM WARNING: SEVERE WOUND FORMATION IN HUMANS; EXTENSIVE WOUND FORMATION, MAST CELL DEGRANULATION, AND DEATH IN DOGS DUE TO MAST CELL DEGRANULATION
Human Safety
Dog Safety
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Formation of wounds, possibly extensive, is an intended and likely response to treatment with STELFONTA along with associated swelling, bruising and pain; these wounds are expected to heal. Appropriate pre- and post-treatment medications must be given, including a corticosteroid plus blocking agents for both H1 and H2 receptors, in order to decrease the potential for severe systemic adverse reactions, including death, from mast cell degranulation.
Cindy Jo found a pea sized lump when petting Kairi, who was almost 8 years old. When the fine needle aspirate confirmed mast cells, Cindy Jo wanted to avoid another surgery so was relieved Kairi was a candidate for STELFONTA® (tigilanol tiglate injection). The tumor did not seem bothersome and didn’t swell following the injection. Cindy Jo tried a soft cone for a day but Kairi was not a fan! There was an odor during the tumor necrosis, but it disappeared once the tumor sloughed away. Cindy Jo’s tip is to get a plastic sheet if your dog sleeps on the bed, and to remember every dog will follow their own unique journey.
Amber’s 12 year old Cocker Spaniel, Reese, had a mast cell tumor on his paw…
Some dogs unfortunately get multiple mast cell tumors; 9-year-old Shadow had three, two of which were suitable for STELFONTA (tigilanol tiglate injection) and achieved a complete response, including one on her vulva (below). Unlike most patients receiving STELFONTA, Shadow was not prescribed pain medication but did receive her other essential medications as prescribed. Mary recalls as the prednisone wore off towards the end of the injection day, Shadow started to pant heavily and drool. This made it tricky to give Shadow her essential medications so Mary liquefied the pills and was relieved to see Shadow perk-up. “Since STELFONTA, Shadow has had so much more energy. I honestly believe it saved her life.”
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This French Bulldog Percy was only 4 months when his first mast cell tumor was removed from his prepuce; high grade and a high chance of metastasis. Percy defied odds and was healthy for 5 years until this tumor appeared. In Ali’s research she discovered STELFONTA® (tigilanol tiglate injection). Given the location and desire to maintain function, Ali’s veterinarian was willing to try STELFONTA over the alternative, which was extensive surgery. Percy’s leg was swollen for the first few days, and his belly was red. Ali recalls this was hard to see, but Percy continued to toilet normally. Ali’s tips: use the medication tracker, protect furniture with sheets and, if your dog can’t reach the site, gently rinse with a shower. Percy’s tumor fell away on day 10, and 1 month later is healed. Good to see Percy back playing with his toys!
Milo has had several mast cell tumors over his 10 years. Jessica noticed him licking the one on his leg as if it was itchy. Her veterinarian said it was not a candidate for surgical removal due to the location, but STELFONTA® (tigilanol tigalate injection) could be a good option. Jessica was prepared for the swelling but recalls the first few days were hard as Milo avoided putting any weight on his leg, so needed help standing. Jessica encouraged him to move and once the swelling subsided he was happy. Milo licked the site to remove the dead tumor, which had a strong odor. The wound was deep where the tumor extended but it healed as intended: “We were amazed at watching STELFONTA work and see the daily progress of the wound closing up and healing. The latest picture was taken this month and you can barely tell he had anything there! Just a little scar and a missing patch of hair. It’s been a game changer.”
Blue, 11 yrs Strafford/Boxer, previously had four mast cell tumors on his limb surgically removed. Alexandra researched non-surgical options and discovered STELFONTA® (tigilanol tiglate injection) after finding the community run Facebook page.
Blue’s tumor was so large it required two vials of STELFONTA.
The first two days following the injection were tough as Blue looked like he was in pain and slept a lot. He ate and drank well, and had no other side effects, but Alexandra insisted on some pain medication and by day 3, Blue was much happier. Once the swelling subsided, Blue was back to his normal self, doing zoomies around the yard, unfazed by the wound. By day 30, the site has almost healed and Alexandra says her only regret is not knowing about STELFONTA earlier, as it was a less invasive option for Blue.
