Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in older pets. According to the Animal Cancer Foundation, 6 million cats and dogs will be diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone each year.  

Cancer used to be a death sentence for pets, but recent advances in feline cancer research have made treatment possible in many cases. Just like with human cancers, early detection is key to successful treatment. Depending on the type of cancer, treatment options may include sugery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Whether you choose aggressive treatment for your pet's cancer, or whether you elect to provide palliative care, which focuses on providing quality of life for the ill cat as well as the cat's caregiver, caring for the feline cancer patient is a team effort that involves the cat's guardian, her veterinarian and staff, and, if needed, a social worker or bereavement counselor.

I recently had a chance to speak with Conor J. McNeill, DVM, Dipl. ACVIM (Oncology), an oncolgist at the Hope Center for Advanced Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, VA. Dr. McNeill had just finished giving a new chemotherapy drug to a 12-year-old cat with advanced lung cancer. The cat had been receiving chemotherapy for six months with several different drugs which kept the cancer at bay, but then the tumor would start to grow again. The new drug shrank the tumor with just one dose, and Dr. McNeill was still smiling when he sat down to talk with me.

Many pet guardians balk at the thought of putting their cat through chemotherapy. "Don't be fearful of chemo," said Dr. McNeill. "Chemotherapy in animals has few or no side effects." Dr. McNeill frequently sees cat guardians who have been through cancer treatment themselves, and they don't want to relive their own experience through their beloved cat. Most pets tolerate chemotherapy extremely well, and Dr. McNeill is proactive about treating possible side effects such as pain and nausea. "This becomes especially important with cats," says McNeill, "since they're so good at hiding symptoms."

Because cats are masters at not showing pain or other signs of illness and often continue to act as if nothing is wrong, even when something most definitely is, Dr. McNeill depends on the cat's guardian to get a complete picture of how the cat is doing. "In this regard, it's very much like pediatric medicine," says McNeill. "We have to rely on the client to tell us what the cat is doing at home. Is she vomiting, how frequently, what is her activity level, how is she eating?" This is where caring for the animal cancer patient becomes a team approach.

This team approach also becomes important when it comes to deciding whether to pursue aggressive treatment, or whether to simply keep the pet comfortable for as long as possible. The decision involves multiple factors, including prognosis, age and general health status of the patient, and cost of treatment. According to Dr. McNeill, "one to one and a half years is considered a long term survival time," with six months considered a good survival time. Cost of treatment can vary widely, ranging from $50 a month for palliative care to several thousand dollars over a period of six months.

There is no right or wong decision. "We discuss all options with the client, and we find a budget that is comfortable for them. For some, this may mean full-blown chemotherapy or radiation, for others, it may simply mean using steroids and treating for pain to keep the cat comfortable for a few more weeks," says Dr. McNeill.

Dr. McNeill's main goal is always the comfort of the pet. "We want to be sure that our patients don't suffer," he says. "Our goal is for them to be comfortable, pain free, and willing to eat on their own."

In most cancer cases, the time will come when a pet guardian will have to face the dreaded euthanasia decision. Often, palliative care can give a client additional time to come to terms with the idea that the end is coming. "We can't decide for them," says Dr. McNeill. Once a case reaches this stage, a client may be more comfortable with their regular veterinarian. Clients may want to consider in home euthanasia, rather than taking the pe to the clinic. Even though few vets advertise this service, many will perform it when requested. You can find veterinarians who perform in home euthanasias through the  In Home Pet Euthanasia Directory or the American Association of Housecall Veterinarians.

Receiving a cancer diagnosis for a beloved pet is frightening and stressful, but pet guardians don't have to go through it alone. Working together with their veterinary team, caring for a pet with cancer does not have to be the end - it can be the beginning of a deepening, peaceful, final phase of life for both pet and human.

© Ingrid King 2013, All Rights Reserved  

Photo by Quole Pejorian, Flickr Creative Commons 

Heart health. Take a minute and consider what that means to you. What comes up? Is it physical, emotional, spiritual? I believe that it is all of these, and that in fact, one "component" of heart well-being is dependent upon the well-being of the other components to be a healthy and well-functioning whole.

Physical heart health depends on many factors including a healthy diet and proper exercise. A diet that includes a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables will provide the phytonutrients and antioxidants that are critical for the health of all our tissues, including the heart. Getting sufficient "good fats", especially omega 3's, is important for the entire cardiovascular system. Omega 3's are beneficial in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, they serve as mild blood thinners and are useful for people with elevated blood pressure. Magnesium is another critical factor in cardiovascular health, and many Americans are magnesium deficient. The best source of magnesium is dark green leafy vegetables, but some people need additional supplementation. CoQ10 is involved in the generation of energy in the cell. If you are taking Statin drugs for elevated cholesterol, your stores of CoQ10 are likely depleted. Supplementation with CoQ10 can be beneficial in this case (and also in other cases). Other supplements that are important in cardiovascular well-being, include carnitine, plant sterols and potassium. It is a good idea to have a discussion about your personal risks and needs with your physician. They can guide you in developing a personalized nutrient supplementation plan for your own health.

Emotional health can have a profound impact on our overall health, especially our heart health. Just consider the fact that historically, more people suffer heart attacks early Monday morning than any other time in the week. Is that just a coincidence? I think not. Clearly, stress plays a major role in our health or lack of health. Even if we are often in stressful situations that we cannot change, we CAN change how we each respond to stress, and learn techniques to handle our stress in ways that prevent the stress from ruling our lives. Yoga is an excellent place to start, as working with the breath and the postures affords a way to help the body deal with stress differently.

Meditation is another excellent way to handle stress, and it can help us on a more spiritual level too. Being connected to something larger than ourselves, whatever form that might take, helps keep us more balanced and better able to deal with the stressful situations that come our way.

So take some time to reflect on your overall heart health, consult your physician and come up with a personal wellness plan to make your heart healthier.....physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Martha Calihan, MD is board certified in family medicine and holistic medicine. She is licensed to practice acupuncture and is also trained in both Mind-Body Medicine and Functional Medicine. Dr. Calihan practices at Integrative Family Medicine Center in Leesburg, VA.  

Photo: morguefile.com