Oncology
Oncology is defined as the specialty branch of veterinary medicine concerned with the study of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of cancer and tumors, including the origin, development, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of malignant neoplasms. All specialties of AIMVT are further defined to include the advanced knowledge of wellness and preventative medicine, a detailed knowledge of complex, acute and chronic disease states, and a thorough knowledge of the anatomy, pathology and pathophysiology of animals.
Technicians involved in the discipline of Oncology must learn to treat the disease while managing their patients' potential discomfort and the owners' emotional needs. The balance can be a delicate one. Necessary tasks encompass a wide range of knowledge and skills:
Oncology is defined as the specialty branch of veterinary medicine concerned with the study of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of cancer and tumors, including the origin, development, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of malignant neoplasms. All specialties of AIMVT are further defined to include the advanced knowledge of wellness and preventative medicine, a detailed knowledge of complex, acute and chronic disease states, and a thorough knowledge of the anatomy, pathology and pathophysiology of animals.
Technicians involved in the discipline of Oncology must learn to treat the disease while managing their patients' potential discomfort and the owners' emotional needs. The balance can be a delicate one. Necessary tasks encompass a wide range of knowledge and skills:
- The ability to prepare and perform bone marrow aspirates
- The ability to gather and prepare tissue samples for culture and histopathologic diagnosis
- A working knowledge of the mechanism of action of commonly used chemotherapy agents
- A working knowledge of commonly used and recognized chemotherapy protocols
- The ability to calculate drug dosages correctly
- A working knowledge of the safe handling of chemotherapy agents from mixing, to delivery and disposal
- A working knowledge of the side effects of chemotherapy agents and the ability to identify and ameliorate them
- A working knowledge of advanced chemotherapeutic procedures such as intracavitary chemotherapy administration and/or electrochemotherapy
- A working knowledge of commonly used and recognized radiotherapy protocols
- A working knowledge of the side effects due to radiation therapy treatments, and the ability to identify and ameliorate them
- A working knowledge of BASIC radiobiology and physics
- A working knowledge of radiation safety
- A working knowledge of BASIC cell biology ( ie. Ca vs Sa )