Israeli Soldier in Bil’in: “This is Lebanon!”
Israeli activists have uploaded a video of the shooting of Lymor and the initial violence of the Israeli military in Bil’in on Friday, August 11th.
The video clearly shows the Border Police unit firing on the demonstrators from close range. There is no evidence that the soldiers were in danger. Typically, the military spokesperson has claimed that “activists threw stones” and Haaretz’s article yesterday reiterating the same false information. The video also clearly shows the commander of the unit saying, “This is Lebanon!” as he orders his force to fire on retreating demonstrators, and “I will not allow a demonstration during wartime!”
The commander, Majdei, made this decision despite a military court decision in August 2005 that people in Bil’in have the right to protest on their land on the village-side of the apartheid wall. Every week since the wall was finished in March 2006, the Israeli military has also denied them the right to protest on their farmland on the other side of the wall. The wall separates villagers from 60% of their farmland, half of which has already been annexed and developed by Jewish settlements.
In addition many villagers have been arrested in the night during army raids for participating in the demonstrations in Bil’in. Two villagers are still in prison: Esaam Matar, 29, has been imprisoned eight months and the military has ruled he is to be deported to Jordan; and Muhammad Burnat, 19, has been imprisoned for 3 months and has not yet had a trial for his alleged crimes.
According to official military regulations, which were reported in the Hebrew version of Haaretz today, soldiers are not allowed to fire from a distance closer than 40 meters. They are instructed not to fire at vital areas of the body and only to fire when they are in immediate danger. Each week during demonstrations in Bil’in, many non-violent demonstrators are injured in the head, neck and chest.
The Israeli who was shot in the head and a Danish woman beaten with a gun on Friday are the most serious injuries the army has caused since Ramzi Yassin, who was shot in the head with a plastic-coated steel bullet. Ramzi, from Bil’in, was handing out ****r during a demonstration in Bil’in on July 8th 2005, when he was shot in the side of the head. The bullet caused severe bleeding of his brain and he was left unconscious for 7 days and with permanent brain damage. Haitham al Khateeb of Bil’in, Yonathan Pollack, an Israeli, BJ from Denmark, and Phil of Austrailia were hospitalized at different times all for rubber bullets injuries to their heads at close range at Bil’in demonstrations, except for Haitham who was hit by a tear gas canister fired at his head.
Lymor, who was shot on Friday, is currently in a stable condition at Tel Hashomer hospital in Tel Aviv. It took the ambulances about an hour to get from the site where he was shot to the hospital. He was taken in for immediate surgery which took 3 hours, and a rubber bullet as well as shards of bone and damaged brain tissue were removed from his head and an internal heomorage was stopped. Before the surgery he was totally clear and aware even though he was in a lot of pain. After the surgery he was moving his arms and legs while he was under sedation. He was taken off sedation around 7pm yesterday evening. He can move his limbs and can talk but is having trouble with his vision.
Rina, from Denmark, is also currently in the hospital in Hebron, suffering from severe concussion caused by an Israeli soldier beating her with his gun. She is stable, but is still having trouble walking on her own
Another post that proves my point. You are more concerned with how Israelis behave than how Lebanese behave. As you say, it was Israeli activist that uploaded the video. Where are the Lebanese activist that load the videos showing injustice in Lebanon, or perhaps Lebanon is a perfect society?
I think it is good for Israel that such activists exist and that we know how our army/border police behaves. It is a constant part of the Israeli internal debate. It could very well be the case that this time they crossed the line and they should be investigated and punished.
Please explain to me though how this post helps make Lebanon a better place? What is the purpose of the post? If you really cared about the Palestinians you would at least support giving those in Lebanon a choice whether to become citizens or not. You make a world a better place by first taking care of your own backyard, not by pointing fingers at others.
October 28th, 2006 | #
I support this view. Nevertheless, israeli willingless to confront their less than perfect behavior always seems to serve the purpose of those who want to destroy her. I want to live and i want my family to live and prosper. I wish the same for my neighbours. If this is The New Middle East then I earnestly wish that it will come about. But if Sam and others like her want a world of massacres and blood and tears,then that is what it will be,at least for now,,,,but someday,sometime you will see the light and you will choose it. May it come soon.
