When the bad news is your dog has cancer, the good news is there are many treatment options that may help your pup conquer or live with the cancer. While there is no definitive cure for many inva sive or systemic cancers, more treatments are being developed and approved every day that will potentially slow or stop the progression of cancer, according to Rodney Page, MS, DVM, director of the Comparative Cancer Program at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

"More than half the breast cancers seen in dogs can be cured with surgery," Page says. "In other instances treatments can put the cancer into remission." Page adds that some leukemias can be controlled by chemotherapy for one to two years. For example, there is a 75 to 80 percent success rate of remission when treating lymphoma with chemotherapy.

Quality of life

Like their human companions, dogs that get cancer, which is an uncontrolled growth of cells that may spread to other sites, can receive treatments designed to kill existing cancer cells and prevent new ones from developing. "When a dog is diagnosed with cancer we recommend treatments to maintain a high quality of life for as long as possible," Page says. Of course, quality of life means different things to different people, and since the dog can't speak for himself it's a decision an owner will have to make using his or her best judgment. For example, one person may look at quality of life as minimizing the symptoms, while others may view quality as providing a return to the level of health and activity prior to the diagnosis. Dogs generally tolerate the treatments better than their human counterparts, and in particular recover from surgery much more rapidly.

In addition to quality of life issues, the financial aspects of treatment must be considered. Before your dog starts any treatment, he'll receive a variety of tests including a complete blood profile, urinalysis, and chest x-ray. These will be done to find out whether the cancer has spread and to learn if he can tol erate anesthesia, if necessary. The cost of a full staging evaluation can run $300 to $500 for some dogs with cancer. The cost of treatment varies considerably.

Treatment options

There are many treatment options to choose from, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and alternative treatments. Pain control and supportive treatment such as nutrition management also are important. The treatment recommended will depend on the type of cancer diagnosed, its stage, and its location. In some instances your veterinarian may suggest one treatment, while in another he may recommend combination of one, two, or three treatments. Regardless of the treatment option, success is best when the cancer is detected early and has not metastasized (spread to another spot in the body).

Surgery:

Surgical removal of certain types of tumors may be the best way to stop the cancer in its track. While the risks of cancer surgery are the same as those with other surgeries (reaction to anesthesia, infection), there are additional perils, including the chance that some of the tumor may be left behind. "It is also possible that the tumor can spread along the surgical site (incision)," says Page. He advises that tools be switched during surgery after the tumor is removed, and that the surgical area be flushed with saline before the incision is closed.

Chemotherapy:

Lymphoma is the most responsive cancer to chemotherapy, with an average survival rate of 12 to 14 months. "Treatment is directed to maintain quality of life, not to kill the cancer with toxic doses," says Page, who adds it's important for owners to keep an open mind about chemotherapy since the side effects are not the same as in humans. "Fewer than 20 percent of dogs have reactions that require supportive treatment," he says, adding that dogs do not usually lose their hair or get oral ulcerations from chemotherapy. Occasionally, however, they may get mild gastrointestinal tract upset, vomiting, or diarrhea, most of the drugs are given intravenously, at tolerable doses, over a longer period of time," Page explains. Before each treatment a blood test is done to monitor white blood cell count, as well as liver an kidney function.

Many of the chemotherapy drugs are similar to those used in humans. They include Vincristine, Cytoxan, and Adriamycin. "There are 15 to 20 drugs that are well studied and used routinely in dogs," Page says. Treatment is given either once a week or once every three weeks, and each treatment lasts about 15-60 minutes.

Radiation:

There are essentially two different types of radiation therapies. The most common type is teletherapy, which radiates from an external source. Radiation, which is not painful, kills cancer cells so that they cannot divide. Treatment can vary from once a day for three weeks or every other day for four to six weeks, and the side effects can include hair loss and irritation to the skin surface and mucous membranes at the radiation site. A mold is made of the dog in the position he will have to be when receiving radiation to ensure the precise spot is radiated each time. Because the dog will have to remain still during exposure, he is anesthetized. The treatment can last 10-30 minutes.

Brachytherapy is a less common form of radiation, in which tiny radioactive beads are inserted into the tumor. Page says deep-seated tumors, such as those in the prostate, or solid tumors that cannot be removed surgically, are the best tumors to treat this way. An advantage to treating dogs with brachytherapy is that a precise dose can be delivered to the tumor with one treatment. Once the correct level has been reached the beads are removed and treatment is completed.

In addition, the treatment is shorter than teletherapy and the dog does not have to receive repeated anesthesia. The downside to this treatment is that because it takes several days and the beads continuously emit a low-level dose of radiation, the dog must be kept in isolation. Brachytherapy is not currently available in many places.

Alternative medicine:

The role of alternative therapy for cancer control is being actively investigated in humans and in dogs. Page says that while alternative medicine treatments alone may not eliminate cancer, there may be instances where therapies such as acupuncture or natural products can be used to complement traditional treatments. For example, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved the use of aloe vera to treat cancer in dogs and cats. Injected into the animals, it accelerates wound healing, is non-toxic, and reduces inflammation resulting from radiation therapy during cancer treatment. Specific nutrients or herbal extracts may improve a dog's overall health and thereby improve chances of successfully fighting the cancer. But the studies to prove these methods work are still in progress.

Other considerations:

If your dog develops cancer and needs treatment, be sure your veterinarian is skilled to perform the necessary procedure,. Make sure that if your dog undergoes chemotherapy you consult with your veterinarian before giving him any medications, including heartworm, flea prevention drugs, and vaccinations. Many routine medications can interfere with treatment or not be effective. It's important that you and your veterinarian have the most up-to-date information on the type of cancer your dog has and treatment options. Like so many things in the medical world, the opportunities are changing daily. If possible, talk with a board certified veterinary oncologist or surgeon. He or she will have all the facts you need to make an informed decision on behalf of your best friend.