Hope for pets with cancer exists beyond traditional chemotherapy. When pets are diagnosed with cancer, owners are often devastated by the news. When a referral is made to a veterinary oncologist, pet owners are given information about chemotherapy, amputation and radiation therapy. For many types of cancer, owners are given no hope of remission; therapies which produces palliative results are often offered. Palliative therapy means the cancer is slowed or reduced to make the pet more comfortable, but the cancer continues to be present. Some tumors and cancers, such as lymphoma, do respond well to chemotherapy, however, the pets which tend to have the best quality of life also receive nutritional, immune and acupuncture therapies. They feel better and have fewer side effects.
At the Ellwood and Chippewa Animal Hospitals treatments including acupuncture, NAET, LTCI and Neoplasene are administered by Dr. Cynthia Maro who has over 25 years experience blending traditional and alternative therapies for treating cancer with integrative medicine.
Currently, several cancer patients are receiving Neoplasene with successful cancer remission. Bradshaw, an 11 year old dog, is such a patient in remission from bone cancer (osteosarcoma) since September 2012. Neoplasene therapy is based in the science of using plant substances to evoke an immune response which selectively destroys cancer cells without causing other tissue damage. Dr. Maro has used Neoplasene for over 10 years and has had patients go into remission with a variety of tumors, and neoplastic conditions, including bone cancer, transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, hemangiosarcoma, melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma of the liver, pancreas, and anal glands. A positive benefit of neoplasene is that metastasis is slowed or prevented.
The treatment can be administered topically or injected into tumors by the veterinarian, or administered orally at home by the owners, depending on the cancer type.
LTCI is another immunotherapy which is USDA approved as a treatment for cats with Feline Leukemia, and FIV. Two patients, Buddy and Miss Lemon, have now become negative for the viruses after years of confirmed positive status with secondary diseases brought on by the viruses.
As an immunotherapy agent, LTCI injections are also effective in the treatment of cancer. Oliver, a 6 year old cat with kidney adenocarcinoma has been in remission since March of 2013. He was given a 1-4 month life expectancy with traditional chemotherapy at he time of his diagnosis. Sammi is a dog patient with lymphosarcoma who is in remission since March of 2013. Both patients are very healthy and have not had to spend lots of time away from their owners getting chemotherapy.
An additional positive benefit of LTCI is that studies on both humans and dogs have shown a positive effect in the treating of osteoarthritis. Dr. Maro often recommends this therapy for pets who suffer from cancer and arthritis.
In treating pets with cancer, Dr. Maro also recommends diet and nutritional changes, in addition to acupuncture and NAET. NAET is another immune system treatment that is non-invasive. Using acupressure and exposure to test tubes containing allergens, the body can be retrained to make better immune system control of cancerous cells.
Dr. Maro cautions clients against buying herbs and nutrients online and super-loading antioxidants. Some nutrients and certain doses can accelerate aging and death in cancer patients. She suggests working with a holistic veterinarian to determine which supplements are safe, trusted and effective.