October 28th, 2006 | #
The army shot at demonstrators with live bullets and injured one israeli, this is an unacceptable behavior. I understand Israel’s need to secure itself from internal armed groups and from Hezbollah but the targetting intentionally or unintentionally of citizens wont get her anywhere.
“If you really cared about the Palestinians you would at least support giving those in Lebanon a choice whether to become citizens or not. You make a world a better place by first taking care of your own backyard, not by pointing fingers at others”
If you really cared about Palestinians, you wouldnt have taken away their land in the first place …
Pointing fingers at others ???
lol, you invaded their country and kicked them out .. you are in no position to ask us anything !!
October 28th, 2006 | #
I can’t believe you wrote the above. First of all, I am not asking you to do anything. I am pointing out your moral hypocrisy. You are using an event that happened 60 years ago to justify your injust treatment of the Palestinians now. Since I was born many years after 1948, I am not responsible for that event. I am responsible for trying to find a solution for the probelm now. That is why I support a two state solution based on the 67 borders. What I don’t support is the right of return which is the main sticking point.
You on the other hand are not willing to give the Palestinians that have lived in Lebanon for THREE generations the option of becoming citizens. You are not willing to let them live where they want and work at what they want. I have a suggestion. Why don’t each of us try to solve our own problems with the Palestinians? The problem is I just don’t see any willingness from your side to acknowledge that you are mistreating the Palestinians and change the situation even though it would be easy for you to do so.
We don’t have to ask you to act morally. You have to see for yourself the grave injustice Lebanon is committing against the Palestinians and act yourself, just as Israeli activists act against the injustice done to Palestinians by Israel.
Simple questions (please answer): Is Lebanon treating the Palestinians that live there in a just way? Why are you against the idea of giving Palestinians a choice on whether they want to be Lebanese citizens or not?
The Lebanese acting on their own can make the life of about 500,000 Palestinians so much better. It would be the right and moral thing to do. Why are you against it instead of advocating for it?
October 28th, 2006 | #
First of all xyz,
I never denied the fact that Palestinians are mistreated in Lebanon, however that doesnt mean they should be naturalized. The Palestinian issue is a very critical one and is the source of all our problems since the start of the war and even before it.
But i still dont understand on what basis you are accusing us of mistreating Palestinians ?? Again who are you to tell us that we are disrespecting Palestinians ?
They have been here for three generations, however their presence was armed and dangerous and threatening to our communities and it is Arafat and his clan’s actions that led to this situation.
I have a suggestion for you, why dont you remove your colonies from inside the Palestinian camps and accept those 500 000 Palestinians in their homeland ??
Doesnt that sound more logical ?
“What I don’t support is the right of return which is the main sticking point.”
It is not for you to support or not, those people want to come back, i cannot force them not to.
October 28th, 2006 | #
You either treat Palestinians right or you don’t. What does it matter who tells this to you? After the comment is written down it is either correct or incorrect, even if an Israeli wrote it. The fact that Israelis treat Palestinians badly does not give the Lebanese any excuse to do so also.
What a generalization about Palestinians! So the hundreds of thousands of women and children are also armed and dangerous? Are you kidding me? Grant only them citizenship then. You cannot discriminate against a whole population just because of the deeds of the few.
Again, you are in a position to do the right thing and solve the problems of many Palestinians. Yet you won’t do it. What you do is say that Israel should do it. Israel says it won’t. Does that absolve you of responsibility to do the right thing? Again, you are using Israel as an excuse for Lebanon not to act morally. I don’t get it. Israel is bad but you as a Lebanese shouldn’t be. You should grant citizenship to the Palestinians precisely becasue the Israelis won’t let them back. Don’t mistreat the Palestinians just because the Israelis do. That is just morally reprehensible.
My family has lived for three generations on land that Palestinians in Lebanon believe is theirs. Both I and my parents were born in Israel. What do you mean that it is not my right to support or not support the right of return? Of course it is, and that is why the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is difficult to solve. I am willing to give Palestinians a large monetary compensation for their land, but I am not willing to give it back to them. That is the main sticking point.
