Short video about the course Link.
For 8 years ago (January 30, 2017) my Papillon dog Ditte Dot Com was close to being put down due to tumors in her abdominal cavity, including a very enlarged spleen with small tumors on it as well as changes on the ovaries and thickenings in the mesentery found in connection with a planned sterilization. To avoid further spread, the veterinarian advised against surgical intervention, and Ditte was “closed” again.
I became aware of a pilot study in dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma, where dogs were given extract of the medicinal mushroom Coriolus Versicolor with positive results.
I started to give Ditte extract of Coriolus Versicolor, and after 10 days she started to eat amounts of food that she had never done before. I began to add a little vitamin C to the extract, and approximately 14 months later (April 2018), when she was opened again to be sterilized in order to remove the estrogen production from the ovaries, it was like looking into a “new” dog.
She later developed a tumor on the liver, which in June 2019 measured: 1.5 x 2 cm, in October 2019: 2.5 x 2.5 cm, and which in July 2020 had grown further to: 2.8 x 3.5 cm. This tumor changed in May 2021 into just a fluid-filled cyst measuring: 1.6 x 1 cm. Subsequently, the cyst continued to shrink and is now completely gone at the latest ultrasound scan in May 2024.
The interesting thing is that I (when the liver tumor was the largest) to her Reishi and (increased) dose of Coriolus Versicolor began to add the medicinal mushroom Antrodia Camphorata which, as well as Reishi according to studies, is described as having hepatoprotective properties. In addition, during the same period, I resumed adding a little vitamin C to the mushroom extracts, as research suggests that the absorption of beta-glucans (active substances of mushrooms) is improved when beta-glucans are combined with vitamin C Link.
The coincidence of time between the administration of vitamin C together with the mushroom extract and the positive development of Ditte’s tumors could indicate a connection (causality). Precisely because I used vitamin C in the period from January 2017, when tumors were found in her abdominal cavity with spread to organs, and until April 2018 when there were no more tumors present in her abdomen.
Similarly, it is likely that the administration of the liver-supporting medicinal mushroom Antrodia Camphorata (along with Reishi) has played a positive role along with Coriolus Versicolor.
In November 2022, a small nodule appeared between 2 mammary glands, which was removed in December 2022. Histological examination: Adenocarcinoma, complex grade I (cancer arising from the mammary gland) Link. There was no evidence of blood vessel growth from the tumor and very few cell divisions, which is positive. No swollen lymph nodes and the blood tests were fine.
Throughout the course of the illness, Ditte Dot Com has not received conventional treatment and still lives at the age of now 16 (as of September 4, 2024).
A timeline of her course of illness and detailed case history is below.
Veterinarian’s statement.
Dorthe Øfeldt
Denmark
Timeline of Ditte Dot Com’s course of illness:
Ditte’s course of illness started in May 2016, when she became subdued/sad and sometimes didn’t want to eat.
Blood tests showed elevated liver values and ultrasound: Changed liver tissue, enlarged liver and a little cyst on the left ovary. In addition, a minor mammary gland lump.
The veterinarian recommended “Zentonil Advanced 100 mg” (Milk Thistle) ½ tablet each day to rebuild the liver. In addition, she got low fat diet to avoid strain on the liver. Surgery (sterilization and removal of the mammary gland lump) was postponed for some time, until the liver values got better, which they fortunately did over time, like Ditte’s overall condition also improved.
Sterilization was to take place January 30, 2017, but while Ditte was under anesthesia, the veterinarian called and told that the spleen was very enlarged and had small tumors on it. In addition, there was spread in the abdominal cavity, thickenings in the mesentery and changes on the ovaries.
An option was to remove the spleen, but the veterinarian didn’t recommend this, because Ditte then would lose her immune system. Second option was to remove the ovaries, but the veterinarian wouldn’t recommend that either because of risk of further spreading. Third option was to put Ditte down, while she still was asleep, but I thought her general condition was too good to end her life. Therefore, the veterinarian “closed” Ditte again and only removed the mammary gland lump. The expectation was not that Ditte would live for so long, but I was willing to let her live as long as she could and let her be euthanized the day her general condition became too bad.
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I immediately searched the web for what could be done for dogs with cancer, and I found a research article Link from School of Veterinary Medicine and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA about a randomized, double-blind pilot study regarding the effect of Coriolus Versicolor mushroom in dogs diagnosed with splenic hemangiosarcoma. The dogs were given a product with Coriolus Versicolor, where the PSP was isolated from the mycelium of the mushroom and not the fruiting body. The study showed that development or progression of abdominal metastases was significantly delayed in the dogs receiving 100 mg per kg body weight per day, and the two highest dose groups had longer survival time than the longest survival reported in the literature.
