NorthStar VETS Cool Case Manning

Cancer treatment is often considered difficult with many side effects. Most of us have experienced a family member go through cancer treatment and have watched as our loved one gets sick in the hope of getting better. When our pet gets diagnosed with cancer, it is upsetting and most people are afraid of treating their pet for cancer because of the side effects they have seen in their family members or friends.

Classically, we have considered cancer treatment to be harsh and to cure at all costs. In veterinary medicine, the goal has always been more to maintain good quality of life. We are learning both in human and veterinary medicine that it is possible to live with cancer rather than trying to get rid of it.

In this video below, you are meeting Manning. He first came to me in February 2016 as a 6-year-old dog with an anal gland tumor. Initially, the tumor was removed and he had 5 doses of chemotherapy. In January 2017 he was found to have metastatic (spread of) disease to his abdomen. He was started on Palladia (toceranib) which is not a classic chemotherapy but a molecularly-targeted therapy. Classic chemotherapy works by attacking any dividing cell. Palladia works by targeting a specific protein on the cell and slowing the progression of the disease. This video was taken in the last month. As you can see, this is a dog who has lived with metastatic cancer for 1.5 years, and he is living well.

If you are interested in learning more about the history of cancer and therapies, one of my favorite books is Emperor of All Maladies written by Siddartha Murkherjee which is also a PBS mini-series.

Learn more about the Oncology service at NorthStar VETS

Jennifer Kim, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology)
Dr. Kim grew up in New York and received her BA from the University of Pennsylvania. After two years at the National Cancer Institute performing cancer genetic research, she attended veterinary school at Tufts University. Dr. Kim completed a rotating internship at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan, New York, and an oncology internship at Cornell University. She began at NorthStar VETS as an emergency clinician in 2005 and returned in 2010 to treat oncology patients after completing her residency in medical oncology at Michigan State University School of Veterinary Medicine. In her free time, Dr. Kim is an avid foodie and knitter.