What treatments are used for pets with cancer in the UK?
It depends on the type and extent of the tumour. Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy may be used to treat the primary tumour. Chemotherapy can also be used to treat secondary tumours that have spread from the primary to other sites in the body. Occasionally other treatments may be appropriate. Successful treatment sometimes requires several different forms of therapy.

What is a veterinary oncologist?
A veterinary oncologist is specially trained to diagnose and treat cancer in animals.
This requires at least 2-3 years of further training after graduation as a vet at a university or other specialist centre.There have been no specific veterinary oncology qualifications available in the UK and so vets wishing to achieve a postgraduate oncology qualification have completed the rigorous two-year Masters degree in human clinical oncology from the Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies at Birmingham university. A European diploma in veterinary oncology is now in development.

Why might I need a veterinary oncologist?
You may need to consult with a veterinary oncologist if your pet has cancer. Veterinary oncologists can help determine the most appropriate course of treatment for your pet. Where appropriate they coordinate the patient’s treatment program with surgeons and radiotherapists and administer chemotherapy.