QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT NEW CANCER TREATMENTS
- Is this new treatment supported by a scientific study published in a peer-reviewed journal? Studies published in medical journals are one of the most reliable sources of new treatment options because scientific experts in the field rigorously and critically assess the study’s outcomes before its publication. You may also check to see who funded the scientific study. Studies funded by private companies may have biased results because of their financial interests. Studies funded by the government are generally trustworthy.
- Are the beneficial outcomes reproducible? For a research study to be valid, other researchers must be able to reproduce the results. You may find that some studies restrict their analysis to one type of population. For instance, the original research observes treatment effects for dogs, but only in a specific breed. Therefore, having other investigations duplicate the initial study results is crucial. When many studies can confirm the effectiveness of a treatment option, the results are more likely to apply to your pet.
- How applicable is this treatment to your pet’s diagnosis? Cancer is a broad term for many different diseases. Even if the beneficial outcomes have been shown to be reproducible, it is important to know that what works well for one cancer may not work well for another. Therefore, understanding the diagnosis is important to finding the right treatment, as treatment options can change based on the cancer location, behavior, and stage. For example, some cancers respond better to local treatment. Others need a systemic, broader approach. Talk with your vet to discuss the best treatment options for your pet’s specific cancer.
- Was the new treatment option tested rigorously? Drugs and other therapeutics must pass a series of clinical trials before humans or pets can use them. Primary research for the identification of anticancer therapy starts in a lab, using cancer cells grown in culture. If the treatment is successful in cells, the investigation moves to studies on animal models. At this stage, the researchers examine if the treatment is toxic, if it works, and whether it is better than current treatments. Only after this point can several phases of clinical trials test the efficacy of the therapy on pets or humans. Once clinical trials are complete, larger governmental bodies like the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can approve the use of the treatment. Therefore, you must know the drug development stage of the report. Preclinical studies only conducted in cells may have promising results, but they may prove ineffective when investigated on animals.
- How will the treatment affect everyday life? When exploring resources for new cancer treatments, determine how the new treatment will work practically in everyday life. What can you and your pet expect from the cancer treatment? Are there any severe side effects? How long is the treatment? How successful has it been? How does the vet check to know if it is working? What are the risks and benefits? Discuss with your vet to see if this therapy is better than the traditional treatment for your pet’s cancer and if it is worth implementing.
- Should you enroll your pet in a clinical trial? When all other treatment options have failed, it might be worth considering an experimental treatment. Remember that these therapies are not approved and are not guaranteed to treat your pet’s cancer. Discuss possible experimental treatments with your vet to determine the way forward.
The Pet Cancer Foundation’s Website Editorial team is comprised of veterinarians, veterinary oncologists, and veterinary technicians, as well as scientific writers and editors who have attained their PhD’s in the life sciences, along with general editors and research assistants. All content found in this section goes through an extensive process with multiple review stages, to ensure this extended resource provides pet families with the most up-to-date information publicly available.
The team listing of those contributing to the information on this page is here:
The team listing of those contributing to the information on this page is here:
Keep Your Pets Healthy Editorial Team
Last Updated: August 5, 2022
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