Help - My 8 year old Bernese Mountain dog was just diagnosed with Histiocytic sarcoma

[AlbenCarpens]

Hi Dr. Christina & Dr. Jeff:

My dearest 8-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, Lilly, was diagnosed with Addison's disease by our veterinarian, Dr. Mary Offeut, at Animal Hospital of Old Saybrook, CT, in January 2026, due to weight and hair loss.
Dr. Offeut suggested we see an internist for further testing. We made an appointment with Cornell University Vet Specialists in Stamford, CT, with Dr. Forman, an internist.

So we did. Having blood work and X-rays performed, everything looked clear throughout her body. No masses were found except a shadow on her lung.
A week later, a biopsy was taken from her lung to discover that her pulmonary cytology revealed Histiocytic sarcoma.

Lilly is currently taking prednisone once daily for her Addison's diagnosis, and we were told to continue prednisone as well for her cancer treatment.
I was told she might live for maybe six more months.

This is so very hard. I am looking for a holistic approach to help her through this and, perhaps, prolong her life through possible diet changes and medicinal herbs that will support her along this path.

Please send help my way. I would so appreciate this...Annie

 

[AlbenCarpens]

Dr. Jeff & Dr. Christina:

I apologize - I did not see the instructions for 1st time posting...
1. Lilly - age 8 - female -
2. neutered
3. Bernese Mountain Dog - Lilly was artificially inseminated with her father's sperm, who lived with his breeder in another state, which was used with our Breeder in Sharon, CT, who owned her mother at her birth. Lilly's DOB - 12/03/2017 - four puppies in the litter.
4. was 98 lbs - now she is 84 lbs over a period of a month or so.
5. She still has a great personality, runs around in our yard, and appears to be very happy. She goes up and down our stairs with incredible energy.
6. Diet Hills Science Diet - Gastro Biome Dry Kibble
7. I have just requested her files through email from my vet as of today. Our Vey office is closed due to the storm.
8. Due to weight and Hair loss, blood work was drawn in early January 2026. Lilly was diagnosed with Addison's disease
9. Her condition was discovered by our dog groomer, who noticed that her undercoat was falling out with her top coat, her skin was very dry, and there were hot spots of really dry, flaky skin. It is very dry in our home.
10. We are still waiting for the radiology results; however, this is the email we received from Cornell on February 20th, 2026.
11. No treatment has been decided as of yet. We have received only the suggestions for treatment listed below. We were told to keep her on the prednisone she is currently taking for her Addison's.
12. Lilly also has: a) thyroid issues - takes levothyroxine - 1 tab in the Am, 1/2 tab in the Pm, b) very bad skin allergies - takes Apoquel - 1 tab in the AM
c) Addisons - takes prednisone - 1 tab in the evening

Thank you very much - Annie Serravalle

Re: Lilly - From the CUVS Internal Medicine Department​

Inbox

Cornell University Veterinary Specialists ([email protected]) <[email protected]>​ ​	Fri, Feb 20, 11:04 AM (4 days ago)

Hello,

Please see Dr. Forman's recommendation below:

Lilly's pulmonary nodule cytology revealed Histiocytic sarcoma.

**Options on proceeding from here**
1. Schedule an appointment with an oncologist: An oncologist will discuss your pet's cancer and different treatment options. For many, but not all, cancers we can provide pets with a good quality of life and reduce the size of the cancer with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. We can provide chemotherapy or radiation therapy before, after or in place of, surgery. Chemotherapy is often better tolerated in pets than in humans.

2. Palliative care: This option focuses on relieving and preventing suffering. The goal of palliative medications and treatments is to relieve clinical signs without having a curative effect on the underlying disease. Steroids (prednisone) are one of the many medications that are often utilized in treating pets with palliative care. It is important to understand we can not predict when pets being treated with palliative care will get worse.

Regards,
Susana
Internal Medicine Service Coordinator
The CUVS Internal Medicine Department.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Histiocytic sarcoma.

Oh no! Malignant histiocytosis and histiocytic sarcomas seem to be the very, sad destiny of many Berners.

This is so very hard. I am looking for a holistic approach to help her through this and, perhaps, prolong her life through possible diet changes and medicinal herbs that will support her along this path.

Yes!! There are many things to help support Lilly's journey, mitigate symptoms and side-effect, and more. Much, much more.

The essence of life are vitality and cellular energy. Without optimal vitality and balance, dis-ease results.

And yet that is a missing piece in most vet and medical care.

And that's very easy for you to correct.

It sound's like Lilly's BEAM is quite high (8-10/10). Is that correct? When, if ever, did she have a low BEAM?

Does she like, or currently get, any fresh (non dry or canned) food?

Lilly was artificially inseminated with her father's sperm

???