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37 TheSouthShoreMagazine.com that is still eating well. Dogs and cats can all develop growths, but not all growths are cancerous or malignant; especially common are benign fatty growths. We often recommend performing a fine needle aspiration procedure to sample the growth. Any time you notice a lump or a bump, it is always a good idea to have it checked out by your veterinarian." As it is also true as it relates to people, Dr. Segaloff knows that the word chemotherapy is often second only to the word cancer in terms of causing a negative reaction. "Chemotherapy can be really rough and difficult in people. The biggest difference with veterinary oncology is that pets cannot make the decisions for themselves. We often elect to make a trade off, using lower dosages and less aggressive treatments in order to minimize the risk of serious side effects. We focus on 'today.' Was today a good day? The goal is to be able to string together as many good days as possible. The goal of chemotherapy is to make our pets feel better, not worse. We are not tolerant of side effects. Thankfully, compared to people, pets suffer fewer and less severe side effects from chemotherapy – especially when we focus on the quality, rather than the quantity of life. The goal is for less than 30 percent of our patients to suffer from any side effects." When it comes to what treatment option is the best, the plan of action can vary greatly. "For some tumors, we know what works best," says Dr. Segaloff. "But, if Plan A is not right for that specific pet, we always need to have another option ready. Some pets are completely fine coming to the hospital on a weekly basis and undergoing treatments. Others may not be comfortable leaving the house, so for them, another plan must be implemented. We have to do what is best for each individual animal. My job is to present all of the options and to support the owners with their decisions - and to advocate for their pet's quality of life. People will often ask for statistics before making a final decision on how to proceed, but those statistics are averages based on results in other patients; results can differ in any individual pet. I always try to remain as optimistic as possible - but I definitely have to continue to set realistic expectations when discussing the options." As for those options, they can also vary greatly, and are based on the form of cancer with which we are dealing. Dr. Segaloff said that while surgery is often involved, it is not the only option. Chemotherapy can be the best choice when dealing with cancers that are systemic or have spread. Also, as is the case in human medicine, therapeutic options in veterinary medicine continue to improve, and there is always something new. Right now, immunotherapy is a major focus in human medicine. This is a type of therapy that helps to enable the body's own immune system battle the cancer. Immunotherapy has not been used much in the past, but is now becoming a key approach in human medicine, as it facilitates the body's ability to recognize cancer cells as 'bad' or 'foreign' and helps to enable the immune system to effectively fight against those 'foreign' cells. Great strides have been made in the field of veterinary oncology, especially over the past 15 to 20 years. Dr. Segaloff said that he definitely notices the improvements both in therapeutic options and outcomes. "As pets are more commonly seen as being members of the family, there is a greater focus on providing more complete medical care. People recognize the value of keeping their pets happy and healthy. As many people now consider their pets as companions, they look forward to providing them with the best care possible." SERVICES AVAILABLE 24 HOURS: 781-337-6622 595 COLUMBIAN STREET, SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA 02190 VCAsouthshore.com • Avian and Exo c Animal Medicine • Cardiology • Den stry • Dermatology • Diagnos c Imaging (X-Ray, Ultrasound, CT and MRI) • Emergency and Cri cal Care Medicine • Internal Medicine • Neurology and Neurosurgery • Oncology • Ophthalmology • Pain Management • Rehabilita on Therapy • Surgery (So Tissue and Orthopedic) • Wellness Mon-Fri: 7:00am-9:00pm Sat: 9:00am-5:00pm Sun: 9:00am-4:00pm Although patients are seen on an appointment basis, times available for the various specialty services will vary. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergencies. VCA South Shore (Weymouth) Animal Hospital