In the beginning of February 2017 I began to give Ditte extract of Coriolus Versicolor. First, I bought the extract from Germany (capsules of 420 mg) and later, in Denmark from Medicinske Svampe Link (capsules of 500 mg – contents) which are products from MycoNutri in the UK Link. Ditte got ½ capsule daily fairly equivalent to 100 mg/kg (she weighed approximately 2.5 kg).
After approximately 10 days, it was like having a “new” dog! Ditte was happy again and playful and started eating amounts of food, she had never done before.
I began to add a little vitamin C to the mushroom extract, and approximately 14 months later (April 2018) I decided to get her sterilized due to a couple of mammary gland lumps. I worried about how the condition would be inside of her. From a previous examination at a veterinary hospital in July 2017 I knew that Ditte’s liver values had become normal, as well as the liver and spleen on ultrasound scan appeared normal. The scan showed back then (in several places in the abdomen) various soft tissues that didn’t appear normal, and which, according to the veterinary hospital, might be compatible with enlarged abdominal lymph nodes (sizes about 1-2 cm in diameter). During ultrasound samples with a needle (FNASP) were taken of the cores of 2 different of these swellings, but the cells were not intact/dead, and therefore the samples were not of diagnostic quality. In addition, the ultrasound scan in July 2017 showed that there were small nodules in the intestines or in the adipose tissue outside the intestines (consistent with what my own veterinarian found when Ditte was opened in January 2017).
Fortunately, the sterilization (removal of the ovaries and uterus) on April 16, 2018 went very well, as Ditte now looked nice inside! Her liver was normal, there were no tumors in the abdomen, neither any changes on the ovaries or mesentery. The cyst on the left ovary was gone as well. The veterinarian also removed the mammary gland lumps. The spleen was still a little enlarged, but there were no tumors on it. X-ray of heart and lungs showed normal findings.
I continued daily to give Ditte ½ capsule of Coriolus extract (however, without vitamin C), and she was doing extremely well until June 19, 2019, when she, in the evening, suddenly became subdued, hyperventilated and shivered. I immediately took her to the veterinarian who found abdominal pain. Ditte got painkillers which quickly helped a lot, and ultrasound scan took place the next morning.
Ultrasound June 20, 2019 showed a tumor (size: 1.5 x 2 cm) on the back of the liver on the right side. The spleen was enlarged and there were several changed foci on the spleen and changes (thickenings) in the mesentery. In addition, there were changes in the right kidney, which could be age-related. There were no cysts or focal tumors on the kidney, and the majority of the liver and spleen were fine.
I wondered about this development, and it came into my mind, that Ditte had gained weight since the sterilization in April 2018. Therefore, the dose I had continued to give her (½ capsule of Coriolus of 500 mg) no longer corresponded to the dose of 100 mg/kg in the pilot study on dogs Link. I therefore assumed that the dose was too low relative to her increased body weight.
Moreover, I came to think that in the period after the sterilization (April 2018), I started giving Ditte the mushroom extract together with her dinner and thus not a minimum of 30 minutes before dinner, which is otherwise recommended because the benefits of mushroom supplement are said to be greatest when they are taken in between meals or 30 minutes before a meal.
Furthermore, I became aware of a study of the effect of Coriolus Versicolor on prostate tumors in mice Link. The study included mice, which were fed with 200 mg/kg for 4 weeks and mice fed with 300 mg/kg for 20 weeks. The tumors were still present in the mice given 200 mg/kg, but surprisingly there were no longer tumors present in the mice given 300 mg/kg. The study thereby showed that the dose, in relation to body weight as well as the duration, is crucial to the effect.
Because of this, I increased Ditte’s dose of Coriolus considerably and went back to give her the mushroom extract at least 30 minutes before dinner. In agreement with the veterinarian, I continued to give Ditte painkillers for a few days, after which she recovered well.
Control scan by ultrasound took place October 15, 2019, and the veterinarian was very pleased with the result: The kidney, which previously was enlarged and had calcifications, was no longer enlarged and there were now only slightly calcification. The spleen was unchanged. The tumor on the liver, which in June 2019 measured: 1.5 x 2 cm, now measured approximately: 2.5 x 2.5 cm (to be on the safe side). That is to say larger, but on scan it appeared that the tumor now had “gathered itself” – as if it was encapsulating. The tumor had become much more delineated and now had a nicer defined edge. In addition, the liver tissue in general now was much nicer and more consistent. And the edge of the liver now also was sharp and fine.
