Cancer is a term that is often shrouded in uncertainty and fear, but gaining a clear understanding of what it is can make a significant difference in how we approach and manage the disease.
In this first session of an 8-part series on the topic of companion animal cancer we will create an understanding of what cancer is, the shift in how we are defining cancer, and a few of its possible causes.
There has been a paradigm shift and an effort to redefine and treat cancer as a chronic disease. Dr. Neal Mauldin will begin our program and help us understand how veterinary oncologists are currently thinking and talking about cancer as a disease process. “Cancer” is not necessarily an imminent death sentence and advances in cancer care are allowing our dogs and cats aspire to normal lifespans like any other chronic disease.
He will introduce us to some of the advances in technology that are readily available that have fewer side effects and result in better outcomes for cancers that affect dogs and cats. He will then discuss the important role of the immune system and immune effects to combat cancer, and the fine line between its helpful and harmful effects.
There are ongoing efforts in many arenas to investigate a number of possible factors that contribute to the development of cancer in dogs and cats. Dr. Lauren Trepanier, a veterinary internal medicine specialist and clinical pharmacologist – will discuss some newer information about the impact of environmental chemical exposures and the risks of bladder cancer and lymphoma in dogs. She will outline specific questions that should be asked of owners of dogs diagnosed with cancer, and the current evidence-based advice for preventing bladder cancer and lymphoma in dogs.
Registration is FREE for VetVine Premium Membership subscribers.