Brutus’ owner, Samantha, had previously worked with Dr Sue Cancer Vet, so knew about STELFONTA® (tigilanol tiglate injection). When the the lump on Brutus’ prepuce was confirmed a mast cell tumor, they all hoped STELFONTA would be an option and his prepuce could remain intact. Brutus was sedated for the injection, and given pain medications before and after the injection. “He was tired but not so lethargic that I was concerned. He was eating, drinking, and going to the bathroom. We reduced his medications and he was back to normal after 3 weeks. He would lick the area but he wasn’t too bothered about it.” Once the tumor necrosed and sloughed away, the wound was extensive, but healed in 4 weeks. Samantha shares “It can be scary to look at, but the end results are so much better than surgery!”
Rebecca found a local veterinarian experienced in STELFONTA® (tigilanol tiglate injection) via Find a vet. Rebecca was relieved to learn 5 year old Lilly would not require surgery and would keep her toes. The first few days following the injection were tough, as Lilly’s tiny paw was swollen. The tumor changed in size day by day, with granulation tissue clearly evident at day 30. However, this didn’t bother Lilly at all, and vanished without intervention. Rebecca used our Medication tracker to keep on top of the essential medications to prevent de-granulation and support Lilly through treatment. “Lilly was an excellent patient, taking it all in her stride, and is now cancer free” shares Rebecca. Great to hear!
Bella the Boxer had a sub-cutaneous tumor under the skin on her leg. Being a nurse, her owner LaDonna is used to wounds, and her Veterinarian explained the wound could be extensive. At one-point LaDonna questioned whether she’d made the right choice, but is now glad she selected STELFONTA® (tigilanol tiglate injection) and avoided amputation which was recommended to get complete margins. LaDonna recalls Bella was panting and did not sleep for the first day after the injection. She avoided weight-bearing for the first two days, until the tumor opened up and swelling subsided. As Bella wore a cone and couldn’t lick the site clean, fluid did leak from the tumor, so LaDonna losely covered the site with a disposable pad. Two months on, LaDonna reports Bella is cancer free!
When Arlo’s veterinarian diagnosed a mast cell tumor, they referred Arlo to a surgeon who proposed surgery. However, given the tumor location, amputation would have been the way to ensure clean margins and remove the tumor completely. Arlo’s family were devastated as he is an active 2.5 years old, so they inquired about STELFONTA® (tigilanol tiglate injection) having heard about it via a friend. “It was a scary but amazing process! Arlo did a great job of taking care of the wound. There was a distinctive necrotic smell from the tumor, but that stopped when it fell away.” Arlo had daily hydrotherapy which assisted his recovery. Three months later, Marcy reports that Arlo is back to his goofy self.
Oscar’s groomer discovered a lump on this energetic Yorkie Bichon’s nose. Dr Sims from Picture Hills Pet Hospital confirmed a mast cell tumor via an FNA and referred Oscar’s owner, Brandi, to an oncologist. Brandi was concerned about achieving margins via surgery, so went back to Dr Sims who recommended STELFONTA® (tigilanol tiglate treatment). Due to the location, Oscar was sedated for his injection, but returned home that day with pain medication. Brandi recalls he did really well; the area swelled as expected and the tumor blackened, but “stayed small and healed beautifully”. One year later Brandi shares “You wouldn’t know he had a tumor there” and advises others to ask questions and be confident to seek a second opinion.
When Laureen noticed swelling and bruising on Drake’s tail, she assumed this was from the 9-year-old Boxer-x-Hound constantly knocking his tail on walls when running around the house. Her veterinarian suggested a fine-needle aspiration to confirm any foul play, but the results confirmed a mast cell tumor. After being sedated due to the tumor’s location and size (10cm³), Drake was given an injection of STELFONTA® (tigilanol tiglate injection) and within hours, Laureen could see the tumor start to necrose. Laureen recalls: “As Drake licked the wound extensively, our veterinarian wrapped the site to prevent trauma and also put a collar around his neck.” As you can see by the photos, the wound is healing nicely with minimal scarring noticeable and fur re-covering the area.
