Using Chemotherapy To Treat Cancer in Animals
A cancer diagnosis can be an extremely difficult and emotional time for pet owners. Fortunately, advances in cancer treatment have allowed for an improved prognosis for many different types of the disease. If you have a pet that has recently been diagnosed with cancer, an internal medicine specialist at your local pet referral hospital may suggest chemotherapy as an option for your pet. Although the prospect of chemotherapy treatments can be unsettling, learning as much as you can about this treatment will help you ease your mind and decide if it is right for your beloved pet.
How Does Chemotherapy Work?
Chemotherapy works by utilizing drugs to target cells that grow and divide rapidly, which is one of the main characteristics of cancer cells. There are many different drugs that can be used alone or in combination to have different effects on these cells and eliminate specific types of cancers. Unfortunately, these chemicals cannot differentiate between cancer cells and healthy calls that divide at a rapid rate, such as cells in the hair follicles, gastrointestinal tract, and bone marrow. The damage to these cells is what often causes the side effects associated with chemotherapy.
What Are the Applications of Chemotherapy?
Similar to human chemotherapy treatment, chemo can be used alone as the sole treatment for cancer or can be used in conjunction with other treatments such as radiation therapy. Because this treatment reaches all parts of the body, it is normally used to treat metastatic cancers or to diminish tumors that cannot be removed through surgical means. The side effects of chemotherapy in animals are usually less severe than those seen in humans, as veterinarians tend to use lower doses of medication and combine fewer drugs.
The main goal of chemotherapy, or any therapeutic treatment, is to improve each pet’s quality of life. Chemotherapy can be very beneficial in slowing the progression of cancer and reducing the discomfort caused by the disease. If you would like to learn more about this contact Animal Medical Center of New England at (866) 523-0217.
DISCLAIMER: The materials available at this website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing medical advice. You should contact your veterinarian to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem. Use and access to this website or any of the links contained within the site do not create a veterinarian-client relationship. The opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of AMC or any individual veterinarian or medical professional.
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