ABOUT DR SUE
DVM, DACVIM (ONCOLOGY)
Dr. Sue Ettinger is a practicing veterinary cancer specialist, international speaker, book author, and vlogger (video blogger). She is one of approximately 400 board-certified specialists in medical oncology in North America. She received her veterinary training at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her residency in medical oncology at the Animal Medical Center in NYC in 2003. She has recently received awards for Exceptional Doctor Performance and the Public Relations Achievement.
Also known as Dr Sue Cancer Vet®, Dr. Sue is the co-author of the Second Edition of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide, which is a best-selling book in small animal health for the last several years. She co-hosts the podcast The Pet Cancer Vet on radiopetlady.com.
There are many myths and misconceptions about cancer in dogs and cats. Most cancers are treatable, and there are a variety of treatment options. Dr Sue’s focus is to provide comprehensive and compassionate care. She strives to minimize side effects – from the cancer itself and treatment – to help her patients lead active, normal lives even while undergoing treatment. Her motto is live longer, live well.
Dr. Sue is most passionate about raising cancer awareness, and she has developed “See Something, Do Something, Why Wait? Aspirate.®” to promote early cancer detection and diagnosis. This cancer awareness initiative for skin and superficial tumors in dogs and cats provides a set of guidelines for pet owners and veterinarians to help identify the best management for skin and subcutaneous (under the skin) masses in dogs and cats. Masses must be sampled and evaluated under a microscope to determine what they are. The sooner we determine whether a mass is cancerous and should be removed, the better for our pets. Most skin and subcutaneous tumors can be cured with surgery alone if diagnosed early when masses are small. Early detection saves lives.
A native of Long Island, New York, Dr Sue knew she wanted to be a veterinarian since she was in kindergarten. She currently lives in Westchester, New York, with her husband, a veterinary internist, their two sons, and their goofy black Labrador, Matilda, and yellow Labrador, puppy Penelope.
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🎥Great night with friends Mari and Rob Thomas at Bedford Playhouse watching the Clive Davis documentary.
🤩 Truly an amazing career of a legend who has brought so much music into our lives. 🎼
#robthomas #TGIT
📹 Wanna see more video of the Q&A? Check out my insta post and story before they disappear 😊😻 SPOTLIGHT ON FELINE LYMPHOMA:
🐈Although outcomes for treated cats are less predictable than dogs, treated cats live longer and tolerate chemotherapy well (even better than dogs!).
🤷♀️Why are they less predictable? Cats treated with multi-agent chemotherapy have response rates of about 50-80%, BUT the cats that achieve a complete remission tend to be the long term survivors (1 to 2 years vs 1 month with treatment). We just often do not know until we try who will respond, but they tolerate chemo so well and the cancer is often making them sick, that it is worth trying, in my humble opinion.
🙋♀️Yes, I would and I have treated my own cat for lymphoma.🐈 SPOTLIGHT ON FELINE LYMPHOMA:
How do we treat lymphoma in cats? Just like people and dogs, lymphoma almost always requires systemic chemotherapy.
😺 The good news is that cats tolerate chemotherapy very well, even better than dogs! (And cats and dogs handle it better than people).
😺 So they experience very little side effects! (They do not lose their hair, they tend not to get very low white blood cell counts, and they have less GI side effects than dogs and people.)
🤢🤮 But since they can have some nausea from chemo, and some forms of lymphoma itself can cause vomiting and diarrhea, I take a very proactive approach to preventative medications. Check out this video for my top 5 preventative medications. youtu.be/I211tveubII