New WSAVA committee to offer veterinary oncology a global boost

WSAVA Oncology Working Group members. Top row: Left to right: Ann Hohenhaus, Natalia Ignatenko, Antonio Guiliano. Bottom row: Left to right: Jolle Kirpensteijn, Martin Soberano, Nick Bacon, Pachi Clemente-Vicario. (Photo courtesy of WSAVA).

With approximately 1 in 4 dogs developing cancer within their lifetime,¹ the demand for enhanced veterinary oncology care is dire. To help improve the quality of care veterinarians provide to oncology patients, the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has inaugurated its WSAVA Oncology Working Group, formed to raise awareness about the latest research in cancer therapy and promote best practices.

This group is comprised of international oncology experts and specialists, including WSAVA past president and global pet cancer advocate, Jolle Kirpensteijn, DVM, PhD, DACVS, ECVS. Additionally, the team has already begun establishing a set of user-friendly, convenient global guidelines for veterinary oncology practices.

“In developing our resources, we will work closely with other WSAVA Committees and our affiliated WSAVA association, the Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology,” says Kirpensteijn, in an association release.

What’s more? Members of the group are also in the process of developing practical tools for veterinarians to help improve treatment standards and better educate owners about cancer in pets.

The committee is chaired by Argentinian veterinarian and oncology specialist, Martin Soberano, DVM, who is credited for his efforts in trailblazing veterinary oncology in Latin America. He is also the founder and president of the Latin American Veterinary Oncology Society.

“The WSAVA Oncology Working Group aims to overcome global variations in oncology treatment and raise awareness of the different types of tumors affecting companion animals,” says Soberano in the release. “Many cancers in these animals also occur in humans so we see an opportunity to improve the lives of both animal and human patients by raising standards of treatment for veterinary oncology patients.”

To learn more about the WSAVA Oncology Working Group and its members, go here.

Reference

1. Cancer in Pets. Avma.org. Accessed May 18, 2021. https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/cancer-pets