Surgical Oncology
Surgery alone cures more cancers than any other type of treatment
The quality of surgery is vital to treatment success
Despite the advances in chemotherapy and other treatment modalities, surgery continues to be the most effective option for the management of cancer. Clinical cures are more commonly achieved by surgical removal of localised disease than with any other treatment modality.
Cancer surgery is a specialised discipline and very few veterinarians receive any specific training in the technical aspects of tumour resection. The surgeons at AURA are the most experienced cancer veterinary surgeons working in the UK, with a collective experience of over 50 years working almost exclusively with cancer patients.
This experience, and the shared philosophical approaches to cancer management, ensure that patients having surgery at AURA can be certain of receiving the appropriate surgical intervention to maximise the chances of a successful outcome.
The surgical team at AURA are the most experienced cancer surgeons working in the UK
Common cancers
Mast cell tumours
Mast cell tumours are more common in the older dog (mean age: 9 years). Some dog breeds have an increased incidence of tumour occurrence, including the English bull terrier, boxers, Boston terriers, Labradors, beagles and schnauzers. In the dog, mast cell tumours typically develop in or under the skin, with spread possibly occurring to internal organs such as lymph nodes, liver and spleen. Mast cell tumours most frequently occur on the trunk (50%), with the remainder on the extremities (40%) and head (10%).
Mast cell tumours are the great pretender. They can develop on the skin, or under the skin. They can be small, they can be large. They can be red, puffy and angry.
They can also appear completely innocuous.
Soft tissue sarcomas can be challenging due to location, especially when the mass is large, deep, or seems fixed in position.
A well-considered surgical plan from a cancer specialist however is the first step in giving the patient the best chance to do well.
Soft tissue sarcoma
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a large group of tumours coming from tissues making up the skeleton (muscles, tendons, nerves, fat). STS may arise anywhere in the body, but most commonly appear on the legs. They typically present as a firm round swellings. They can present the clinician with significant challenges with respect to management. However, when treated appropriately the outlook for the majority of dogs is very good. However, about 20-30% of dogs may ultimately struggle or even die from their disease due to the tumour growing back aggressively, or spreading within the body.
Oral tumours
A variety of benign and malignant tumour types may occur in the mouth. These tumours may arise from the bones, muscles or gum layer of the upper or lower jaw. They are typically destructive, causing swelling and loss of the bone surrounding the teeth. In the dog, the following malignant tumours have been described: fibrosarcoma, malignant melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and osteosarcoma. Melanoma are often dark black in colour, but this is not always the case. Surgical removal is usually the most successful treatment modality for oral cancer.
Various surgical procedures have been described for oral tumours. Despite what can look like a large surgery, clinical recovery is usually rapid with animals generally eating very quickly following surgery, often even the same day. Long term function is usually good to excellent.
Oral surgery is well-tolerated by our patients. Excellent functional and cosmetic outcomes are usually achievable for many patients with oral cancer.
We think about anal sac cancer in the same way as heart disease or diabetes; while outright cure may not be possible, we hope treatment will allow patients to enjoy a full and active life while comfortably keeping their disease under control.
Anal sac tumours
Anal sac tumours may be detected for a variety of reasons and may occasionally be discovered unexpectedly during routine examination. Some animals show an increased thirst, while other dogs may some change in toilet routines.
Careful rectal palpation is necessary as up to 50% will not be detectable on external examination alone. Anal sac cancer can be aggressive, and up to half may already have spread by the time of presentation so early assessment is vital. Internal cancer spread in some cases can even cause a blockage or obstruction of the bowel meaning a patient straining to pass stools might be the first sign of the disease.
Liver tumours
Liver tumours come in all sizes; they are often single but occasionally several occur at the same time. Liver masses can cause discomfort as they grow and stretch the liver, and can also cause problems by pressing on the the stomach, blood vessels or gall bladder. Successful surgical removal results in an improved quality of life for most patients.
The surgeons at AURA successfully manage a wide range of complex liver tumour cases every year, many of which come to the team having already been deemed inoperable and untreatable. The expertise of the AURA surgical team, based on decades of experience, ensure patients receive the best chance of a good outcome.
Single liver tumours – even if large – are best managed by surgery. With a combination of careful surgical planning, excellent imaging, world-class experience, and a good team approach, successful removal of a wide variety of liver tumours is regularly achieved at AURA
AURA Stories
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Maisy, a 10-year-old Whippet, recently returned to AURA to monitor the progress of her skin graft following successful surgery to remove a soft tissue sarcoma from her front leg.
A couple of months previously, Maisy’s mum noticed a small soft lump on Maisy’s right foreleg. It was not bleeding and did not appear to be causing any pain, but when it had not disappeared after a couple of weeks, she decided to take her to their family vet to have it assessed.
The vet sampled the mass by inserting a very fine needle into the tissue to collect some cells and placed them onto a glass slide which was then sent off for analysis.
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Surgical oncology staff
