Return of Cushings after radiation

[jeangriffinborho]

Hi, my dog had 14 rounds of radiation to shrink or eradicate a benign tumor growing on his pituitary gland due to pituitary based Cushings. Last week he had his follow up MRI and the tumor has shrunk, thank goodness, but the doctor then told me he needed to see my dog in June to look at his blood levels for the Cushings (I am sorry if this is not making medical sense). When the radiation began, Baxter was taken off all Cushings meds because the doctor said the Cushings would be relieved/removed by the radiation. Now I am worried that the Cushings has come back and every time Baxter pants or drinks a lot of water, I feel incredibly anxious. Has anyone gone through either the removal of the tumor(s) from the adrenal gland(s) op or radiation only to have the Cushings return in less than one year? Any experience would be very appreciated. Thank you.

[molly muffin]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Yes we have had members go through radiation for a pituitary tumor. It is normal to be nervous afterwards.

Since the tumor shrunk and has not regrown, then that is a good sign, but you do indeed need to have cortisol monitored. You want to know that things are working as they should be now, the body is producing enough cortisol but not too much. It is always a balancing act it seems.

Unless you see prolonged increase in drinking/urination like before, it is probably okay but you do need to know and it isn't unheard of that they will need what is sometimes a small dose of medication if cortisol is still high.

Baby steps.

I will point you to some other members thread who have gone through radiation and cyberknife procedures for enlarged pituitary tumors/cuhings:

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?p=174935#post174935

http://www.k9cushings.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6383&page=37

Welcome to the forum.

[labblab]

Hello and welcome from me, too! Kudos to you for hanging in there with your boy for all those radiation treatments. That is wonderful news that his tumor has responded by shrinking in size! However, the primary goal of this treatment is to eliminate unwanted neurological problems caused by the enlarging tumor's pressure on the brain. Unfortunately, it is not necessarily the case that Cushing's symptoms will be relieved, as well :o. Sometimes it works out that way, but it is not uncommon for dogs to have to resume treatment for the Cushing's and I'm afraid your vet should have let you know about that possibility at the time you made the treatment decision.

I'm assuming your boy was experiencing neurological problems beforehand like confusion, pacing, circling, lethargy, loss of appetite or coordination? Has the treatment helped resolve those problems? I surely hope that, overall, he is doing much better now. I surely do understand why you hope that you do not have to revisit Cushing's treatment, but if you do, you now have a whole new family here to support you every step of the way.

Marianne