After this scan I decided to supplement with the medicinal mushroom Reishi, which, among other things, is used to improve the liver, so that Ditte daily got both Coriolus and Reishi in addition to Zentonil Advanced (Milk Thistle) and a vitamin pill. It appears that medicinal mushrooms, advantageously, can be combined, as the mushrooms together support and enhance each other’s effect (synergy effect).
Control scan by ultrasound July 2, 2020: The tumor on the liver had grown further, as it now measured: 2.8 x 3.5 cm, but its edge still was sharp and fine. Two minor fluid-filled cysts appeared on the liver, which were assessed to be age-related. The texture of the liver everywhere else was nice, as well as the delineation of the liver, as the edges were completely sharp. There was a little calcification in both kidneys which is quite normal for the age. The spleen, which in October 2019 was enlarged and had several changed foci, (which was unchanged from the previous scan in June 2019) now was completely normal with only scar tissue from the previous changes on it. The mesentery now also was normal, as there no longer were thickenings.
From July 7, 2020 I started to supplement with the medicinal mushroom Antrodia Camphorata (with hepatoprotective properties) and resumed giving Ditte a little vitamin C together with the mushroom extract – see dose – because Ditte, as mentioned, previously has received vitamin C together with Coriolus Versicolor (in the period from when she was diagnosed with tumors, etc. in the abdominal cavity in January 2017, until she no longer had tumors in April 2018) as research has shown that the absorption/therapeutic effect of the active substances of the mushrooms (beta-glucans) are enhanced when beta-glucans are combined with vitamin C Link.
Surprisingly, control scan May 27, 2021 showed that the tumor on the liver (which in June 2019 measured: 1.5 x 2 cm, and in October 2019: 2.5 x 2.5 cm, and which in July 2020 had grown to: 2, 8 x 3.5 cm) now only measured: 1.6 x 1 cm.
The scan on May 30, 2022 showed that the liver tumor had changed into just a fluid-filled cyst of: 0.4 cm in diameter. Moreover, improvement regarding the 2 fluid-filled cysts, that were present on the right side of the liver at the scan in May 2021, where they both measured 1 x 1 cm (against, respectively: 0.8 x 1 cm and 0.5 x 0.5 cm in July 2020), as there was now only one of these cysts left which had shrunk to: 0.25 cm in diameter.
The veterinarian is very impressed with this positive development and describes the result as extremely positive, as it was by no means expected when looking back at the extensive spread present in Ditte’s abdominal cavity and organs back in January 2017.
In November 2022, between 2 of Ditte’s mammary glands I noticed a small lump, which was removed in December 2022. Histological examination showed: Adenocarcinoma, complex grade I (cancer arising from the mammary gland) Link.
Fortunately, there was no sign of blood vessel growth from the tumor and there were very few cell divisions, which is positive. The veterinarian found no swollen lymph nodes and the blood tests are fine.
Since the immune system typically declines the older one gets, I increased Ditte’s dose of mushrooms and also gave her a bit of vitamin C together with the day’s 2 middle portions of mushrooms (until the result of the mammary gland tumor was given in December 2022, Ditte only received vitamin C together with the morning and evening portion of mushrooms).
In connection with clipping claws on July 10, 2023, the veterinarian noticed a lump (in Ditte’s right groin) of approximately: 3 x 2 x 1 cm which clearly caused pain, as Ditte did not like the lump being touched. The veterinarian suspected cancerous activity in the lymph node because of the pain and the large size of the lump, and because Ditte had previously been diagnosed with mammary gland cancer. Needle biopsy and removal of the lump were discussed but opted out due to potential risk of spread.
At a follow-up check on August 8, 2023, to surprise and wonder, the lump was now practically non-existent, and the subsequent ultrasound scan on August 17, 2023 showed that the groin now looked perfectly fine.
Since, as mentioned, no sample was taken of the lump, one cannot know what exactly it was, including whether the swelling could possibly have been due to an infection. It is not known whether the positive development could be related to the fact that I (for up to 14 days before) increased her mushroom dose considerably. I chose to increase the dose suddenly over a few days (while observing her closely) instead of, as before, a gradual increase over time. This to give her a strong boost – the idea was to send a “shock wave” through her “system”.
Ditte is now 16 years old (as of September 4, 2024), and the most recent control ultrasound scan on May 30, 2024 showed that the cyst on the liver is now completely gone! This means that there are no longer any remnants of her former liver tumor (result can be seen at the bottom of the timeline).
Dorthe Øfeldt
Denmark
