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The War on Cancer

Dr. Robertson

John Robertson VMD, PhD
Director of CeCO

Cancer is a word that often evokes a feeling of dread in most people. When a beloved pet is affected with this life-threatening disease, its owner faces difficult decisions about treatment options. The veterinarian making the diagnosis knows that therapy may be difficult and costly, and ultimately just extend the animal's life for a few months. Unfortunately, when the word 'cancer' is spoken, there is rarely a happy outcome.

Over the past 30 years, veterinarians have succeeded in extending the lives of domesticated animals in large part by controlling common infectious diseases and improving nutrition. However, animals that live longer are more likely to develop tumors. It is only during the last few decades that researchers have begun to piece together the puzzle of cancer. We now understand that cancer is fundamentally caused by the mutation of critical genes that control cell growth, division and differentation. When cells express these mutations, they begin to proliferate in an uncontrolled manner, which is the hallmark of cancer.

Cancer affects all species of animals and it affects people. Many types of tumors seen in people often occur in our pets and probably have similar causes. We know they have similar outcomes. This is a war in every sense of the word - the War on Cancer. It is a war we must win.