Samantha adopted Hampton, her 7-year-old Labrador retriever, from a service dog organization. Samantha noticed a bump on Hampton’s paw when clipping her nails and assumed a bug bite, but over 2 weeks, it changed size. The fine needle aspirate confirmed mast cells and Hampton’s veterinarian said it would be hard to achieve margins with surgery. Samantha did her research and understood the wound could look nasty, once STELFONTA® (tigilanol tiglate) had removed the tumor. It certainly did. However, it didn’t seem to bother Hampton at all. She avoided weight bearing for the first 4 days, until the swelling subsided, then went about things as normal!
When Jenn discovered the lump on 9-year-old Mia’s paw, she initially suspected a trauma injury, bug bite or bee sting. The lump grew over the coming 2 weeks, so a cytology was performed and suspicious cells were detected under the microscope. Devastated, Jenn asked for options and was told due to the tumor being so small, STELFONTA would be the best option. Pain medication was prescribed in case Mia was uncomfortable, but she didn’t require any and acted like nothing was wrong throughout the entire journey!
Laura found a lump on the paw of her dog Lilly, a 13-year-old 70-pound Bernese Mountain Dog Mix. As Laura’s daughter is a veterinarian student, she knew to get the lump checked and mast cells were detected. Two veterinarians encouraged amputation but Laura found one experienced in STELFONTA®. One month after the injection, Laura was thrilled to get the all clear, confirming Lilly is tumor free.
When Angel rescued 4-year-old Lucy from a breeding kennel she had frostbite on her ears, so Angel thought the lump on her leg could be the same, but felt crushed to learn it was a mast cell tumor. Lucy’s veterinarian explained margins may be hard to achieve due to the location and suggested STELFONTA® (tigilanol tiglate injection). Angel explained “Lucy avoided putting weight on her leg for the first 48 hours, but once the tumor opened up and swelling subsided the wound didn’t impact her at all”. Angel used our Medication Tracker for the concomitant medications and Lucy needed pain medication in the first few days. Angel also shared photos with her vet through the journey. Good to see Lucy back to her normal self!
Chelsea didn’t think much of the pimple-like bump on Bob’s mouth, until it changed size and shape. Chelsea was hesitant to put Bob through surgery as he was 11-years old, and clean margins would be challenging in this location. After reading other pets’ stories, Chelsea asked her veterinarian about STELFONTA who confirmed it would be a suitable treatment.
Chelsea recalls “Bob was sedated to ensure they injected the right spot. Within hours the tumor looked dark and angry. It fell away on Day 2 leaving a hole.” Unfortunately, 3 months after the site healed, the tumor returned so Bob received a second injection, resulting in a complete response.
Penny was only 3-years-old when Angela discovered a lump on the top of her paw. Initially thought to be a cyst, Penny’s veterinarian aspirated the lump which confirmed mast cells. Due to the tumor possibly being attached to the tendons, Penny would have likely required chemotherapy, radiation and still may have required amputation, so Penny’s surgeon recommended STELFONTA® (tigilanol tiglate injection). The pressure on Penny’s paw was painful for the first two days after the injection; Angela had read other cases on this site so was prepared for this. However, once the tumor site opened up and swelling reduced, Penny was quickly back to running around again. Almost 12 months later, Penny remains cancer free.
Obi, this stunning 8.5-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback has a heart condition that puts him at greater risk from general anaesthesia. His veterinarian recommended STELFONTA® (tigilanol tiglate injection) to treat his 1cm3 mast cell tumor. You can see from the photos, the tumor died and fell away leaving a small wound that completely healed by day 45. Obi wasn’t phased by the treatment, and continues to enjoy his life – cancer free!
