Oncology

Dogs and cats with cancer are typically presented by their owners either because of the physical presence of the mass if it is visible or palpable, or because of the effect of the cancer on the body and its functions.

Cancer chemotherapy is a relatively recent development in medical history.

Mast cell tumors (MCT) are among the most common tumors treated in dogs and are periodically seen in cats.

A general review of osteosarcoma then discuss various novel therapies currently available for the local and systemic treatment of this cancer in dogs.

Plasma cell neoplasms originate from terminally differentiated B lymphocytes that have undergone malignant transformation.

Another important form of neoplastic plasma cells are plasmacytomas, which arise from soft tissue, where they are known as extramedullary plasmacytomas, or from bone, where they are known as solitary osseous plasmacytomas.

Of the currently marketed feline vaccines, those against rabies and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) have been most commonly implicated in sarcoma development.

St. Paul, Minn. -- An experimental procedure to treat a dog with brain cancer that remains successful a year later has earned the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine funding to treat more dogs through clinical trials.

The majority of cytotoxic chemotherapy protocols in common veterinary use are designed to have a low risk of adverse effects.

Osteosarcoma (OSA) represents the most common bony tumor of dogs and cats.

Mast cell tumor (MCT) represents the most common malignant cutaneous tumor in the dog, and is commonly encountered in small animals.

Lymphoma (LSA) is a relatively common disease entity in veterinary medicine.

While cytology does not give the practitioner the same amount of information as histopathology does, it can provide important information that is rapidly available, inexpensive, and minimally invasive.

The biggest problem to overcome before treating pain in veterinary medicine is properly identifying the pain.

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is a method of 3-D conformal therapy using a computer controlled multi-leaf collimator.

It can be estimated that more than half of tumor-bearing pets suffer cancer-related pain.

Paraneoplastic syndromes may develop from the excessive production of hormones from an adenomatous or carcinomatous gland.

It would be enormously difficult to think about the diagnosis or treatment of cancer without the use of diagnostic imaging.

Pain ranges in prevalence from 15 to 90% among human cancer patients, with an incidence and severity that parallels disease progression.

It is the rapidly dividing nature of cancer cells that allows us to have success with chemotherapy protocols, and this same behavior can also lead to a crisis situation.

In the therapy of neoplastic infections with cytotoxic drugs, there is little basis for the selective killing of the abnormal cells as opposed to the healthy cells in the body.

Through clinical trials and retrospective studies, we have been able to learn which tumors respond best to what protocols and the body of knowledge continues to expand.

Pancreatic islet beta cell tumors, more commonly known as insulinomas, have been well recognized and well documented in ferrets over the last 20 years.

Many pets have successfully achieved remission, or more accurately "disease free intervals" with any number of chemotherapy protocols.

One of the primary goals for all personnel involved with managing veterinary cancer patients is to preserve quality of life.