Cancer in Pets

Finding a lump on your pet can be one of the most stressful discoveries for a much loved companion. While the majority of lumps turn out to be benign, no lump - no matter how small - should ever be ignored. The sooner action is taken, the less chance there is for a cancer to spread and the easier it is to remove whilst it is small. You should NEVER take a “wait and see” attitude in regard to lumps.

The most important first step is to get a diagnosis as to what the tumour actually is. Different types of tumours behave in different ways - some tumours and cysts are very obvious and easy to identify but others will need to have samples taken and for these to be examined under a microscope. This can sometimes be done in our clinic with a fine needle used to harvest some cells but often a biopsy sample needs to be sent off to a lab for definitive diagnosis.

Treatent can mean surgery to remove the offending lump and, in the majority of cases, this is curative. It may also mean the use of drugs to kill off the tumour if it has spread to other places in the body or if surgery has not been able to remove all of the lump. This is called chemotherapy.

Most people have known friends or family who have had chemotherapy and for whom it has been very debilitating. Animals,fortunately, tolerate chemotherapy much better than people. They do not lose their hair and are generally very bright and happy throughout their treatment. These pets are treated as out-patients and do not require hospitalisation. The most stressful part for most animals is getting blood samples taken.
Chemotherapy is widely used by veterinary practices these days including Blair Street Veterinary Hospital. In a Vetnosis survey of clinics conducted in 2008, 98% of respondents reported that they used chemotherapy in small animal practice and it has become fairly standard medicine. However, it should be noted that there is no “cure for cancer” yet. Chemotherapy, at best, will not cure cancer but, like in people, will lead to the cancer going into remission. This means a time of good health and quality of life before the cancer comes back again.

The most common indication for chemotherapy, is in treating Canine Lymphomas. Other types of tumour can be treated but these are much less common and generally response rates are poorer.
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Below is a list of the common tumour types for which it is worthwhile to treat with chemotherapy and how long the average remission time is. A second course, after the first has failed, can be done but generally gives much poorer results.
In summary, chemotherapy can be a very worthwhile treatment option. Remember, cancer is a word not a sentence!! To read more on Chemotherapy please click the link below.
Chemotherapy

​Canine Lymphoma

​This is one of the commonest types of tumour treated by chemotherapy. With a COP treatment regime (which has less side effects), the median remission time of about 6 months is expected. With a CHOP treatment regime, the median survival time is almost double this at 11 months but roughly a quarter of dogs will have serious side effects. It should also be noted that if the dog is already sick from the cancer, then response rates are not as good.

​Feline Lymphoma

​Median survival times is around 210-260 days.

Canine Mast Cell Tumour

For high grade tumours, about 45% will enter complete or partial remission. Complete remission rates are about 20% and can last 6-18 months. In partial remission patients, remission times will be much shorter and most will not survive 6 months from diagnosis.

​Osteosarcoma (Bone tumour)

With only amputation of the affected limb, the survival time is in the order of 4 months.

​If amputation is performed followed by chemotherapy, then survival time is in the order of 11 months.

​Haemangiosarcoma

​With surgery alone, survival times of 2 months can be expected. With surgery followed by chemotherapy then this extends to 6 months regardless of drugs used.