Stephanie was reluctant to remove Gracie-Mae’s leg, as she was only 4.5 years old and had suffered from previous medical procedures. The tumor on Gracie-Mae’s paw didn’t necrose following the STELFONTA injection, so a second injection was given a month later, visibly destroying the tumor. Stephanie explained “Due to the pain medication Gracie-Mae slept quite a bit but could go on gentle walks by day 2. By the second week, she was back to her regular walk, and within three weeks back to her silly self, playing with her toys”.
Amber works in a busy veterinary clinic, so had seen patients treated with STELFONTA® (tigilanol tiglate injection), but not on the ear. Amber found a small lump (size of a pea) in her dog Sammi’s ear, and the FNA confirmed mast cells. Amber was keen to save Sammi’s ear, so opted for STELFONTA. She was surprised the wound didn’t get larger than the tip of a pinky finger and explained Sammi wasn’t at all phased. She went about her business as usual, and is now doing great.
9-year-old Waffles the Basset Hound previously had 2 MCTs removed with surgery. This time her Mom Karen opted for STELFONTA to save her toe. By day 11 the wound was significant, but the site healed well and Waffles is now her super happy self again.
When Lucy’s owner Judy found a lump on Lucy’s leg, she initially thought it was fatty tissue or an infection but the lump was still present after a course of antibiotics so Lucy’s veterinarian undertook an FNA (Fine Needle Aspirate) that confirmed a mast cell tumor and recommended treatment with STELFONTA. Judy was well prepared and knew what to expect. She explains “the changes were visible within hours as the tumor started to die. There was a smell but that went as soon as the tumor fell away. Lucy took care of the wound herself – she was a Champ!”. Lucy is now back to her usual curious self and hasn’t looked back.
Lucy, Betsy’s 12-yr-old American Eskimo, had a mast cell tumor on her right thigh diagnosed one month after STELFONTA was available in the US. Betsy recalls her breeder saying “Don’t give up hope, there is a new treatment called STELFONTA which sounds promising”. The tumor was 8cm³ on treatment day, so she was muzzled out of caution, but Lucy was “…relaxed, calm and happy during the injection. She didn’t need sedation. Lucy was quiet for a couple of days, but kept the tumor clean, and it fell off, initially leaving a wound less than 1/8″ deep, and 5cm wide x 6cm height”. Dr Bonnie Willhite from Animal Wellness Clinic in Milton, GA confirmed a complete response, and 18 months later Lucy remains cancer free.
Ella, a 10 year 4 month old Doberman had a cutaneous tumor on her back leg treated with Stelfonta. As expected, within hours the tumor started to blacken and shrivel up. By day 7 the tumor had completely fallen away, leaving fresh new skin underneath. Helen, Ella’s owner was impressed with how rapidly the wound healed; she is happy with the treatment and says ‘it was remarkable to watch’.
Shadow, an 8-year-old Chihuahua had a mast cell tumor in between his toes on his left paw. His family were concerned it would be hard to get clean margins, so elected for STELFONTA treatment and were pleased with the end result.
Robyn noted how they found a lump on Ivy that grew to the size of a 50-cent piece. “While it wasn’t bothering her, it grew quickly so we had the vet take a look.” The thing Robyn recalls most is how quickly the treatment shrunk the tumor. “It looked a little bit sore and she wasn’t herself for a few days, but it shrunk so much that within a few weeks there was nothing there. We were all amazed that it healed so quickly.”
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Nase’s owner Leanne spotted the lump on the back of his leg and went to the vet, who recommended an injectable treatment. The treatment started to work quickly, “the lump swelled up within an hour and started to go dark. The vet explained this meant the treatment was working,” explained Leanne. The best thing for Leanne was how Nase seemed to have even more energy than before. “Within a month, he was actually better after the treatment than beforehand. He wasn’t as tired and got his appetite back.”
Daisy’s tumor was a lump that looked like a wart on her right leg.
Brigitte explained she looked after the wound that formed after treatment. “Within a couple of hours, it started to go black and looked inflamed.”
