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36 AS it becomes more and more common for pets to be regarded more as family members rather than simply as animals, it is not surprising that the medical care now available for our four- legged friends is more advanced than ever before. Capabilities in veterinary medicine have grown exponentially, including in the field of oncology. After speaking with Dr. Richard Segaloff at VCA South Shore Animal Hospital in South Weymouth, it is comforting to know that while cancer and chemotherapy remain two of the most frightening words that any person can hear regarding themselves or their pet, there are now many more treatment options available for our pets with cancer than ever before. It was the diagnosis of cancer in his own dog that led Dr. Segaloff to eventually become a veterinarian in the Department of Oncology at VCA South Shore. This occurred while he was in veterinary school, and it was during that time that he first learned about treating dogs with cancer with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Fortunately, in the case of his dog, the cancer was caught early, responded completely to treatment, and did not return. His beloved pet would unfortunately develop another type of tumor at a later date, but it was the initial treatment that allowed Dr. Segaloff and his dog to enjoy more quality time together. "I tell everybody that story," said Dr. Segaloff. "We always have to look at the big picture. When we detect cancer, we are not just treating a tumor - we are treating a family member. We have to look at each individual animal's quality of life. We have to ask if there are any other medical issues that are affecting the animal's activity level and overall happiness. If not for this disease, is everything else fine? Before treating an animal for cancer, we must always evaluate the entire animal and situation." When comparing animals to people when it comes to a diagnosis of cancer, Dr. Segaloff said that the biggest difference for him as a veterinary oncologist is the focus on the animal's quality of life. "We definitely see similarities between animals and people, including the research studies that are conducted for both. Most of the diseases that we see and treat in animals are seen in humans as well, and the treatments are often very similar. While the goal is to treat our pets for their medical issues and to have them with us for as long as possible, we also want them to maintain a high quality of life." As for some common forms of cancer that are seen in pets, Dr. Segaloff said that mast cell tumors are the most common malignant skin tumors in dogs. Thankfully, they are usually very treatable and often curable. He also noted that lymphoma is the most common form of cancer in cats, that bone tumors are more prevalent in large breed than small breed dogs and that some skin tumors can be related to exposure to sunlight, such as squamous cell carcinoma in white cats. Since pets share our environment, they are exposed to many of the same risk factors as humans. Dr. Segaloff reiterated that the diagnosis and treatment of cancer remains a rapidly changing field in both humans and in animals. As a pet owner myself, I asked Dr. Segaloff if there are certain warning signs to watch for when it comes to cancer. "Unfortunately," he said, "a lot of cancers are not associated with any specific findings with bloodwork. Some of the things to watch for are loss of appetite, or perhaps weight loss in an animal by Rob Kelley Pa ent ge ng ready for a CT scan as part of an advanced diagnos c workup. Dr. Segaloff and VCA South Shore Provide Top Notch Care in Veterinary Oncology