Heart disease is the number one killer in humans but in the pet world it is a minor problem compared to the number one nasty that is cancer. Nearly every type of cancer that affects humans has a version in the dog and cat world – skin tumours, mammary/breast cancer, leukaemias, and every single internal organ like the lungs, liver, pancreas, brain, gut and bladder can all develop cancers.

Last month I discovered a small pea-sized growth that had developed in one of my dogs’ mammary glands. Being a vet and knowing the problems that can occur with these types of tumours I had her in the next day and removed it surgically. Although it turned out to be cancerous I had caught it early and it is unlikely to grow back or spread elsewhere.

How we treat pets that have cancer varies tremendously depending on the type of cancer, where it is located, the age of the pet and of course the willingness of the pet owner. Surgery is still our number one tool to remove cancer and can be curative if the cancer is caught early and hasn't already spread. However, there are an increasing number of other options that are also available.

Various options available
I hesitate to use the term 'chemotherapy' as most people's knowledge of what that means is largely affected by what they understand of human treatments. Most people instantly think of the sort that makes us extremely ill, our hair fall out and endure months of unpleasant treatment. In reality with pets we don't use those sorts of intensive, toxic regimes. We only use medications that pets can tolerate largely with few, if any side effects and at doses that are unlikely to cause more problems than they fix. As a result only certain types of cancers are responsive to these more gentle protocols but for those that do respond it is possible to get very effective periods of remission and sometimes even cure.

Radiotherapy has a place in the animal world. Although this type of treatment is only available in specialist veterinary centres it can be a good option for tumours in hard to remove places like the mouth or nose. It will likely involve a dedicated owner who can take a pet for multiple visits but again is well tolerated by many pets.

Advances in diagnostic tests and CT scans can give a greater understanding to the extent of a tumour and improve surgical cure success rates and new drugs are always becoming available that give us better and safer options to treat previously unresponsive cancers.

Early diagnosis is vital
Ultimately, though, early diagnosis and action give us the best chance to beat cancer in pets as in humans. If you find a lump on your pet, or are worried about other symptoms, get them checked out quickly. Regular health checks and annual vaccinations are a great opportunity to allow us a chance to examine them for problems. Don't be afraid to bring your pet in because you are worried about 'the big C' – there are always practical things we can do and even palliative therapy if we decide against more involved treatments.