New approaches to prevent cancer therapy toxicity

摘要

There is only one word more frightening in the English language than cancer. That word is chemotherapy. In veterinary medicine, the greatest goal is to deliver compassionate care that is wrapped around the philosophy that chemotherapy is as close tonontoxic and effective as medically and humanly possible. Meeting both goals means recognizing that our clients have at least three paramount concerns for their beloved pet. This has resulted in the commandments of cancer care. The first commandment is,"Don't let them hurt!" Providing active preemptive and ongoing pain management for the cancer patient is absolutely imperative, and will reassure the caregiver that quality of life is optimal. This can be in the form of oral medications (sustained release morphine, codeine, feldene, carprofen or others) or transdermal delivery systems for fentanyl. The most important principle is that the client and caregivers know in advance that the veterinary health care team will not tolerate any pain and that we will all work together to recognize, prevent and manage it. When the patient is comfortable, then quality of life with chemotherapy can be substantially improved.