Veterinary Cancer Surgery

The best chance to achieve complete surgical removal of cancer is during the first surgical procedure. Thus, it is important for the veterinarian performing the surgery to have the training and experience that will allow them to achieve the best outcome. The principles of successful cancer surgery that our specialists adhere to are:

- Obtain preoperative identification of tumor type

- Remove of the tumor with “clean margins”- for aggressive cancers; this can involve removing 1-2 inches of normal tissue around the borders of the tumor and including muscle or connective tissue underlying the tumor.

- Mark the skin around the tumor using a ruler and marking pens to guide surgical incisions.

- Ensure that bleeding is controlled and avoid leaving “dead space” or empty areas under the skin that can fill with fluid.

- Change instruments and gloves before closing the incision to avoid contamination with tumor cells.

- Mark the tumor before submission to aid the pathologist in identifying margins.

- If radiation surgery is planned, mark the location of the tumor in the body using metallic staples, allowing the radiation oncologist to locate the area that needs to be treated.

- Close the incisions without tension, in order to avoid problems with wound healing.

Special surgical techniques are required for more difficult tumors located on the face, inside the mouth, on the legs, or inside body cavities (the chest or abdomen). Some of the more common tumor types are listed below, with a summary of surgical treatments that are offered at Veterinary Specialists of Rochester.