VETERINARY ONCOLOGY

REVIEW PAPER: What is cancer ,its causes and treatments in pets

Bakhtawar Khalid Kerio
Veterinary Pathology ,Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam

Date:
Abstract. Cancer constitutes the major heath problem both in human and medicine that deals
with cancer diagnosis and treatment in animals. Cancer is a major cause of death in pet animals.
Companion animals such as dogs and cats suffer from many of the same types of cancer as human.
Cancer research with dogs has helped in the design of clinical trials for cancer therapy for humans.
Human animal connections in cancer research could benefit both humans and animals with cancer in
the future.
Key words: cancer; cancer causes; treatments;

Introduction
A cancer is an abnormal growth of cells usually derived from a single abnormal cell. The cells have
lost normal control mechanisms and thus are able to multiply continuously , invade nearby tissues,
migrate to distant part of the body ,and promote the growth of new blood vessels from which the
cells derive nutrients. Cancerous cells can develop from any tissue within the body. As cancerous
cells grow and multiply , they form a mass of cancerous tissue called a tumor , that attack and
destroys normal adjacent tissues. The term tumor refers to an abnormal growth or mass. Tumors
can be cancerous or noncancerous . cancerous cells from the primary site can spread throughout
the body.

Types of cancer
Leukemias & lymphomas; are cancers of the blood and blood forming tissues and cells
of the immune system. Leukemias arise from blood forming cells and crowd out the production of
normal blood cells in the bone marrow. Cancer cells from lymphomas expand lymph nodes ,
producing large masses in the armpit, groin, abdomen, or chest.

Carcinomas; are cancer of cells that line the skin, lungs , digestive tract, and internal organs.
Examples of carcinomas are cancer of the skin, lungs, colon, stomach , breasts, prostate, and thyroid
gland. Typically, carcinomas occur more often in older than in younger people.

Sarcomas; are cancer of mesodermal cells. Mesodermal cells normally form muscles, blood
vessels, bone, and connective tissue. Examples of sarcomas are leiomyosarcoma(cancer of smooth
muscle that is found in the wall of digestive organs) and osteosarcoma (bone cancer ). Typically,
sarcomas occur more often in younger than in older people.

Causes of cancer
Cancer is not a new disease. Physician have been aware of cancer in humans for over 2,000 years.
Veterinarians know less about the specifics of cancer in animals because much less research has been
done on malignances in animals. The specific causes of some cancers have been identified by
veterinary researchers. Almost all species of domestic animals develop squamous cell carcinoma.
Prolonged exposure to the ultraviolet light that is present in sunlight is a significant risk factor.
Environmental carcinogen, such as those found in cigarette smoke, have been shown to contribute
to the development of squamous cell carcinomas found in mouths of cats. Viruses are known causes
of some cancers in pets. For example, feline leukemia virus is a common cause of death in cats.
Cancer occurs more frequently in older humans and animals . while it is possible that the weakening
of the immune system due to age. Some cancers are sexually transmitted. The genital cancer of dogs
known as canine transmissible venereal tumor is transmitted during sexual intercourse.

Cancer treatment
There are 3 common treatment options for animal cancer: surgery, chemotherapy , and radiation
therapy. The goal of any cancer treatment program is to completely and permanently eradicate the
cancer. Surgery can completely cure the animal. Surgery is one of the oldest forms of cancer
treatment and frequently the most effective ones. Today surgery may be combined with radiation
therapy and or chemotherapy, depending on the characteristics of the case. A biopsy is a surgical
procedure in which a piece of a tumor is removed for study and analysis by a pathologist. Pain
management is an important part of surgical treatment . After the surgery , medication is usually
provide to reduce pain and make the animal more comfortable.
One of the most common treatments for cancer in both humans and animals is radiation therapy.
This treatment is some time also called x-ray therapy or cobalt therapy. Cancer cells divide more
frequently than normal cells. Cancer cells also have a weakness; they do not recover from radiation
damage as quickly or completely as normal cells. Radiation works as a treatment for cancer because
it kills cells that divide rapidly or , in other cases, because it damages the cancer cells so severely that
they cannot divide and grow. Radiation therapist work to deliver just enough radiation to the cancer
cells to destroy or injure them and prevent them from reproducing. Radiation therapy is often used
in addition to treatment with surgery or chemotherapy or both. Radiation therapy is not
administered in a single ‘zap’. It is delivered in a series of doses over an extended period. There are
some recognized adverse effects from radiation therapy , dry eyes , sore mouth, inflammation or
irritation of the lining of mouth , reduce eating , nausea , diarrhea.
Certain drugs destroy cancer cells. This type of treatment is called chemotherapy . it can be used to
manage and treat several types of cancer. when it is used, the most common treatment goal is to
shrink, stop the growth of, or destroy the cancer without negative effects on the quality of life for
the animal. A chemotherapy drug would kill cancer cells in an animal’s body without harming normal
healthy cells. Chemotherapy drugs are delivered either through the mouth or by injection. If
injection is used it can be into a vein , muscle or sub cut . the delivery method will be selected with
comfort. Hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy among people, less common in pets.
Combination therapy refers to use of 2 or more treatment options in the fight against cancer.
Combination therapy is the most frequently used.

Conclusions
Much research remains to be done about cancers of all kinds in both humans and animals. As we
gain new information about the causes of cancer, the out look for pets with cancer will be much
more hopeful and our treatment of pets with cancer will improve. In the future , we hope to both
prevent and cure cancer in our pets.

References
Cancer Treatment By Manuals Staff
Overview of cancer by Robert Peter Gale, MD, PHD, Imperial College London
Comparative oncology: Integrating human and veterinary medicine by Faheem sultan and Bilal Ahmed Ganaie