National Pet Cancer

(Google Image) 

By Terry Orr

For as far back as I can remember, our families have always had pets.  On the farm there we cats in the barn (tending to the mice); dogs that help with some of the chores and notified us when someone was visiting; and a wide variety of other creatures.  Those of us who lived in the city or suburbs had dogs and cats as primary pet – but also had hamsters, guinea pigs, birds, and other interesting pets.

(Google Image) 

It wasn’t until Pat and I got our Siamese cats (Bambi and Thumper) in the late 70’s that we became aware of cancer in our pets.  We lost Thumper to a stroke and Bambi to cancer.  A few years later – we lost two other cats to cancer – Lady and Tramp.  Each of these cats for the most part had long and healthy lives and not forgotten.

(Google Image) 

Cancer is a disease that all too commonly affects our pets.  While no animal is immune from this disease, there are some things that you can to do lessen your pet’s chances of developing cancer (Source: Plum Street Pet Clinic Blog).

• Provide good nutrition and weight management for your pet.  Overweight animals and people are at an increased risk of developing cancer.
• Know your pet’s risk factors.  If you have a purebred pet, be sure you know what types of cancer are most common in the breed and what signs to watch out for.
• Spay or neuter your pet.  It is never too late, and spaying/neutering has been shown to prevent or reduce the risk of certain types of cancer including breast cancer.
• Try to keep your pet “clean.”  Do not expose your animal to pesticides, herbicides, asbestos, or cigarette smoke.  For that matter, don’t expose yourself, either!
• Keep up on wellness visits.  Make sure your pet comes to see us at least once a year to help catch problems early in process.

(Google Image) 

According to WebMD - Cancer and diabetes are two important diseases the veterinarians at The Animal Medical Center treat every day.

(Google Image) 

According to VPI, a pet insurance company, their top ten insurance claims for pet cancer treatment include tumors we veterinary oncologists commonly treat.

• Lymphoma or lymph sarcoma
• Malignant skin cancer
• Splenic cancer
• Bone or joint cancer
• Liver caner
• Chest cancer
• Bladder cancer
• Brain of spinal cord cancer
• Mouth cancer
• Cancer of the cells lining the inside of the chest and abdomen

(Google Image) 

10 Common Signs of Cancer in Small Animals according to Veterinary Cancer Society (VCS):

1. Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow.
2. Sores that do not heal.
3. Weight loss.
4. Loss of appetite.
5. Bleeding or discharge from anybody opening.
6. Offensive odor
7. Difficulty eating or swallowing
8. Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
9. Persistent lameness or stiffness
10. Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating

(Google Image) 

So fellow pet owners, please ensure your Pet gets their annual check-up!

References and Links:

• http://www.plumstreetpet.com/blog/2011/11/pet-cancer-awareness-month/
• http://blogs.webmd.com/pet-tales/2012/11/national-pet-cancer-awareness-month.html
• http://www.vetcancersociety.org/10-common-signs-of-cancer-in-small-animals/

(Google Image) 

Prostate Health and Cancer Awareness Month

By Diane Forrest, RN

What is a prostate and what does it do?  Since this is Prostate health and cancer awareness month, I thought I would share some facts with you. 

Some of you may have become acquainted with the prostate upon hearing about the deaths of men like Telly Savalas, Merv Griffin, Dan Fogelberg, one of my favorite singers, or Bill Bixby, also know for his role in The Hulk.  Or you may have heard about it from the survivors such as Robert De Niro, Rudy Guiliani, Nelson Mandella or Harry Belefonte, to name a few.

The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system that secretes seminal fluids.  This fluid helps protect DNA and keeps the sperm safe during ejaculation.  Some of the disorders that can occur with the prostate include:

• Prostatitis, which is inflammation of the Prostate gland cause by infection.  there are 3 types of Prostatis,
• Bacterial prostatitis
• Nonbacterial prostatitis
• Prostatodynia

Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Pain in lower back
• Aching muscles
• Fatigue
• Frequent or painful urination
• Occasional discomfort in the testicles, urethra, lower abdomen, and back
• Discharge from the urethra, especially during first bowel movement of the day
• Blood or urine in ejaculate
• Low sperm count
• Sexual difficulties
• Frequent urination

Treatment involves either antibiotics or surgery

Prostate Cancer is another disorder of the Prostate.  It is the second leading cause of death by cancer in men, the first being lung.  It is recommended that men have annual prostate exams by the time they are 50, or if there is a family history of Prostate cancer, begin testing at the age of 40.  Tests include a PSA blood test, rectal exam, and in March a urine test was introduced that is less invasive and expected to give results within five minutes. The test is more accurate, less invasive, and gives far fewer false positives than PSA test.  Prostate Cancer is treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and has a high survival rate if detected early.

So if you are a man, or have male friends or family members, encourage them to have  annual exams or visit their doctor if they experience any of the above symptoms.  Early detection is the key to an early cure.

Brain Tumor Action Week 2011

May 4 - 10, 2011

A tumor is simply an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).

In general, tumors occur when cells divide excessively in the body. Typically, cell division is strictly controlled. New cells are created to replace older ones or to perform new functions. Cells that are damaged or no longer needed die to make room for healthy replacements. If the balance of cell division and death is disturbed, a tumor may form.

A brain tumor is very serious because they develop in an area where space is limited, and early detection is uncommon because of the protection from the skull.  For that reason they are not diagnosed until late in their development.

The signs and symptoms of brain tumors depends on where they are located in the brain.   There could be physical signs such as:

·       Unexplained Nausea and vomiting

·       Headaches

·       Altered states of Consciousness

·       bulging at the area

·       Vision Problems

·       Partial Paralysis

Cognitive Signs and Symptoms would include:

• Impaired Judgment
• Memory Loss
• Lack of Recognition
• Personality or Emotional Changes

Diagnosis

• Brain Tumors are difficult to diagnose because the signs and symptoms mimic so many other problems, especially in the elderly.   They are attributed to simply "getting older".
• They are detected by using an electroencephalography ( EEG).
• CT Scans
• MRI's

Treatment

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation
• Or sometimes the best course of treatment depending on the location is to do nothing.

Each of the 3 times my husband was hospitalized his signs included unable to arouse.  His admitting diagnosis was change in mental status.  One of the first tests they ran was the CT and EEG to rule out any brain disorders.  I have to admit that this always frustrated me as being a nurse I knew that my husband (who was paralyzed and had been bedridden) was suffering from a severe kidney infection, however after researching for this article I now understand why these tests were included in his evaluation.  Early detection is essential for a better chance of recovery.

Last week I received a call from an old friend.  He told me that his wife, who is in her 70's had just had brain surgery for a brain tumor.  There had been no real alarming signs, she had just been being forgetful and getting confused.  Something anyone would normally expect from someone in their 70's.  Luckily they reported these changes to their doctor who ordered the exams and the tumor was detected.   The surgery was a success, and after a few weeks of recovery at the hospital in Baton Rouge, she was transferred to the local Rehab hospital to complete her recovery and return home to her husband.

If you notice any of these symptoms in yourself or others around you, don't rule out a brain tumor.  Early detection is the key to a fast and complete recovery.

http://www.abta.org/

http://www.braintumorfoundation.org/

Brain Tumor Action Week