October 28th, 2006 | #
xyz,
The palestinian issue is a very critical one in Lebanon and you cannot solve it easily. Naturalizing them will disrupt the balance between the communities in Lebanon and cannot be achieved that simply.
“You should grant citizenship to the Palestinians precisely becasue the Israelis won’t let them back”
lol, man are you drunk or something ?
You kicked Palestinians out of their homes and massacred them and you are preaching me about mistreat ?? Everyone wants to give Palestinians their rights in Lebanon but there are lots of political differences in regards to those camps, specially with the armed groups within every camp backed from Syrians and threatening Lebanon’s security every now and then ( for ex Neemeh incident few months ago).
Anyway you are basing urself on a wrong argument to start with, and sticking to it. You invaded their land and they came and invaded ours, we welcomed them as brothers, they turned on us.
Palestinians are also to blamed for their situation in Lebanon, we cannot naturalize them since they have a sacred right to return and they insist on it, AND Lebanon cannot handle such a demographic change, however i wish camps would be disarmed and help would be provided to the children and women and the elderly people and job visas given to all of them in order to improve their conditions.
“I am willing to give Palestinians a large monetary compensation for their land, but I am not willing to give it back to them. That is the main sticking point”
Well i am not willing to deprive them from coming back to their country.
October 28th, 2006 | #
N10452,
I did not invade anybody’s land. Do you think I am 80 years old? Most Israelis were born after 1948 and even after 1967. Don’t you understand that there is no one left to blame for 1948 except some very old Israelis that will die soon? This is the only country I have, my parents were born here and so was I. In 1948 I acknowledge that the Palestinians were treated badly. I wasn’t around and neither were my parents. My grandparents are dead.
Do you expect me to leave the only country and property I have? I am willing to give the Palestinians a monetary compensation. If this is not good enough then I guess the conflict will continue.
In any case, your arguments are strange. Say a family you know kicks a child into the street for no good reason. Do you leave the kid in the street and just tell her parents that they misbehaved or is it your moral duty to help that kid? From your view, the Palestinians are such a kid yet you are not willing to help them. Instead you give some poor excuse about how the kid’s parents didn’t behave well.
Your unwillingness to naturalize the Palestinians shows your double standards. Why are the Palestinians to blame for their situation in Lebanon and are not to blame for rejecting the UN partition resolution of November 1947? You cannot generalize. Very few Palestinians living today are responsible for the atrocities and wars between the PLO and other Lebanese. Unless you agree to collective punishment your arguments make no sense.
“Well i am not willing to deprive them from coming back to their country.”
Don’t deprive them of anything. Give them the option of becoming citizens of they like. Don’t force them to become citizens. Just allow those who want to become citizens the right to do so. If the unlikely happens and they can return to Israel in 200 years, they will have a double citizenship. What is wrong with that? Meanwhile, you would have alleviated the suffering of several generations of Palestinians. I just can’t understand why if you care for the Palestinians you won’t agree to this.
October 28th, 2006 | #
xyz…. I really can’t believe your attitude anymore!
You come to this blog, attack us of never criticizing the Lebanese society, which is a false statement, and that we only focus on criticizing Israel, which is weird for me since just a month back I had people calling me a Zionist… actually maybe talisman was here 2 weeks ago calling me a zionist…. meanwhile you refuse to allow anyone say a word about Israel! What sort of excuse is it that you weren’t born in 1948? It’s 2006, take a look at Gaza!
Stop coming here and pointing your fingers at us. Stop coming here to mention the Palestenians. Stop all that you are doing and take a good look at yourself.
Xyz, have you realized, that nobody other than myself and N10452 participate in your discussions? Do you know why? You have nothing new or useful to say, that is why. You are only interested in discussing the Civil war, the Palestinians, and how great Israel is. I think it really is time you understand what we have to say, what we think, and how you are perceived, than come to us with your great morals.
October 29th, 2006 | #
Rampurple,
Where did I say that Israel was great? Find me one place.
