The primary goal in medical oncology is the improvement or maintenance of a good quality of life while diagnosing and treating cancer.  The primary tool of the medical oncologist is drug therapy given in tune with each patient’s needs and the wishes of the pet owner.  It’s as much an art as it is a science.  We find that owners are very grateful to be given information even when they decide not to pursue treatment.  They want to feel comfortable that they have gone the extra mile in seeking care for their pet.

Close collaboration exists between this service, radiation oncology and surgery.  It’s not uncommon for a pet to be seen by 2-3 specialists during their initial examination and follow up.  The patient is best served by a thorough examination of the record, a physical exam, and preliminary diagnostics to include cytology, biopsy,  and radiography.  All of these bits of information provide pieces of a puzzle. When the pieces come together a plan can be constructed with consideration of the owner’s goals.

Most medical oncology patients return regularly for ongoing chemotherapy.  The nursing staff questions the owner about the previous response to the drugs and the overall health of the patient.  This information will be used to adjust that day’s treatment.

Definitive diagnosis of the type of cancer in the patient depends on accurate cytology or biopsy techniques and interpretation.    Diagnoses can often be made by our oncologists.  For more challenging cases, cytology samples are prepared and interpreted in our building by a clinical pathologist at Antech.  Results of biopsies usually require 2-3 business days to return.

Proper catheter placement is key to avoiding extravasation and local tissue inflammation, pain and damage.  Catheterization becomes more challenging over time as venous access becomes harder to find.  The oncologist determines the course of therapy at the time of each visit.  The nursing staff will take these orders, administer the medications, and discuss home care instructions with the owners.