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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💯 Belle’s family did the right thing. They noticed she was limping and quickly took her to the vet for X-rays.
😊They also thankfully got her pet insurance as a puppy.
🦴 Remember that if you have a large or giant breed dog with lameness and swelling on a limb, take your dog to a vet for X-rays as soon as possible because they are at increased risk for osteosarcoma. Early diagnosis is so important!
☢️ Like Belle’s veterinarian, your vet will take X-rays which often confirm the suspicion for osteosarcoma, the most common primary bone cancer.
👩⚕️Today, when I met sweet Belle, I ran blood work, did 3 view chest X-rays to check for metastasis spread, and got new limb X-rays to double check about whether she is a candidate for limb spare surgery.
🦴 Her tumor is in a location (distal radius) where we can consider limb-spare surgery instead of amputation. And the awesome surgeon where I work at does them. Then we follow surgery with chemotherapy with me.
�🔹There are lots of options for osteosarcoma so check out
🦴all my Facebook posts this month on osteosarcoma
🦴 my YouTube Vlogs on amputation and new vlogs coming out this week and next on osteosarcoma - subscribe so you don’t miss them
🦴 and please join my Live Q&A on Facebook Wednesday at 9 pm EST
@ VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center📅 last week there were
✈️ 4 flights
👩🏫 2 conferences
🌆 2 cities
👨👩👦👦 With a trip back home in between to see my sons’ spring concert
🌎5000 miles flown
🎤14 talks given
🤝 I met 100s of new colleagues and saw my speaker friends (who are my family in the road)
😊 And hopefully inspired some vet professionals to #whywaitaspirate and #kickcancersbutt
👩⚕️ This week I am back to clinics to see my patients and hopefully kick cancers butt myself 💙
@ Tampa Convention Center🔹Osteosarcoma Spotlight: Diagnostics 🔹
🔬Cytology, or looking at the cells aspirated from a tumor, can be one of the diagnostic tests used for a pet with suspected osteosarcoma. It is not as definitive as some of the more invasive tests, but a few cells from a fine needle aspirate can be enough for veterinarians and cancer specialists to help distinguish malignant vs non-malignant tumors.
🔬The accuracy rate for obtaining an osteosarcoma diagnosis on cytology is about 70-85%, but other tests may be needed to confirm.
#whywaitaspirate