potrero view

December 2008

State-of-the-Art Veterinary Cancer Treatment, Right in the Neighborhood

By Charlotte Gee Graeber

With emotions ranging from fear to confusion to hope, the owner of a 9-year-old pug named Louie called to make an appointment at San Francisco Veterinary Specialists (SFVS). Louie’s regular veterinarian had just diagnosed him with mast cell tumors, and wanted him to see a specialist.

The incidence of cancer in pets is becoming more common. Just as in human medicine, preventive care, diagnostic technology and medical treatment have led to longer life spans for cats and dogs. And, like humans, when pets get older they have a higher chance of developing cancer and other illnesses. The statistics are stark: one in four dogs dies of cancer, and the disease is the number one natural cause of death in geriatric cats and dogs.

To meet the growing demand for veterinary oncology services, SFVS’ oncology group recently expanded its practice from two days a week to six.  SFVS, located at the outer edges of the Mission and Potrero Hill, is San Francisco’s only multispecialty, referral-based animal hospital.  SFVS staff includes the City’s only two veterinary oncologists, with another four veterinary technicians dedicated to oncology services. The facility recently installed a computed tomography (CT) scanner, the first such device in San Francisco that’s exclusively for veterinary use.

“There was a clear need for SFVS to have its own CT scanner on site. As a specialty hospital, we want to have the most cutting-edge, state-of-the-art diagnostic tools available to best serve our patients and their referring veterinarians,” said SFVS oncologist Aarti Sahblok, Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine (DVM). “Plus, clients and their pets no longer have to travel out of the area for scans. They can have them done right here in the City.” Among other things, CT scans allow veterinarians to spot certain types of cancer earlier than they can with traditional x-rays. Scans also are helpful in planning for surgeries to remove tumors and performing biopsies.

“The addition of this imaging modality will bring university-quality service to the pets and pet owners of San Francisco,” said Carlos O. Rodriguez, Jr., DVM, Ph.D., Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology). “This is especially true for injection-site sarcomas in our feline patients. Studies have demonstrated the need for aggressive front-line surgery by a board-certified surgeon whose scalpel is being guided by a pre-operative CT scan.”

According to Sabhlok, “Although cancer rates in our pets are high, with early detection, cancer can be a treatable disease. Advances in technology offer us many treatment options.”  The most common types of canine cancer Sabhlok sees in her practice are lymphoma, melanoma, mast cell tumors and osteosarcoma. In cats, lymphoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and mouth are the most common cancers.

Sabhlok emphasizes that some cancers can be cured. And for pets with cancer that can’t be cured, treatments can extend their lives anywhere from four months to three years. The three most common treatments for cancers in animals include surgery to remove the cancerous tissue, chemotherapy and radiation, the latter of which SFVS refers clients to outside facilities for treatment. Treatment and diagnostic expenses vary depending on the complexities of each case; clients agree to a care plan and estimated costs before services are provided.

Sabhlok pointed out that many people have had family members or friends who have undergone cancer treatments and have seen the oft scary side effects associated with trying to obtain a cure. In her practice, she always reassures pet owners that veterinary oncology is not as aggressive with treatments like chemotherapy, so dogs and cats generally don’t experience the same magnitude of side effects as humans. For example, much lower doses of chemotherapy are used than in human oncology, which means very few pets become ill or require hospitalization during or after treatment.

Her philosophy centers on “providing treatment options that do not compromise what our patients love to do,” whether it’s going for walks on the beach, playing fetch, or just curling up on the couch. Treatments are intended to maximize therapeutic benefits while minimizing side effects. First and foremost, veterinary oncology strives to maintain a good quality of life for the pet.

Other treatments available at SFVS include metronomic chemotherapy, which is a daily, low-dose, oral chemotherapy, administered at home by the pet owner; and the melanoma vaccine. Malignant melanoma is a very aggressive cancer and is the most common oral tumor in dogs. The melanoma vaccine has resulted in increased median survival times for pets.

Pets undergoing cancer treatment at SFVS also have the option of receiving holistic care. This service is provided through the hospital’s holistic and integrative services department. According to David Fong, DVM, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, and department head, “We work very closely with the oncology veterinarians because of the support that is needed as patients go through chemotherapy or surgery.  Integrative medicine can help to give a higher quality outcome and life for these precious companions. If we can give back to the body to help itself, that in turn will help other Western treatments be more successful.”

Cancer isn’t always preventable, but there are things pet owners can do to keep their pets healthy. Veterinarians suggest early spaying and neutering, regular exercise, providing good food and clean water, keeping pets away from potentially toxic substances, minimizing solar damage to lightly pigmented or white dogs and cats by keeping them out of the noonday sun, and scheduling regular checkups and oral exams with a veterinarian.

“It’s definitely possible for pets to enjoy happy, quality lives with their families, even though they have cancer,” said Dr. Sabhlok.  Let’s hope Louie’s owner reports similar news.

For more information visit SFVS’s website at www.sfvs.net.

 Subscribe to The Potrero View

All rights reserved. Copyright © 2006 The Potrero View.

Content on this site may not be archived, retransmitted, saved in a database, or used for any commercial purpose without the express written permission of The Potrero View or its Publishers.