Royal Oak Veterinarian Promotes Breakthrough Screening Test for Cancer in Dogs

ROYAL OAK, Mich., Jan. 6, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. John Simon of Woodside Animal Clinic in Royal Oak is announcing a breakthrough test that screens for cancer in dogs. Half of all dogs that live to the age of ten will eventually die of cancer. Dr. Simon is stressing to pet owners that it is extremely important to catch developing cancer as early as possible if you want to have the greatest chance for successful therapy. Unfortunately, cancer is usually discovered in its later stages when the treatment options are more limited and more expensive. If cancer can be caught early, prior to the appearance of outward signs, more effective treatment options become available. Even the more aggressive cancers like hemangiosarcomas can be treated cost effectively when caught in very early stages.

An ultrasound or MRI is not commonly used as screening test because they are expensive and do not always give a definitive diagnosis. Biopsies are not performed until an actual mass has been identified by manual palpation, radiographs, ultrasound, or MRI. Up until a few years ago there really was no way to catch cancer early before the mass was felt or other symptoms were present. By the time symptoms are detected there is a good chance the cancer has already spread from the original site to lymph nodes, the lungs or other distant organs.

"The exciting news is that there is now a simple, unique, painless cancer blood screen for the "apparently" healthy dog with no signs of disease," says Dr. Simon. "The name of this cancer screen is "INCaSe" and it utilizes the dual "biomarkers" Thymidine Kinase (TK) and C - reactive protein (CRP). By coupling the results of the TK and CRP test values, the INCaSe cancer screen can detect the presence of cancer in its very early stages before any signs of disease are apparent. A negative INCaSe finding is a strong indication that the pet is cancer free. The ability to identify the presence of cancer is greatly amplified over using just one or the other test alone."

Dr. Simon goes on to say that, at HIS clinic they recommend that all dogs over 5 years of age be given the INCaSe cancer blood screen at least once yearly. Dogs over 12 years of age should be tested every 6 months. If a dog is from one of the breeds that have a high risk for cancer then this dog should be checked once to twice yearly starting at 3 years of age.

At Woodside Animal Clinic, if cancer is detected early before your dog is displaying overt signs of disease the clinic will recommend a number of alternative therapies which may include any one or all of the following: nutritional therapy including homemade diets, orthomolecular therapy, systemic enzyme therapy, cytokine therapy, medicinal mushroom therapy and antioxidant therapy. Pet owners can call the clinic or visit the website http://www.doc4pets.com for more information.