Can Anal Gland Cancer Spread to the Stomach? Q&A | Dr. Brooke Britton

Caller Darlene just found out her dog has a possible mass in her stomach, but no symptoms of stomach cancer. What should she do?

Darlene’s dog just had an anal gland tumor removed. Her vets were concerned that it had spread to the lymph nodes, so she had a follow-up CT scan. During that they found a possible mass in the stomach.
There are lots of things to consider in this case. Oncologist Brooke Britton weighs in on whether or not the stomach mass might be a metastasis of the anal gland tumor, or if it is a tumor at all. She also discusses the challenges of getting a diagnosis on stomach masses because of their location.
And to make things more complicated, Darlene’s Golden is 10 years old. Is it worth pursuing aggressive diagnostics if she has no symptoms of illness? Listen in to hear the pros and cons.

Related Links:
- Exam Room Series: Perianal and Anal Sac Tumors podcast episode - https://dogcanceranswers.com/exam-room-series-perianal-and-anal-sac-tumors-dr-demian-dressler/
- Anal Tumor Surgery In Older Dogs podcast episode - https://dogcanceranswers.com/anal-tumor-surgery-in-older-dogs-dr-nancy-reese-qa/

About Today’s Guest, Dr. Brooke Britton:
Brooke Britton completed her residency training in Medical Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania in 2012, and has been in clinical practice in the NYC and Jersey Shore area since that time. She helmed the Brooklyn and Downtown arms of the Oncology Department for BluePearl Veterinary Partners in New York for the past 9 years, and was an active participant in house officer training and clinical trials during her tenure there. She currently serves as a private consultant and maintains an independent clinical practice. Dr. Britton has lectured nationally and authored several peer-reviewed articles. She has particular interest in hematologic malignancies and the metastatic cascade.

00:00 Start
2:43 Incidental Findings
3:23 Stomach tumor Biopsies
4:41 Lymph Nodes and Metastasis
10:55 To Test or Not to Test
12:50 Incidental Findings Part 2
16:25 Informed Decision-making
17:52 Anesthesia Risks

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For episode notes, resources, guest bios and a transcript, please visit https://dogcanceranswers.com/

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