FAQs – Animal Cancer Center of Texas

210-962-5388 ext. 3

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is a board-certified oncologist?

A veterinarian that is a board-certified oncologist has completed extensive training after graduating from veterinary school. This training most often involves a rotating internship to have training amongst many different specialties, potentially a specialized oncology internship, and completion of an approved residency training program specifically focused on oncology (usually 3 years). To become board-certified, the veterinarian must then pass a series of formal examinations and have a research publication in a peer-reviewed veterinary journal. Oncologists are certified through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and thus are designated with the acronym ACVIM-O. This specialized and focused training allows the oncologist to be the leading expert on your pet’s cancer and will help you to make the best decisions for your pet.

How do I get a referral to the Animal Cancer Center of Texas?

A referral from your primary care veterinarian is required for a consultation appointment at the Animal Cancer Center of Texas. Once a cancer diagnosis is made or highly suspected, your veterinarian can contact us to provide the referral information and your pet’s medical records, including any diagnostic testing results. Once we receive this information, we will schedule an appointment with one of our board-certified oncologists.

What is the cost of the oncology consultation?

The consultation fee for new patients is $200.00. This includes a physical examination, review of all your pet’s medical records that have been provided to us, discussion of the diagnosis, discussion of any additional diagnostic testing recommendations, and discussion of various treatment options available for your pet. We will review detailed estimates for any additional testing and treatments that we discuss and will obtain your approval before moving forward with your pet’s specific plan.

What are the most common cancers in dogs and cats?

Cancer is very common in our pets. One in four dogs and one in five cats can develop cancer. The most common cancers in dogs are lymphoma, mast cell tumor, hemangiosarcoma, osteosarcoma, melanoma, mammary carcinoma (breast cancer), and transitional cell carcinoma (bladder cancer). In cats, we often see lymphoma, fibrosarcoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Please see our information pages for common cancers here.

What does the term “stage” mean?

The “stage” of the cancer is a determination of the extent of the cancer and can influence the treatment recommendations and impact your pet’s overall prognosis. The number of stages are variable amongst different types of cancers and will be discussed with your consultation. The stage of the cancer can be influenced by the primary tumor size, level of invasion into the nearby tissues, and which organs or tissues the cancer has spread to (metastasis).

What are staging tests?

After a cancer is diagnosed, additional tests are often recommended to determine if the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. These are called staging tests. These can include blood and urine testing, samples from a lymph node or other organs (cytology or biopsy), chest radiographs (x-rays), abdominal ultrasound, or a CT scan of certain areas of the body.

What does the term “grade” mean?

The grade of a tumor is determined by the appearance and behavior of cancer cells and how abnormal they are, which is seen on a tissue biopsy sample (histopathology). Tumor grade helps to determine the level of aggressiveness of a cancer and thus help with predicting overall prognosis for your pet. Tumors are most commonly graded on a scale of low, intermediate, or high or potentially Grade I, II, or III. Lower grades are more commonly associated with slower growing, less invasive, and less metastatic cancers, while higher grade tumors are usually faster growing, invasive, and more likely to metastasize.

What is the difference between cytology and biopsy (histopathology)?

Cytology is a diagnostic tool that evaluates cells on a slide visualized through a microscope. The cells are obtained from a small needle inserted into a tumor or organ. This is non-invasive, minimally painful, and often does not require sedation or anesthesia, especially with tumors on or just under the skin. Only a small layer of cells are evaluated to attempt to provide a diagnosis, not tissue. Cytology can be evaluated fairly quickly, either directly in the hospital or submitted for a pathologist interpretation in 1-2 days. It is a useful tool for information, but may not be able to determine cancerous (malignant) versus benign and may not be able to give a 100% clear diagnosis in some cases. A biopsy, known as histopathology, involves evaluation of tissue under the microscope after it has been processed in formalin for a few days. The tissue sample may be obtained with a much larger needle, a small incision in the skin (punch biopsy) with local analgesia, or through a surgical biopsy. This test provides a much higher chance for definitive diagnosis and often provides more information about a cancer (ie. grade), but is slightly more invasive for obtaining the sample and can take 5-10 days for results to be available.

What are different types of cancer treatments?

Cancer can be treated by several different therapies or combinations of treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and palliative medications. These therapies may be used alone or in combination. The treatment recommendations are very individualized based upon the pet’s cancer type, size and location, grade, and stage. Your pet may be evaluated with certain tests to obtain more information to help us determine the most appropriate treatment plan for your individual pet. We will often discuss many treatment options available to make the best decision for you and your pet.

What is “palliative” care or treatment?

Palliative care is treatment used to improve comfort and quality of life for a pet diagnosed with cancer. This may be the only option available for pets with very advanced cancers or it may be a family decision to elect palliative therapy. This can include treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy that attempt to slow progression of the cancer or reduce tumor size with a non-curative and temporary benefit. Therapies can also include medications for pain control, infection control, wound management, or management of other cancer-related symptoms. The goal of palliative care is to provide the best quality of life for patients and their families as long as possible.

What are the common side effects in pets undergoing chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a treatment often used in pets for cancer treatment. These treatments can be given intravenously, orally, or potentially into a tumor or body cavity directly. Chemotherapy works by attacking growing and actively dividing cells, thus it can target both cancer cells and some normal cells in the body. In our veterinary patients, we do not see the same severity of side effects as seen in humans. The primary side effects can involve the gastrointestinal system, blood and bone marrow cells, and occasionally hair follicle cells. Certain drugs also may cause specific damage to particular organs, such as the heart, liver or kidneys based upon the metabolism of the specific chemotherapy agent. Side effects differ for each chemotherapy drug and vary with each patient. The most commonly seen side effects include stomach upset (vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite); lethargy; changes in bloodwork such as low white blood cell counts, anemia, or low platelet counts; and occasionally hair loss in certain breeds (those that grow hair continuously) with certain chemotherapy agents. Most side effects are treatable with supportive medications and are temporary. If side effects are more severe, the treatment regimen or doses will be adjusted to improve your pet’s quality of life. Rarely, your pet may have to be hospitalized for more advanced supportive care during chemotherapy side effects.

Why am I not allowed to be present for my pet’s chemotherapy treatment administration?

Because chemotherapy drugs are considered as hazardous drugs, we are required by OSHA and the USP to protect our personnel and our patients by administering chemotherapy as safely as possible. The chemotherapy is dosed and administered in a specifically regulated space that includes special air ventilation, personal protective equipment, a regulated biosafety cabinet (often called “chemo hood”), a needleless system for chemotherapy delivery, a dedicated chemotherapy administration suite, and a secure hazardous waste disposal system. For the protection of all clients and any visitors, only the staff of the Animal Cancer Center of Texas can be present in these areas.

210-962-5388 ext. 3

Located in the SAVS Facility