Who posted about how Israelis treat Palestinians? It was N10452. So who was pointing fingers first and raising the Palestinian issue, me?
Say what you want against Israel, I am not against freedom of speech. Israel is not perfect and deserves criticism. I have taken a good look at myself and my society and have come to the conclusion that I have to work on being a better person and that Israeli society needs to improve.
But has N10452 come to the same conclusion regarding Lebanon? N10452 posts an entry criticizing how Israel treats Palestinians yet is against giving Palestinians citizenship in Lebanon, after 3 generations that they are there! To me this proves she really doesn’t care about the Palestinians, so what was the post for? The Lebanese can help 500,000 immediately. What are you waiting for?
N10452 and I were discussing the right of return which is why the Israeli-Palestinian conflict cannot be solved. She said I invaded someone elses country. That happened in 1948. How can I be responsible for that? Of course I am responsible for what is happening in Gaza right now and I am not happy about it. But if the Palestinians will not accept a monetary compensation instead of their 1948 land then there is no solution to the conflict. I have nowhere to go. We are all stuck in this big mess.
What do you want Rampurple? That after 60 years here the Israelis will leave their land and go?
October 29th, 2006 | #
First off, I wonder why I don’t have Jewophobia, Buddhistophobia, even Scientologophobia? I do live near one of the highest concentrations of nutbar Scientologists in the world. Could it be there aren’t thousands of Scientologists screaming for my blood telling me I will live under Scientology? Just a thought.
(1) Do you see Islam as a monolithic bloc, static and unresponsive to change?
Answer: No, but the ulema, mostly trained by Wahhabis and other fundamentalists, do. “Innovation” in Islam is shirk and usually gets independent Muslims a death sentence. When Muslims think outside the box they often end up inside a box. The solution to all problems in Islam is… more Islam! “Follow the Qur’an and Sunnah….” (Repeat ad nauseum.)
(2) Do you perceive Islam to be alien, or separate and “other”, lacking values in common with other cultures, not being affected by them and not influencing them?
Answer: No, that’s how Islam perceives me. I am a “kuffar” living in the Dar-al-Harb. I am subject to only three fates. One: conversion. Two: the dhimma. Three: death. That’s found in the Qur’an 9.29. Due to the lack of innovation in Islam for over 1,300 years there’s never been a change in the basic rule of how to treat infidels. The dhimma treaty is only available to “People of the Book.” Hindus, approx. 70,000,000 slaughtered by Muslims, only got conversion or death. They’re “polytheists” according to your clerics and scholars.
3) Do you take Islam to be inferior to the West, as barbaric, irrational, primitive, and sexist?
Answer: I do read a lot of news articles on honor killings, witchcraft, djinn, death for apostasy, blasphemy, adultery, and beheadings. Saudi Arabia and Iran certainly fit that description. But the secular Muslims I know are some of the smartest and BRAVEST people I know. I’m not very happy with the treatment of women. Most rape victims end up charged with adultery for lack of four witnesses, a rule put down by Mohammed to protect Aisha (his child bride).
(4) Is Islam in your opinion a violent, aggressive, threatening creed, supportive of terrorism, and engaged in a Clash of Civilizations?
Answer: Islam has always been hostile to non-Muslims according to its own texts. The world is divided between Dar-al-Islam and Dar-al-Harb. See the answer to (2) for more information.
(5) Do you understand Islam as a political ideology, used for political or military advantage?
I’d be foolish to ignore the jihadis who view it in those terms. Many Islamic websites make it clear that Islam is a “total way of life” and not just a religion.
(6) Do you think Muslims’ criticisms of ‘the West’ should rejected out of hand?
No.
(7) Do you think Muslims should be discriminated against in any way, or otherwise excluded from mainstream society?
Not for being Muslims. But it’s important to understand which Muslims want to wage jihad against the infidel until Islam rules the world.
(8) Is anti-Muslim hostility natural and normal?
It depends on where you live. I live in a nation with a tiny Muslim minority. If I lived in India and my ancestors had suffered Muslim genocide I might be less charitable.
