Cancer in
companion animals…
Cancer – the word
everyone hates to hear, whether it is their own diagnosis or for their pet.
While the diagnosis of cancer causes our hearts to break thinking of the loss
of our pets, not all is as horrible as one might initially think. Some cancers
are now more treatable than ever, with many pets enjoying many more months and
even years together. The goal for every cancer patient is to get as much
quality time as possible.
Many pets are not
acting sick at all at the time of their diagnosis, so it can be impossible to
think of them as having a disease that may end their life much sooner than
their expected life span. Treatment can be much more successful in these
patients, as they are in reasonably good health otherwise and can endure their
treatment better than those who are more debilitated when they are diagnosed.
Some cancers
dictate surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy for treatment. Surgery can be
curative for some cancer, others would require chemotherapy after surgical
removal of tumor(s). Chemotherapy alone may be recommended for some types of
cancer…your veterinarian will discuss all options with you after the diagnosis
has been made.
Treating pets with
cancer involves more than medications and technology. It is about respecting
quality of life, enjoying the good days, compassion, understanding, and trust.
The goal in treating cancer in pets is to get them into remission (symptoms are
gone and the patient is comfortable) rather than actually curing their disease.
Most pets do very
well with chemotherapy; they rarely have the nausea, vomiting, and sick feeling
that people experience. And, because they live day to day and don’t have the
psychological aspect of facing cancer, they accept each day as it comes and
don’t dwell on the negative aspect of having a terminal disease.
Your veterinary
team can guide you with treatment options, help and support as you face what
could be the biggest challenge of your pet’s life.
For more information:
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