Cancer

BMD.ORG Cancer

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Cancers are a serious problem in the Bernese and a common cause of early death. Since 1990 the BMDCA and Bernergarde have sponsored studies of these diseases in our breed. The results are summarized below.

Conclusions

Approximately 50% of Berners die from cancer.
The average age at which cancer is diagnosed is 6.21 years; however, this varies widely.
The most common types of cancer found in Berners are:
- histiocytosis (24.0% of cases): these tumors are inherited, but probably through the action of many genes (polygenic) acting together
- mastocytoma: also inherited
- lymphosarcoma: not inherited
- fibrosarcoma: not inherited
- osteosarcoma: no conclusions yet as to heritability.

Several cancer studies in Bernese are ongoing and need a variety of samples from both affected and healthy dogs. See the Bernergarde health studies page for a complete list.