“There was a bit of a smell, but not so bad that it bothered us,” explained Brigitte. “It looked like a scab on top that started to fall away and left a clean crater.”
Today, you can hardly notice the tiny scar and Brigitte happily reported that “there’s no stopping Daisy now. The vet recommended this treatment because the alternative was limb amputation and I couldn’t imagine her quality of life, so this has been amazing. It’s prevented her from losing her leg.”
Sammi was concerned Ruby would have to be put down after her vet confirmed there wasn’t enough skin on Ruby’s leg, where the MCT was detected, to be cut out. Sammi was relieved to be given the option of STELFONTA and was so pleased with the results that she didn’t hesitate to select STELFONTA again when a second tumor appeared months afterwards.
“It was amazing to watch because within a day it turned black and the tumor died. All we did was leave it, and it was amazing,” said Sammi. The second MCT took longer to heal, but Sammi noted “at first, it was a deep hole, but now it’s just a shiny scar about the size of a 20-cent piece. I really believe that this was a great option for Ruby. Within days, she was recovering and up again. She did not even need anesthetics.”
Dennis recalled how quiet Mariah became after diagnosis, “she knew things weren’t right”. But after the treatment, it didn’t take long for Mariah to get her energy back. “She was down for the first week and didn’t want to do anything. But then she perked up and, within a month, she got more energy. Now she’s bouncing all over the place and keeps up with our other dog perfectly,” said Dennis.
He also commented on the healing of the tumor site, noting “gradually the skin grew back again and now it’s completely gone. Not even a mark, a dent – nothing. Completely gone.”
Sarah and Bekah explained their veterinarian had told them to expect a wound once Stelfonta destroyed the tumor. “We were prepared the wound could be large – it certainly was in Lyla’s case. Before the injection the tumor just looked like a small bump on Lyla’s leg, but the wound extended up to her armpit. While it was stressful to watch, the wound healed really well and didn’t seem to bother Lyla at all. She was back to her normal vocal self in no time!”
Steve described how the wound where Shirley’s tumor used to be didn’t stop her from getting back to normal.
“Within a week of treatment, the lump became swollen and burst,” said Steve. “It smelt at first but within a week, she started coming good – even though the wound was there. It was amazing. Her recovery was incredible. She is now back to being a typical Staffy bullet – she’s nuts!”. Steve added that given the choice again, “we would definitely do this.”
Katja shares her STELFONTA experience: “After the treatment, Lou was miserable for a few days, but within a week, she bounced back to normal, doing big walks and going running. Lou’s just had her eighth birthday. Without treatment, she wouldn’t have survived or enjoyed such an active life.”
Barney’s tumor was on his bottom – a tricky place to treat surgically. Wendy explained why the veterinarian’s recommended treatment was an easy choice for them. “They could have tried surgery but may not have got all the tumor because it was so close to the bowel. Plus, as an older dog, there’s always the risks with anesthetics”, explained Wendy.
“The vet gave Barney the first injection, but a few weeks later, he had to have a second one to get the last few spots around the edge,” said Wendy.
Today, Barney is doing well, and Wendy is happy with the result. “You wouldn’t know he had cancer a month ago.”
Over a period of time, Lizzie had three tumors treated with STELFONTA; Alison explained how each tumor affected Lizzie differently. “The one on her foot we noticed because she was licking it, and the one on her stomach looked different to the others but didn’t bother her much. The one on her face caused her the most discomfort because she would scratch it with her paw.”
When it came to treatment, “each tumor reacted a little differently, one oozed fluid, another became swollen – but each settled down quickly”, added Alison. “She’s happy, sociable and excitable again. We’re really happy with the outcome – it’s prolonged her life and improved the quality of it.”
Boston had a lump on his side that grew so quickly, Jacqui took him to the vet to investigate it. Jacqui said it was reassuring to be able to talk to her vet as the tumor site went through the stages of healing. “It went gloopy at first, but the vet reassured us that was meant to happen. Now a month and a half later, it’s just a small scar that you can hardly see and Boston’s like a new dog. He’d come up and say Hi, wag his tail and put his head in your lap. He gets excited and chases his ball and runs along the beach like his normal happy self.”
