Lost in the Fog/cancer

[prudery]

Originally Posted by 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.

Thank you. And may I suggest that a spleen with a cantaloup sized tumor on it may not work that well under the stresses of racing as well ??

[Scav]

Wonder if they can get him another spleen....I was just curious because if he were to come back from this and win a couple huge races, it would be national and movie type stuff, I am calling Aleo now for the ok to write the script (jk)

[prudery]

Originally Posted by Scav

Wonder if they can get him another spleen....I was just curious because if he were to come back from this and win a couple huge races, it would be national and movie type stuff, I am calling Aleo now for the ok to write the script (jk)

Laughter is the best medicine, but surely this is a failed placebo .

[Danzig]

i just read about fog on t'bred times. what horrible news.

and yes, the spleen may not be necessary, but i read that survival of the surgery for this is only 50/50. not exactly good odds...and they are running more tests first. if the cancer has spread than it doesn't seem from their remarks that surgery would still be an option.

hoping for good news, that the cancer is still just in the spleen. that in itself is bad enough.

[Rupert Pupkin]

The article at Bloodhorse.com said the tumor is the size of a football. The Lost in the Fog bashers were right. LITF was running bad because he's not a very good horse. It had nothing to do with the football size tumor on his spleen. LOL.

[sumitas]

What a hard knocking campaigner he was. He ran wherever and whenever and I'm sure he and his connections had one helluva year last year. I hope he can recover.

This is the first time I've heard of cancer in a prominent thoroughbred ... since Bold Ruler died from it in 1971. But his cancer wasn't diagnosed until he was a 15YO.

Does anyone else know of another prominent thoroughbred who developed serious cancer? Or one so young as Lost In The Fog?

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by Rupert Pupkin

The article at Bloodhorse.com said the tumor is the size of a football. The Lost in the Fog bashers were right. LITF was running bad because he's not a very good horse. It had nothing to do with the football size tumor on his spleen. LOL.

I participated in those threads and I never remember anyone making an argument that he was not a very good horse. Might I suggest just letting it go now. Whether it affected his performance or not at this point seems irrelevant to me.

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

I participated in those threads and I never remember anyone making an argument that he was not a very good horse. Might I suggest just letting it go now. Whether it affected his performance or not at this point seems irrelevant to me.

And the carpers don't say WHEN it started affecting his performance.

Was it during his ten-race winning streak ... or just since his eleventh race?

As you say ... it's irrelevant now. Let's just hope he can be treated ... and survive.

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

I participated in those threads and I never remember anyone making an argument that he was not a very good horse. Might I suggest just letting it go now. Whether it affected his performance or not at this point seems irrelevant to me.

THis is true. Nobody said he was a bad horse they just claimed he had never faced a high level of competition. There are some like myself who maybe wrongly saw the horse and proclaimed him a freak and very special. I still think he is/was, there are very few horses I have seen run like this horse. I am very unfamiliar with this sort of malady in horses and appreciate some the info given on this board.