Page 6 - RVC Clinical Connections - Spring 2025
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RVC RESEARCH STUDY VETERINARY SERVICES RVC.AC.UK
Chemotherapy
A WEEK IN THE CHEMOTHERAPY ROOM
The Chemotherapy Team
n the 16 years since the Oncology Service Before each visit, Mathilda received
established a dedicated chemotherapy gabapentin orally at home two hours before
I treatment centre, the team has helped her appointment and topical anaesthetic
to treat many cats and dogs with cancer. cream was applied over her vein, 30 minutes
The number of cases coming through has before blood sampling. This combination
increased year-on-year since the centre allowed for smooth venepuncture, without
was established. the need for further sedations and a longer
In December 2024, the team moved into hospital visit.
a new chemotherapy treatment room, which Mathilda continues to receive oral
enables even more animals to be treated chlorambucil at home, given by her owner,
and cared for in a comfortable, relaxed and requires a check-up and blood test
environment. every 6-8 weeks at her local practice.
Chemotherapy drugs can also be used
to treat other diseases, so in addition to
animals under the care of the Oncology
Service, some patients from the Neurology
Service also benefit from treatments in the
purposely designed new area.
There are typically between 20-25 dogs Mathilda
and cats in total having chemotherapy
delivered by the Oncology and Neurology Monday
Services in any given week. We share a Mathilda, an 11-year-old cat, initially
small selection of cases treated and cared presented to the Emergency and Critical
for across a working week below. Care Service for further investigations into
a marked hyperglobulinaemia, anaemia
and lethargy. Following extensive diagnostic
Benefits of the new room testing, Mathilda was diagnosed with
multiple myeloma (MM). Mathilda relaxing at home
A quiet space for treatment: The MM is a systemic proliferation of malignant
new room offers a calm environment plasma cells or their precursors. The Tuesday
away from the busy hospital, ensuring treatment of MM is systemic chemotherapy, Alan is a seven-year-old miniature
pets feel more comfortable and in cats usually with cyclophosphamide dachshund. Alan鈥檚 family always wanted a
relaxed during treatment. (administered once every 2-3 weeks) dog named Alan and so she was named
combined with prednisolone. Most cats accordingly, despite being female.
Reduced infection risks: Since (50%鈥�80%) respond favourably to She initially presented to the RVC with
chemotherapy patients often have chemotherapy, although the durability a six-week history of hyporexia, polyuria-
weakened immune systems, keeping of response tends to be shorter when polydipsia, weight loss (2 kg), snoring,
them in a dedicated space lowers the compared to dogs, with median survival difficulty in swallowing, lethargy and
risk of exposure to other areas of the times (MST) reported as 4-13 months. vomiting.
hospital and conditions. At time of diagnosis, Mathilda鈥檚 Clinical examination revealed
globulin count was raised (74.7g/L), after pyrexia, enlarged tonsils and peripheral
Helping more animals: With the commencing treatment, her disease went lymphadenopathy. Following extensive
extra space, the oncology team can into remission, and her globulins returned diagnostic testing, Alan was diagnosed
treat more patients. to normal within a month. Unfortunately her with intermediate-sized T-cell peripheral
remission was short, as six weeks later her nodal lymphoma, stage V (circulating
Improved welfare: Separate rooms disease progressed so her chemotherapy neoplastic lymphocytes), substage b, with
for dogs and cats enhances the was changed to melphalan, but due to paraneoplastic hypercalcemia.
wellbeing of all our patients. persistent neutropenia, Mathilda鈥檚 treatment Alan was treated with a modified LOPP
was again switched to chlorambucil. She protocol (vincristine, lomustine, procarbazine
Helping owners: Pets now have a has been in remission since. and prednisolone) and went into complete
quiet room to rest in while waiting to be To facilitate treatments, Mathilda initially remission. After five months, chemotherapy
picked up, providing greater flexibility required intra-muscular sedation for her had to be discontinued as she developed
and peace of mind for clients. visits. However, in time, and with her owners persistent thrombocytopaenia as a side
help, the team found a method that suited effect, which later resolved.
her better.
6 Spring 2025