That Islam expanded out of the Arabian Peninsula through jihad conquests, forced conversions, and once almost conquered all of western Europe is historical fact. To ignore the lessons of history means you’re likely to repeat them as farce. That the ulema preaches an expansionist, imperialist, and colonialist ideology is also true.
But the moderate, secular Muslims are the people who are in real danger, and especially the women. I feel more sorry for them than I do anyone else.
October 29th, 2006 | #
I guess the Israeli soldier was using Lebanon as a metaphor for a failed state. The soldier is probably more familiar with Lebanon than Somalia, and doesnt even know about Sierra Leone (birhtplace of Nabih Berri) or Liberia, all of which incidently have large Lebanese populations. It must be galling to be a failed state and be well educated at the same time. Forget about the Palestinians, when are you going to naturalize the Lebanese Chechens of Sidonsky
October 29th, 2006 | #
Beagle33: I dont see how your comment is related to this post or the point of it. I will not even bother replying to it.
Syldenaphyl: Congratulations! You have posted around 200 comments on this blog and ALL compare Lebanon to Sierre Leone and Somalia. Good for you!
Xyz: I will refrain from replying to you. Go ahead, continue playing the innocent victim.
October 29th, 2006 | #
“What do you want Rampurple? That after 60 years here the Israelis will leave their land and go? ”
Well since you wanna take it this way, you came back to your land 2000 years later, so i guess i will not deprive the Palestinians from their right to come back before 2000 years.
So i guess in 4006, you can come argue with me why i dont naturalize them.
Syldenaphyl Sitrit ,
I d take a failed stated over a criminal one anytime.
October 29th, 2006 | #
Rampurple,
I am not a victim and am not playing any victim. I am responding to an issue raised by N10452.
N10452,
If your plan is to mistreat the Palestinians till 4006 then this proves my point that your position is morally reprehensible. Again, you are using Israeli actions to justify your bad actions and keep thinking that your position makes sense. You can help the Palestinians by naturalizing them now (only those that want to, don’t force anybody). This will help 500,000 Palestinians right away. Forget about Israel and do the right and moral thing. Doing the right thing is only up to you.
I was born in Israel and live on land that has belonged to my family for three generations. I didn’t come here after 2000 years. What are you talking about? You keep repeating this nonsense about me being an invader and so on so I will repeat again: I was born here and so were my parents. I am a part of the middle east just as much as you are. If you think my refugee grandparents were criminals that is your right. My view is that they didn’t have any other choice. But just as we don’t put in jail children of criminals for what their parents did, I am not in anyway reponsible for the choices my grandparents made. All I can do is try to solve the situation as it is and I am responsible for what is going on now.
I admit the land belonged to Palestinians also before but I have rights to it now because this is where I was born and live and the only way for a peaceful solution that I can see is that I give Palestinians a monetary compensation for it. That is how problems like these are solved all over the world.
So, N10452, instead of mocking me, how about suggesting a constructive solution that you think I would accept and doesn’t involve me leaving my homeland and is also fair to the Palestinians. Or perhaps you can tell me what is wrong with my proposal. We will all be in a better situation in the middle east if we can find a good solution. Thank you.
October 29th, 2006 | #
The solution is very simple.
Lebanon cannot handle naturalizing half a million Palestinians and since they are still in camps, i suggest them being moved into one of the Arab countries where they wont trouble the political system and be able to live properly.
As for Israel and Palestine, the Road Map solves a lot of problems yet Israel refused it.
October 29th, 2006 | #
N10452,
Are the Lebanese themselves really trying to find an Arab country that will accept the Palestinians? Do the Palestinians agree to move? If it becomes clear in 5 years that no other Arab country will accept the Palestinians will you then support naturalizing them or from your prespective it is ok that they remain in their current status for more generations? What is the web site of the organization in Lebanon that is working on the solution you propose? Is this just a theoretical idea that nobody is actively pursuing and is really just an excuse to do nothing to help the Palestinians?
The roadmap was sanctioned by the international community. If Israel is the only one responsible for its failure, why is the international community sanctioning the Palestinian government? You should know by now that there are no angels in the middle east. Both sides are at fault. The main question remains though the right of return, and for this we need a constructive solution. Once we figure it out, everything else will fall into place. If you have any idea on how to solve it, it would be appreciated.
October 29th, 2006 | #
No one has answered my question. Will Lebanon naturalize the Chechens Russia has exported to Sidonsky? You may need to naturalize the Palestinians in order to take on the Chechens, since Russia has exported this ethnic problem to you. The Chechens are a gift that keeps on giving
October 29th, 2006 | #
xyz,
I already told you the Palestinian issue is a very critical one and Lebanon was only freed from Syrian invasion a year ago and still has to deal with Hezbollah issue.
Palestinian camps were kept that way as ordered by Syrians in the past years, and before Hezbollah issue is resolved, you wont be able to tackle the Palestinian camps problem.
I support giving them special visas to work in Lebanon and be a helpful community on a condition that they give out their weapons and accept being governed by the Lebanese authority.
Before naturalizing, you need them to give up their weapons and i dont need to remind you of the permanent clashes between the Palestinian groups and the army.
Lebanon needs help before the Palestinians and our cause prevails before theirs, so spare me the morales.
Sitrit,
who cares ?
October 29th, 2006 | #
N10452,
I totally agree that Lebanon needs a lot of help to deal with its problems and I support giving Lebanon a lot of money to deal with the Palestinian issue.
I also agree that both the Palestinians and Hezbollah need to be disarmed if that is what you meant. You have not convinced me that the fact that a few Palestinians are armed or even clashed with the Army justifies treating all of them badly, but I understand your argument.
The situation of the Palestinians is bad because both the Arabs and and the Israelis believe that they need to take care of themselves first. Let’s agree not to point fingers at each other but do the best we can to make the situation of the Palestinians better even if it is not very much. You will monitor how Lebanese treat Palestinians and I will monitor how Israelis treat them. It makes much more sense than the other way around. Fair enough?
October 29th, 2006 | #
Fair enough.
I have to admit your make more sense in this reply than all others.
However no one is justifying the bad treatment of Palestinians cause of the actions of few militiamen, i told you the Palestinian issue needs an overall solution and the reason it stayed that way was cause of the complications this file presented.
You must not forget that it was Syria who weakened and put the Palestinians in camps and then put Lebanon in a big jail for 30 years as well.
Anyway, we ll see what happens.
October 29th, 2006 | #
It seems to me that you have brought some rationality to this argument. Now can we all stop fighting? Please!
October 29th, 2006 | #
WHAT IS NEW IN SMALL ANIMAL ONCOLOGY – Notes from the North American Veterinary Conference, Orlando January, 2004.
The North American Veterinary Conference is the largest veterinary conference in the world. Dr. Johnson attends this conference every year.
What Is New In Canine and Feline Lymphoma: Dr. Argyle, BVMS, PhD, MRCVS, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.
“Lymphoma is one of commonest forms of malignancy encountered in small animal practice. It is characterized by the malignant proliferation of lymphoid cells which can arise in any organ containing lymphoid tissue. Lymphoma occurs most commonly in middle-aged animals (median age 6-9 years). Airedales, Basset hounds, Boxers, Bulldogs, St. Bernards, Bull Mastiffs, and Scottish terriers are at increased risk. In cats, FeLV remains the commonest cause of lymphoma.”
Single Agent Therapy. “Dogs can be treated with prednisone alone, but this will provide only a short remission. Dogs pretreated with steroids are more difficult to drive into complete remission if the owner subsequently decides to opt for more aggressive chemotherapy. Doxorubicin is the best agent to use, if the client desires the simplicity and convenience of single agent use and is willing to accept a shorter predicted survival.”
Combination Chemotherapy
“UW-Madison Protocol (19 week protocol for dogs). This protocol consists of L-asparaginase ( at the beginning), cyclophosphamide, hydroxydaunorugicin (doxorubicin), oncovin (vincristine), and prednisone. Cancer remission rate is 85-90% with median survival of 10 to 12 months. 25% of patients can be anticipated to survive longer than 2 years. Occasional patients are ‘cured’ (survival over 4-5 years).”