Janessa’s 15-year-old Chihuahua, Charlie, already had two mast cell tumors removed with surgery. When Janessa discovered a new, aggressive mast cell tumor on Charlie’s leg, she was concerned his leg would need to be amputated. She was thrilled to learn that Charlie was a candidate for STELFONTA. As you can see, there was no visible wound once the tumor necrosed, but Charlie still had a successful response to the STELFONTA treatment and is now cancer-free.
Tayta previously had three soft tissue sarcomas removed from her leg over a period of three years before her mum Caroline discovered a mast cell tumor in the same location. The surgery from the previous tumors left considerable scar tissue. While Taytas first STELFONTA injection looked text book, her vet detected residual mast cells at her 28 day check, so treated Tayta a second time – which effectively removed the remaining tumor. Caroline said “Tayta is now ten years old and full of energy, happily playing with our new addition to the family, a ten-month-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Thanks to Stelfonta, Tayta has been able to keep her leg (as amputation was our only option prior to Stelfonta) and I have my happy Staffy back.”
Narelle noticed a lump on 12-year-old Narla’s leg and immediately knew something was not right. Testing confirmed a mast cell tumor which Narelle elected to treat with STELFONTA. Within hours of the injection, the tumor started to necrose and blacken. Narelle said Narla was not in any discomfort as she had been prescribed pain medication, but it did make her sleepy. There was a large wound once the tumour sloughed away, but day 4 Narla was playing with her puppy-grand-daughter. Narelle reports Narla is now happily living like a queen.
Wolf’s mum Lee found a small lump between his toes that she initially suspected could be a grass seed abscess. Upon investigation, Wolf’s veterinarian confirmed it was a cancer, a mast cell tumor. Lee chose STELFONTA over amputation as Wolf is a typical active Staffordshire Terrier cross Border Collie and loves his walks. You can see from the photos there was a large wound once the tumor fell away, but Lee recalls how quickly the site healed without any intervention.
Sharon caught Max’s cancer early “I first thought it was just pimple, it was very small. Dr. Roof explained that there could be a large wound once the tumor had died, but Max’s tumor just scabbed up and went away! Max didn’t have any side effects, kept his appetite and just whizzed through.” Sharon explains she think it’s important to know your dog and get things checked right away. The photo shows where the tumor was on Max’s muzzle; Sharon explains “Now Max has no scar – you’d never know he ever had a mast cell tumor. We have had two re-checks and it’s all clear. He came through like a champ, I feel blessed.”
Jackie’s American Cocker Spaniel, Treasure, had a MCT between her toes treated with STELFONTA. Jackie was strongly considering amputation and felt hesitant about STELFONTA due to the destruction of tissue that she had seen in photos. After speaking to others who had experienced STELFONTA Jackie knew what to expect and was prepared. Treasure’s wound was small in comparison to others in the same location. The tumor site started to weep 24 hours post injection, releasing pressure, lessening her pain. “Treasure was full weight bearing and running around in less than 48 hours “. Jackie recalls “The healing process was remarkable, things changed hour by hour”. Jackie is happy to report that there was no evidence of mast cells present at her 6-week FNA check.
Sedona had a 2.5cm³ peri-anal mast cell tumor treated with STELFONTA. It fully healed by day 28 and achieved a complete response as seen in the photos.
7-year-old Isabela had a 2.8cm³ tumor on her leg treated with STELFONTA. By day 8 the wound healing commenced; 1 year later, Isabela remains cancer free.
Zuma is only 6 years old, and he alerted his Mom to his cancer by constantly itching the small lump on his chest. He looked unsettled the day after his STELFONTA injection, so was given stronger pain medication to keep him comfortable. Zuma’s Mom Julia works with pets with cancer; she recalls there was a familiar, pungent smell as the tumor was destroyed. The tumor site had a thick yellow-colored tissue beneath it which the veterinarian cut away leaving a healthy bed of skin.
