Early Cancer Diagnosis: Don't Miss the Warning Signs

This session will focus on the consideration and diagnosis of cancer earlier in the clinical course with integration into the existing clinical algorithm. The gathering of information starts from history-taking with emphasis on specific open-ended questions. A physical examination can offer several worrisome clinical signs leading to a suspicion of cancer. Armed with this information, routine blood work and diagnostics able to be performed in-house or at the reference lab starts to round out this clinical picture and helps to form a differential list for specific cancers. This differential list can be used to guide further recommendations to clients, including diagnostics (including those that can be performed at the clinic and those that are advanced), referral to specialty hospitals, or empirical therapy. The session will then close with an overview of the current offerings of diagnostics on the market which may aid in early detection of cancer in companion animals.

IDEXX proceedings are distributed separately and are available here https://newyork.vetshow.com/idexx-proceedings-2025.

• 1.Recognize specific questions that can be easily integrated into current history-taking techniques to maximize information which may lead to a suspicion of cancer in the patient with specific and non-specific clinical signs.
• 2.Recall portions of the full physical examination necessary to be included in every patient examination to detect potentially subtle changes which can indicate early formation of cancer.
• 3.Understand strategies for reviewing routine blood work to gain additional insights into body systems and changes which may be a sign of cancer.
• 4.Learn strategies to identify appropriate recommendations for clients based on these early signs, with focus on additional diagnostics.
• 5.Review currently offered diagnostics to aid in the early diagnosis of cancer in canine and feline patients.