Cancer

The number of animals diagnosed with neoplasia has increased considerably in the last years. Professionals in the veterinary field attribute this occurrence to modern advanced care for animals in different areas such as diagnosis techniques and nutrition, both contributing to a longer life, and consequently a higher chance to develop neoplasia, since it occurs predominantly in older animals.

The word neoplasia, is from the Greek, literally means new growth, and this new growth is a neoplasm. The term tumour was originally given to describe the swelling caused by inflammation. Neoplasia can also induce swelling; however, over time, the non-neoplastic use of the term tumour was abandoned, in current times it means only neoplasia. Oncology (from Greek, oncos = tumour) refers to the study of tumours or neoplasias. The word cancer is commonly used to designate malignant tumours. Although the old origins of this term are very uncertain, it probably derives from the Latin cancer, crab, presumably by the fact of cancer “sticks to any part and grabs in an obstinate way, like crab”. The most accepted definition for neoplasm was proposed by an English oncologist called Willis. "A neoplasm is an abnormal mass of tissue, the growth of which is uncoordinated with that of normal tissues, and that persists in the same excessive manner after the cessation of the stimulus which evoked the change".  (Cotran, R. S., Kumar, V., Collins, T. Robbins Basic Pathology.2000, p.233-234)

Besides the strict technical definition, cancer is a process and not a definite disease. When treating a patient diagnosed with cancer, we are treating the whole individual experiencing a unique process with focus in malignant disease.

Techniques such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and some forms of surgery can be very demanding for the organism as a whole, although being effective against tumour growth. The challenge approaching cancer is re-establish balance and improve quality of life while being effective against the tumour.

Our current planned project is to research the treatment of 50 dogs that have cancer, we are in urgent needs of funds to support this work, if you can help please contact us, click here for details.