Cancer - Staying one step ahead
That is the last thing we would want to hear with regards to our pets also. As always, staying one step ahead and staying educated can help catch a lot of disease processes in the very beginning. As far as cancer is concerned, the sooner it is diagnosed, the better it is.
Really, what is cancer?
Cancer is just a certain cell type growing abnormally to a point that it can cause a problem. Hence there are so many varieties of cancer depending on which cell in the body has decided to defy the normal rules. The implications of that are also, therefore, different.
What causes it?
This abnormality can occur due to a variety of reasons and scientific studies have brought up an umbrella of causes including (but not limited to), age, genetics, environment, certain drugs, certain viruses etc. Any one of these or multiple of these triggers can cause one type of cell to go berserk and start multiplying abnormally.
Breeds that we find most predisposed include Boxers, Labradors, Beagles, Golden Retrievers, cocker spaniels but pretty much any breed is susceptible.
Does cancer always mean a death sentence?
NO it does not. Cancers are only an abnormal growth of a tissue. Now depending on which tissue is affected in a pet or even a human, some cancers can be gotten rid off completely with just surgery. Some may require chemotherapy for remission. However, there are certain cancers which are aggressive and still without cure. Those may, unfortunately mean a shorter life span for the affected pet.
What are the signs I must watch out for?
- Growths on the body, which seem to be growing
- Difficulty breathing
- Inappetance or difficulty eating
- Unexplained weight loss
- Bleeding from any orifice
- Unexplained lameness, swelling
Are all growths cancer?
It is a very good practice to regularly check your pet for lumps/growths. You may often find lumps and bumps on your pets body but all of there growths do not always mean they are cancerous. However, having said that, the minute you see any growth on your pets body, it is wise to get it tested. Some may just be harmless fat lumps but either ways, each growth must get tested because as far as growths are concerned, they are guilty until proven innocent.
What do you mean ‘test the growth’?
Your vet will test any growth by doing a small procedure called a ‘fine needle aspiration cytology’ or FNAC. This simply means they will stick a needle in the suspect lump, pick some cells and send it over to their friend in pathology to look at under a microscope. The pathology vets will then determine what kind of cells they can see and pronounce the growth as harmless or not.
An FNAC can be done without any sedation and barely takes a couple of minutes.
If they are not sure if the growth is not cancerous, your vet may then talk about doing a ‘biopsy’, which means taking a larger sample from this growth to aid with better diagnosis. This may have to be done under general anaesthesia.
Additional diagnostic tests that may be done if there is a higher level of suspicion include bloodworm and potentially an ultrasound, Xrays and CT scans.
Can you prevent cancer?
Unfortunately, this question lies without a concrete answer. There is nothing that can be done about the genetic aspect of cancer. Pets do not have genetic testing yet but it could be a possibility in the near future. We can keep them safe from exposure to known carcinogens such as smoke and certain dyes and do regular lump checks and keep up with our annual vet visits to be able to prevent it. Spaying a dog/cat does reduce the risk to some extent but only if done before the first heat. Now spaying before the first heat can hamper bone growth in certain dog breeds so even that is up for debate.
How long do they live?
Cancers that can be cured with surgery often have a good prognosis and pets can live a long, comfortable life. Some other aggressive cancers like melanomas or hemangiosarcomas come with a lesser life span which can be as short as just another 6-10 months from diagnosis. Especially if they get diagnosed at an end stage.
Why are we hearing of more cases of cancer in pets? Is it the pet food?
To blindly blame pet food for cancers is purely ignorant. There has been no scientific proof of pet food being carcinogenic and I have had pets on pet food with no signs of cancer and pets on home cooked meals with cancer so the food is not contributing to it. It is more to do with age and genetics of the pet. Our immediate environment and lifestyle choices have also caused cancer to enter our lives and that of our pets. Also we are hearing of more cases simply because we have gotten better at diagnosing them as opposed to a decade ago, where many cases did not get a proper diagnosis till it was too late.
Are there any herbal remedies?
No herbal remedy is going to reverse cancer. A lot of information is out there on the net and there is some supportive evidence of Chinese herbal medicine and CBD oil being useful. Certain mushrooms have also supposedly helped, but do your research to ensure you are not indulging in anything that could be toxic to your pet.
But remember these are ‘adjunctive therapies’ (read the fine print on these articles). They will ‘help’ ease the discomfort but are in no way a ‘treatment’ protocol. Acupuncture has also showed promise in relieving the pain associated with certain cancers. Good nutrition plays a far bigger role in a dog going through cancer treatment. So the easiest thing to do, is to make sure there’s a wholesome meal on their plate.
Most importantly, do those lump checks. Do not delay on anything that may seem off to you about your pet. Timely diagnosis is of essence where cancer is suspected and it pretty much is battle that can be won.
Don't forget to test that growth!
Dr. N
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