One of the oldest and most commonly used forms of cancer therapy

• Complete cancer removal: this is often the standard process and often the only form of treatment for some malignant and most benign cancers. The goal of this surgery is to remove as many cancerous tumor cells as possible in an attempt to cure the pet. 

• Debunking (partial removal of cancer): some cancers are too large or are located in areas that surgery alone cannot remove. For these cases, surgery is used to remove as much cancer as possible without causing damage to surrounding vital structures and normal tissues. Cancer cells that are leftover often get treated with radiation or chemotherapy. 

• Exploratory surgery: there are times when cancer is located within body cavities such as the chest or abdomen, and a surgeon often uses surgery to explore and get a better look at the tumor to make a decision on the right course of action.

Prioritizing post-operative care for best surgical outcomes

Your pet may experience mild, moderate, or severe pain after surgery, for which reason your veterinary team employs both preventative and multi-modal pain management techniques and protocols to help your pet heal with the magnitude of surgical trauma they may experience. These protocols require different degrees of care depending on the severity of the surgical procedure needed. However, there are some common things you will see as part of our surgery recovery care routine, which include medication, an Elizabethan collar, and possible bandages. Most surgical wounds require little to no extra care outside the instructions we share and simple hygiene.

Each specific oncology surgery and tumor type has its own set of potential complications. Though not all of these complications are predictable, unforeseen complications are uncommon. If there are risk factors present, our team takes supportive measures before, during, and after the surgery and makes sure to communicate them to each pet parent. 

Follow-up care also varies based on the type of cancer the pet is experiencing, the likelihood of cancer spread, and how complete the surgical removal process was. A follow-up examination and testing to monitor your pet for recurring cancer may be recommended. The type of testing and frequency of visits needed after surgery will differ on a case-by-case basis and will be shared with pet owners individually.