Feline Lymphoma
Alimentary – “characterized by gastric, intes5tinal, or mesenteric lymph node involvement. Most cats with alimentary lymphoma are FeLV Elisa negative. For those cats with solitary intestinal lesions surgery and chemotherapy is the treatment of choice. For cats with the diffuse form of small cell lymphoma than a protocol consisting of daily prednisolone and Chlorambucil (pulsed every weeks) offers a good treatment modality.”
Renal – “enlarged kidneys, and renal failure are typical feature of feline renal lymphoma. Most affected cats are middle-aged and FeLV ELISA negative.”
Mediastinal – “most cats with mediastinal lymphoma are relatively young and FeLV ELISA positive. Typical signs include difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance, coughing, and abnormal heart sounds.”
Multicentric – “unlike the situation in dogs, this is a relatively uncommon form of feline lymphoma.”
The Role Of Radiation In The Management Of Lymphoma In Dogs
“Lymphoma in dogs is very sensitive to the effects of radiation. The use of total body irradiation to treat multicentric disease has been limited by the lack of hematological support and autologous bone marrow transplantation that would be required to treat complications.”
Mast Cell Tumors: Dr. Argyle
“Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are the most common canine skin neoplasms comprising 7-21% of all skin an subcutaneous tumors. A breed predilection is seen in Boxer dogs, but they also have increased numbers of the benign form. Dermal MCTs may metastasize to regional lymph nodes, liver, spleen and bone marrow but very rarely metastasize to the lungs.
The most important prognostic factors for canine MCTs are the histologic grade of the tumor and the completeness of excision.”
Treatment:
“Surgery is the mainstay of therapy for Grade 1 and 2 tumors. Grade 2 tumors with lymph node involvement should have the affected lymph node excised and biopsied to confirm spread and are treated with chemotherapy as a follow up. Grade 3 tumors may be treated surgically if the owner is aware of the guarded prognosis and if no signs of gross systemic spread are found. Chemotherapy is recommended even if the margins are clean or if the tumor is nonresectable.”
Radiation: “MCTs are very radiosensitive but radiation is best used as an adjunct therapy for incomplete margins after surgery.”
Chemotherapy: “When localized therapies are appropriate only as palliation for discomfort or mechanical obstruction, the most frequently recommended drugs are corticosteroids.”
“One protocol presently used at the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Teaching Hospital is vinblastine and prednisone. DCNU (Lomustine) is another drug which has shown promise.
Histamine blockers are used preoperatively with large masses or for life with no resectable masses or systemic disease. Cimetidine or famotidine reduces gastric acid production .”
Feline Mast Cell Tumors
“Splenic Mast Cell Tumors. MCT primary to the spleen in cats is most common in older non purebred cats. Staging includes a CBC, biochemical profile, urinalysis, FeLV, FIV, thoracic radiographs, abdominal ultrasonography, and bone marrow aspirate. Fine needle aspiration cytology or biopsy of spleen is indicated. The diagnosis is sometimes made form ascitis fluid or blood smear. Treatment may include splenectomy. The use of corticosteroids is controversial. Chemotherapy with CCNU or vinblastine has not been reported. Supportive therapy consists of antihistamines.
Intestinal Mast Cell Tumors. Consider surgery where indicated. Adjunctive therapy has not been described, but consider chemotherapy with prednisone or CCNU. Other drugs such as vincristine, L-asparaginase may have anecdotal success.
Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumors. Cutaneous MCTs are common in all age cats; and Siamese are predisposed. Surgical excision is usually curative but new lesions may arise. Corticosteroids are probably not effective. Adjunctive therapy for incompletely excised tumors consists of radiation therapy.”
Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs In Cancer Management: Dr. Argyle
“Epidemiological studies in man have demonstrated a protective effect of chronic aspirin intake in the incidence of colorectal cancer. Further, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs to abrogate tumor growth has shown promise in several animal model systems and clinical cancer cases. Active research is underway in several laboratories to identify the cellular mechanisms mediating this effect. The majority of NSAIDSs (Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs) inhibit the isoforms of cyclosoxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) to varying degrees or are selective for one isoform. The COX inhibition, antiinflammatory and antitumor effects in-vivo are exerted in a parallel dose-dependent manner. Nevertheless, the mechanaism by which NSAIDs cause protective and direct antitumor effects is still to be determined.”
