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Conventional Cancer Therapy

The doctors at Boulder’s Natural Animal see many patients with the diagnosis of cancer. They feel that no available therapy should be eliminated from the discussion of what to do for the pet with cancer. Some pets respond really well to conventional cancer therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. We now also have gene therapy available for canine patients with malignant melanoma. Natural therapies can substantially help the cancer patient to better deal with the stresses of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, as well as improve the patient’s immune system’s ability to fight off the cancer itself. We call the blending of conventional cancer therapies with alternative cancer therapies: “Integrative Oncology.”

Unfortunately, many cancers are so aggressive and rapid in their development, that natural therapies may take too long to work for them to be worthwhile to pursue. Sometimes it may be worthwhile to go through surgery, chemo and/or radiation simply to keep your pet alive long enough to benefit from the natural therapies that can substantially help patients with cancer.

During your initial consultation with one the doctors at Boulder’s Natural Animal, these considerations will be discussed. No stone will be left unturned in our quest to find the best approach to your pet’s diagnosis of cancer.

The doctors at Boulder’s Natural Animal are skilled in the use of a variety of chemotherapy protocols for a wide variety of types of cancers. Additionally there are a number of very fine specialty centers in our area with board certified veterinary oncologists who we work together regularly to the benefit of our patients. Whatever it takes to get your pet well, we are there every step of the way. And if that includes in-house chemotherapy, then we are prepared to administer it appropriately and safely.

The advantage of getting both conventional and alternative cancer therapies provided by the same medical group is most importantly:  Better integration of care to the individuality of the patient.

One of the newer concepts in oncology is that of “Metronomic Chemotherapy.” This is when 2 chemotherapy agents are administered concurrently at lower, long term dosages, with the intention of slowing down the cancer without interfering as much with patient quality of life as rapid induction chemotherapy. The more common rapid induction, multiple agent chemotherapy as popularized with the Wisconsin CHOP Protocol, can, because larger doses are given at weekly or multiples of weekly administrations, cause side-effects. These side-effects can be violent and occasionally, life-threatening. The doctors at Boulder’s Natural Animal will suggest these metronomic chemotherapy programs when appropriate for their patients.

Many protocols need to be tempered when being given to older and weakened patients. Drs Sanderlin and Silver follow the guidelines set up by Dr. Alice Villalobos in her recent publication: Canine and Feline Geriatric Oncology: Honoring the Human Animal Bond. 

Dr Villalobos is a personal friend and honored colleague of Dr Robert Silver. She was practicing veterinary oncology before it gained Board Certification status. Follow the following link to Dr V’s website regarding her care for cancer patients, called “Pawspice” www.Pawspice.com

Boulder’s Natural Animal is a  subscriber to VIN, the Veterinary Information Network. VIN is an amazing information resource for veterinarians and for pet guardians. Many specialists consult on this website, thus allowing us to provide your pet with the most up to date advances in veterinary medicine.  www.veterinarypartner.com; www.vin.com.

Above all, you can count on the people at Boulder’s Natural Animal to treat you and your pet appropriately for the tragic severity of cancer. We ourselves have lost people and pets close to us, and we want you to feel cared for both medically and emotionally. Just tell us how we can help you and we will be there for you until you are satisfied that you have gotten what you really wanted.