SURGICAL ONCOLOGY

Surgery is a key strategy for managing cancer in small animals. Surgical removal of the malignant tumor sometimes offers the best chance for a cure. Other times, surgery is useful for diagnostics, palliation (reducing pain and symptoms), and debulking (partial removal of a tumor to make chemotherapy or radiotherapy more effective) when a cure is not possible. Part of a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of pet cancer, surgery may be combined with preoperative and/or postoperative therapies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy) to maximize patient benefits and cure rates while minimizing adverse side effects.

If your pet needs surgery for cancer treatment, together we will weigh the risks and factors such as stage of the disease, quality of life after surgery, prognosis, concurrent diseases, and costs, so you can make an informed decision.