Cancer treatment for dogs and humans!
One of the most devastating diagnosis that someone can receive is hearing that you or a loved one has cancer. The diagnosis of cancer in your beloved dog can be just as horrible.
However, with the medical advances today for humans, many of the same treatments may be suitable for dogs. For example, a common cancer in dogs is melanoma. In dogs, it usually begins in the mouth and spreads very quickly. The dog usually dies in one to five months after the dog is diagnosed. A canine cancer vaccine is currently being developed and tested that could change the mortality rate for dogs with this disease. Stacy Santoro, a veterinary oncologist in Florida, says “Overall, it’s been shown to significantly prolong survival in dogs with oral melanoma.” Santoro adds, “The point of it is to stimulate their own immune system to recognize tumor cells and then kill those affected cells.” It is beleived that with the vaccine and follow up radiation, the dog’s life expectancy could increase three fold. However, the treatments are expensive. The vaccine with radiation runs between $4000 and $5000.
Dogs will also be able to recieve a treatment that humans have been receiving for years to treat the cancer known as lymphoma. The Vancouver Sun recently reported that a procedure for a bone marrow transplant will be available to dogs with the cancer mentioned above beginning this summer. For years, bone marrow transplants have been performed on dogs experimentally in the hopes of helping humans. Well, it has now come full circle and we are finally able to give this procedure to dogs to help increase their quality of life and increase the lifespan of the dog. Again, the treatment is expensive as it can cost up to $20,000. But for some dog owners, this would be a small price to pay for their dog to be a part of their lives for a longer time.
If you have not considered health care insurance for your pet, there are many companies that offer it at a nominal charge. It could save pet owners thousands of dollars, so take the time and look into it.
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