Lost in the Fog/cancer

[berreman150]

Has anyone else heard about this? Read it on another forum, could be why he didnt run as well last few starts this year.

[miraja2]

Yes. If you look in the thread titled "Lost in the Fog has colic" you will see some discussion about this.

[Rupert Pupkin]

No wonder he ran so poorly in his last race. They say that he has a pretty big cancer mass on his spleen. These things don't just get huge overnight. He obviously had it in his last race. I think there is a great likelihood that this was one of the reasons why he ran so poorly last time.

[Scav]

Richi, is this something that he could come back from an race? what a great story it would make for cancer survivors/people going through it

or is he in all likelhood done?

[prudery]

Originally Posted by Scav

Richi, is this something that he could come back from an race? what a great story it would make for cancer survivors/people going through it

or is he in all likelhood done?

It really would be a great story, about as real as the fairytale horse movie Dreamer unfortunately . Retirement and survival are about the best we can expect . Hopefully that is what will happen .

[Rupert Pupkin]

Originally Posted by Scav

Richi, is this something that he could come back from an race? what a great story it would make for cancer survivors/people going through it

or is he in all likelhood done?

I'm not sure if he could come back or not. I will check with one of my trainers and ask them if they think it is possible to come back from something like this. By the way, they said the tumor is the size of a cantalope so you know it has been there for a while. There is no doubt that this was affecting his performance.

[prudery]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

I'm not sure if he could come back or not. I will check with one of my trainers and ask them if they think it is possible to come back from something like this. By the way, they said the tumor is the size of a cantalope so you know it has been there for a while. There is no doubt that this was affecting his performance.

Usually with lymphomas, involvement is sytemic. If the spleen is removed as well as the tumor on it, performance is greatly diminished . If the cancer has spread elsewhere, the horse's future may be compromised . The surgery in itself is rare, so more than likely your trainer will not be much help here . Aleo is currently searching for a really good surgeon . This is serious . Any thoughts of a return to racing are not .

[chupster2]

http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=167


Although the spleen performs several important functions, it is not essential to life. That is, animals and humans can lead a healthy life after removal of the spleen. However, the reservoir of red cells contained within the spleen of the horse plays an important role during exercise. At the start of exercise, the spleen contracts and thereby releases the stored red cells into general circulation. In fact, up to one-third of the horse's red cells are stored within the spleen. One of the main functions of red cells is to transport oxygen from the lung to other parts of the body. Therefore, the increase in blood volume associated with splenic contraction provides a tremendous boost in the horse's capacity to transport oxygen. Indeed, this high capacity for oxygen transport contributes to the high athleticism of the horse. We know this to be true because following removal of the spleen, horses suffer a sharp decline in athletic ability.

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I think he will be lucky to live personally. If they remove the spleen (and how can they not) no way he can run. That's all assuming it hasn't metasticized anywhere else.