Animal Oncology Center at WCVM

Thanks to the hard work of ACTSS, Western Canada now has the country's first comprehensive oncology center, built at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Construction was finished in 2003 and the Oncology Center boasts a Cobalt Theratron Radiation Unit donated by ACTSS, an MRI exclusively designed for pets, and the country's only veterinary radiation oncologist, Dr. Monique Mayers, who runs the entire program and teaches oncology to the college's veterinary students. ACTSS is proud to be part of this major accomplishment in improving the lives of Canadian Pets with cancer.

You can read more about this item by clicking the following links

Monique Mayers News Release
WCVM Grand Opening News Release
WCVM Groundbreaking (from 2001)

Oncology Service at the C.A.R.E. Centre Animal Hospital

Our mission is to assist other veterinarians in providing the highest possible quality of life for pets with cancer and their human families, by making evidence- and compassion-based recommendations for their care and providing educational materials.

Dr. Victoria Larson is an ACVIM board-certified veterinary oncologist who will provide remote consultations to pet owners and veterinarians in person, by phone, fax, or email, when they are caring for a pet with cancer. Our consultations include information on the biology and behaviour of the particular type of cancer as well as recommendations for the diagnostic and therapeutic approach. When needed, we can also provide veterinarians with educational materials to give to the owner-caregiver of the pet.

Our recommendations and educational materials are based on the knowledge gained in our specialty training in treating pets with cancer, and the latest information published in the scientific literature, combined with our genuine concern for the well-being of each individual veterinary cancer patient and his or her human family.

Arranging a Consultation with Dr. Victoria Larson

Dr. Victoria Larson will provide consultations to veterinarians caring for animals of any species, with any type of cancer. An online referral form can be downloaded from our website at www.carecentre.ca. We will review case information in depth and call owners to arrange an appointment time. Once the appointment has occurred, we will provide a complete written report with recommendations and responses to specific questions.

Please note that we are not able to advise pet owners or caregivers directly without a referral, because without the presence of a veterinarian / client / patient relationship, our recommendations would not be valid.

Our Consultation Report will include the following:

Diagnosis

Interpretation of current staging and bloodwork
Further staging required
Tumour behaviour and important prognostic factors
Prognosis for the patient with no further treatment
Treatment options:
- Preferred treatment option
  - Primary treatment modality
  - Adjunctive treatment
  - Supportive treatment
- Less costly treatment alternative
- Palliative treatment alternative
- Any additional comments
Attachments as requested
- Chemotherapy protocol, standardized or custom-designed, depending on the individual circumstances
- Information sheets on chemotherapy drug handling and administration
- Abstracts of pertinent literature
- Client information sheets on treatment type, protocol, and chemotherapy drugs
- Client information sheet on tumour type and behaviour

Our consulting hours are 8 am to 3 pm Monday through Thursday. You can submit a referral consultation request form by email (info@carecentre.ca) or fax (403-692-4350) at any time and we will respond by the end of our next consulting day. We look forward to helping you!

WESTERN CANADIAN VETERINARY ONCOLOGY CENTRES

Albertans are extremely fortunate to have three state of the art veterinary oncology centres available to treat their pets who may have cancer.

· The Western Veterinary Specialist Centre (WVSC) located at 1802-10 Avenue SW Calgary, Alberta has the oncology team of Drs. Glenna and Neal Mauldin to run its medical and radiation oncology centre. In April 2009, the Mauldins opened the doors to Alberta’s first veterinary radiation facility. Dr. Dave Szentimrey of WVSC has provided Alberta pets with specialized cancer surgeries for the past decade. 403 770-1340 wvsc@westernvet.ca.

· The Calgary Animal Referral and Emergency Centre (CARE) of Calgary has board certified medical oncologist Dr. Victoria Larson heading up its oncology centre, provides veterinary oncology care for Alberta pets. 7140-12 St SE Calgary, Alberta 403 520-8387 info@carecentre.ca

· The Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan developed western Canada’s first veterinary oncology center in 2003 when its veterinary oncologist Dr. Monique Mayers opened the doors to the new radiation vault and medical oncology treatment centre. University of Saskatchewan 52 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5B4 (306) 966-7103

THE WESTERN COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

If your animal is diagnosed with cancer, your family veterinarian may refer you to the Oncology service at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Teaching Hospital, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Our referral service is composed of board-certified cancer treatment specialists, including a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, surgeons, radiologists, and oncology nurses and staff. An individual treatment plan is developed for every patient after our cancer treatment team evaluates their diagnostic findings and discusses the optimal treatment strategies. A patient's recommended treatment plan may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these treatments. Treatment options also include palliative care, nutritional consultation and acupuncture.

Opening in April, 2009, the Western Vet Cancer Centre will be the newest and most up-to-date veterinary oncology centre in Western Canada. The centre will offer advanced treatment modalities including surgery, chemotherapy, a new Linear Accelerator capable of administering courses of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy modeled by Dr. Neal Mauldin, and immunotherapies like the canine oral melanoma vaccine, whose co-developer, Dr. Philip J. Bergman, is the Chief Medical Officer of Bright Heart Veterinary Centers.

For more information please call Dr. Neal Mauldin, at (403) 770-1340, or email oncology@westernvet.ca.

Our oncology specialists are:

· Neal Mauldin, DVM, MVScM
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - IM & Oncology
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Radiology - Radiation Therapy

· Glenna Mauldin, DVM, MSc Nutrition
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Oncology
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Nutrition

Dave Szentimrey, DVM, MSc
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons