For Emergencies:
Receiving a diagnosis of sarcoma can feel overwhelming, but advances in veterinary oncology mean that many pets can enjoy an excellent quality of life following treatment.
Because no two sarcomas are the same, treatment is always tailored to the individual patient. The type of sarcoma, its location, whether it has spread, and your pet’s overall health all influence the treatment plan.
Diagnosing a Sarcoma
Before treatment begins, we first need to understand exactly what we’re dealing with.
Your veterinary surgeon may recommend:
- Fine needle aspiration
- Biopsy
- Blood tests
- X-rays
- Ultrasound
- CT or MRI scanning
A biopsy not only confirms the diagnosis but also determines the tumour grade, helping predict how the cancer is likely to behave and guiding treatment decisions.
Diagnosing sarcomas’ is a multistage process, which includes examination of tissue or blood samples under the microscope, please see below –
1. Feline Injection Site Sarcoma – 2. Canine Osteosarcoma – 3. Canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Treatment Options
Surgery
Surgery is often the first and most important treatment for many sarcomas. The aim is to remove the tumour completely, along with an appropriate margin of healthy tissue, to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy may be recommended for higher-grade sarcomas or cancers that have the potential to spread, such as haemangiosarcoma or osteosarcoma.
Unlike in human medicine, chemotherapy in pets is carefully balanced to maintain a good quality of life, with most patients experiencing only mild side effects.
Darren and our Internal Medicine team in our fully equipped chemotherapy suite!
Radiation Therapy
Radiotherapy may be used when complete surgical removal isn’t possible, to reduce the risk of local recurrence or, in some cases, to relieve pain.
Electrochemotherapy
Electrochemotherapy combines chemotherapy with small electrical pulses that increase the uptake of the drug into tumour cells. It can be particularly useful for residual disease following surgery or when surgery isn’t possible.
Electrochemotherapy on one of our patients here at Bridge Referrals!
Pain Management and Supportive Care
Managing pain and maintaining quality of life are central to every treatment plan. Whether treatment is aimed at curing the disease or controlling it, our focus is always on ensuring pets remain comfortable and happy.
Every Patient is Different
Some sarcomas can be successfully treated with surgery alone, while others benefit from a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Our oncology team works closely with surgeons, diagnostic imaging specialists and nurses to create an individual plan for every patient.
The most important message is that a diagnosis of sarcoma is not the end of the road. Early diagnosis, specialist assessment and a personalised treatment plan can make a significant difference to both survival and quality of life.