Dr. Johnson’s comment: In the February 23, 2004 edition of Time magazine, appeared an article entitled “The Fires Within”, Inflammation is the body’s first defense against infection, but when it goes awry, it can lead to heart attacks, colon cancer, Alzheimer’s and a host of other diseases. In 2000 researchers concluded that patients who take Celebrex, a prescription drug from Pfizer that was orginally designed to treat inflammation in arthritis, are less likely to develop intestinal polyps. Now there are dozens of clinical trials of Celebrex, testing , among other things, whether the medication can also prevent breast cancer, delay memory loss, or slow the progression of the devastating neurodegenertive disorder known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Dr. Robert Tepper, president of research and development at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, in Cambridge, Mass. stated that “Virtually our entire R & D effort is now focused on inflammation and cancer!”
On February 27, 2004, Genentech received approval from the FDA on its colon-cancer drug, Avastin, which targets one of the growth factors released by the body as inflammation gives way to healing.
According to Dr. Argyle, “dogs with neoplastic disease treated with NSAIDs are usually selected on the basis that standard therapy has failed, is precluded on medical grounds, is declined by the owner, or does not exists. Owners commonly report that the patients receiving piroxicam, a NSAID appear to have an improved quality of life, manifested as increased activity and alertness. The increased COX-2 selectivity of meloxican or other selective COX-2 inhibitors makes for an attractive alternative to piroxicam in the treatment of cancer, since it may reduce possible gastrointestinal side effects.” Dr. Johnson’s comment: Just recently, Zuprin (Tepoxalin) a new NSAID was passed for use in dogs. Zuprin is both a COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitor. This drug is already showing promise in Dr. Johnson’s referral practice.
Biphophonates In Cancer Management: Dr. Argyle
“Biphophonates are analogues of pyrophosphate and are potent inhibitors of osteoclastic bone reabsorption. Their use in metastatic bone pain is becoming widely established in human oncology. In the dog, systemic pamidronate and zolidronate have been used anecdotally. In human oncology these agents have been shown to impact greatly on morbidity in patients with bone lesions from multiple myeloma or breast cancer.”
Canine Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Laura D. Garrett, DVM, ACVIM (Oncology), Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
“Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are tumors of mesenchymnal origin that are grouped together under the name STS due to similar biologic behaviors. Also known as spindle cell tumors, STS include fibrosarcoma, hemangiopericytoma, neurofibrosarcoma, schwannoma, liposarcoma, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma. STS can arise both in the cutaneous/subcutaneous tissues and in internal organs, but as the internal organ tumors have a more aggressive biologic behavior, most discussions of STS refer only to cutaneous/subcutaneous locations. In general, STS are very locally invasive yet have a low metastatic rate.”
“STS occur primarily in middle-aged to older dogs, and no breed or sex predilection has been identified. The masses are located in subcutaneous tissues and are often firm and adhered to deeper structures. They may be irregular and when very large may be ulcerated and secondarily infected. A biopsy is usually needed for a definitive diagnosis. Imaging modalities may be employed to evaluate the primary tumor and assess the potential for surgical cure, to further assess for metastatic disease, or to plan radiation therapy – radiographs, CT or MRI of the primary tumor, and abdominal ultrasound are additional diagnostic imagining techniques that may be indicated depending upon the location of the tumor.”
“A key point to remember is that STS have a false appearance of encapsulation. In reality, this ‘capsule’ is made up of normal host and tumor cells that have been compressed together by rapid tumor growth. These tumors are locally invasive and wide margins are needed to surgically remove them completely. Surgery is the treatment of choice for most soft tissue sarcomas. Radiation therapy is an excellent adjuvant therapy for soft tissue sarcomas. Chemotherapy is not very effective against measurable disease.”
October 31st, 2006 | #