One of the biggest hurdles we face at The Veterinary
Cancer Center is that most people associate cancer treatment in people with
cancer treatment in pets. Witnessing a friend or a family member undergoing
cancer treatment; even watching an episode of House will leave even the most
optimistic person with a false and preconceived notion of what to expect in
regards to cancer therapy in pets.
When my own dog was diagnosed with
malignant histiocytosis I was immediately emotionally hijacked by my personal
experiences with how my family members handled their cancer therapies. As a
co-owner of The VCC, the doctors here still needed to remind me both
intellectually and emotionally of how well pets handle cancer
treatment.
Since cats and dogs have a limited life span (compared
to people) the primary goals is not to cure the cancer, but to significantly
slow it down. This not only gives them more time, but also gives them a higher
quality of life… Even during treatment!
We do this by giving lower treatment doses then they do
in humans (sometimes over longer periods of time) as well as treating the
symptoms prophylactically. Many pets never show symptoms of either the disease
or the treatment of disease. It’s truly amazing how well most pets
do!
The other fact is that many pet owners and local
veterinarians might not know all the amazing and novel therapies that have
become available over the last few years. With the mapping of the genome, personalized medication, Radiation Therapy using IMRT, and the latest discovery
regarding junk DNA, we are on the
forefront of really making a difference when it comes to not only the treatment
of pets with cancer, but for us humans as well.
Most people make emotional decisions every single
day; it’s part of what makes us human. But I believe that one should never base
a decision on fear or a lack of understanding. Always get the facts before
making decisions about your pet’s health. The truth might surprise
you…
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