Dr Jack presents articles on the world of veterinary medicine, pets care and animal issues. If you have ideas for topics you'd like to see covered, please write Dr Jack.
Some people are surprised to find out that animals get cancer.
As a veterinarian, I'm always surprised by this reaction, since I assume that everyone knows that cancer is a common biological process, found not only in humans, but also in mammals, reptiles, birds and even plants. We haven't yet learned how to prevent or cure cancer, in its many different forms. We have learned a great deal about what goes on in the body when a cancer starts growing. Some cancer cell types elude the body's defense mechanisms. Also, the diseased or aging immune system loses ability to efficiently destroy newly formed tumors.