| Diagnosing cancer
is something that we do at the Fairfield Veterinary Centre
on a daily basis. A very common condition with a huge range
of variations. If you consider the large number of different
cell types within the body then you will appreciate that each
one of those cell lines, blood, kidney, skin, bone, liver,
to name but a few has the potential to become cancerous.
The disease itself is terrifyingly simple. Each one of
the billions of cells that make up our body and that of
our pets is designed to reproduce and then die. This process
replenishes cells that have reached the end of their normal
working life.
Cancer cells continue to reproduce without any control.
Large numbers of cancer cells are then produced in a relatively
short space of time.
The ability of the cancer cells to spread to other parts
of the body (metastasise) is a measure of it's severity
(highly malignant). It should then become clear, for example,
that cells designed to produce bone, present within the
lungs, isn't conducive to good health!
It is interesting to note that with the high prevalence
of cancer in humans that a new "Cancer Reform Strategy"
has been unveiled by the government with the focus on prevention!
Unfortunately, trying to reduce smoking and alcohol consumption
in our pets is unlikely to be of any great value!
Specific breeds of dog are susceptible to certain types
of cancer no matter how ideal their lifestyle. The mainstay
of sussessful cancer management is to diagnose the condition
early and receive the most appropriate treatment. Regular
examination and biopsy of our pets currently remain our
most useful tools in our battle against this disease.
Next: Treating
Cancer
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