Where To Begin
Cancer is the number one natural cause of death in geriatric cats and dogs, and it accounts for nearly 50 percent of pet deaths each year. Although cancer is the leading cause of death in geriatric patients, it's also the most treatable disease when compared with life-limiting diseases like congestive heart failure, renal failure and diabetes. An educated and dedicated veterinary health care team is essential to compassionately care for cancer patients. Compassionate care of your pet can only be accomplished with a team, and you are the center of that team. As your pet's primary care giver, you are in the best position to know and meet its needs. Your first task is to find a veterinary health care team that is experienced in cancer care, and that is committed to working with you as a member of the team. Compassionate care requires that steps be taken to ensure that your pet is as free as possible from the adverse effects that may be associated with cancer and cancer treatment. This includes freedom from pain, nausea and starvation.
You can defeat the darkness of cancer with knowledge. The first step is to work with your veterinary health care team to learn as much about the disease and its treatment as possible. Be proactive. Ask questions and obtain resources to educate yourself about cancer and cancer therapeutics. Tackling tough questions about cancer and cancer therapies can enhance your ability to think clearly and make decisions.
Tips for empowering yourself with knowledge:
Write things down: Write down questions you may have before each visit to your pet's doctor. Take notes during all discussions with the veterinary health care team about your pet's disease or treatment options. Recite information back to ensure that you understand completely. Seek support: Bring a friend or spouse with you when you talk to the veterinary health care team. Include the whole family: All discussions about your pet should involve everyone who loves your pet, including family members and children. Allow everyone to ask questions and express their opinions. Ask for printed materials or information: Obtain resources to help you understand your pet's disease and treatment options. Work with your health care team to understand the validity of all information you obtain. Understand there are no incorrect decisions: Do not worry about what other people will think about your decisions. You know your pet better than anyone else in the world. Once you have gathered the information you need, listen to your heart and you will make the right decisions.
Click Here To Read About Questions To Ask Your Veterinarian
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Staging, Grading: Imagine defeating an enemy you did not know. What is the threat? What are the tools to defeat this enemy? This is exactly what your veterinarian is thinking when he or she considers staging or grading the cancer: Understanding where the cancer is in the body, the name of the cancer and the degree of aggressiveness. By understanding the enemy, we can defeat it. • Each tumor is different and unique. Each one must first be given a name; this is only possible with a biopsy or cytology (a test that helps determine the type ..
The word cancer is as dark and empty as the disease it defines. A cancer diagnosis often brings feelings of overwhelming fear, a loss of control, and most devastating of all, a loss of hope. This can occur regardless of whether the patient is a friend, family member or a precious pet. When we face the diagnosis of cancer in a beloved pet it is even more difficult, for we must make important and life changing decisions for our animal friends that rely totally on our own judgments for their well-being. These animals not only share our homes, our
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Components of Health and Wellness Programs by Age (<1 Year of Age, 1-7 Years of Age, >7 Years of Age). For animals <1 Year of Age: -Preadoption counseling to select breeds and lines with a reduced risk of cancer and to meet the needs of the adopting family. -Behavioral counseling and suggestions regarding obedience classes. -A complete History. -A complete physical examination. Read more!
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Some questions to discuss... About your pet's cancer and treatment: -What is the name of my pet's tumor? -Is the tumor benign or malignant? -How often does this type of tumor metastasize (spread to other parts of the body)? -If left untreated, what will the cancer likely do to my pet? -What diagnostic tests do we need to perform to determine the location and extent of the cancer (i.e., the stage of the disease)? -What are all the treatment options and what are the costs, side effects, time involved, and effectiveness of each treat..
The word cancer is as dark and empty as the disease it defines. A cancer diagnosis often brings feelings of overwhelming fear, a loss of control, and most devastating of all, a loss of hope. This can occur regardless of whether the patient is a friend, family member or a precious pet. When we face the diagnosis of cancer in a beloved pet it is even more difficult, for we must make important and life changing decisions for our animal friends that rely totally on our own judgments for their well-being. These animals not only share our homes, our
