What to read, watch, and listen to in veterinary oncology this World Cancer Day

February 4 marks World Cancer Day, a moment to reflect on how cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment continue to evolve across veterinary medicine. One recent example is the FDA’s full approval of verdinexor tablets (Laverdia; Anivive Lifesciences), an oral therapy that expands treatment options for dogs with lymphoma.

To mark the day, we’ve rounded up a couple dvm360 articles, podcasts, expert interviews, and Shorts with quick takeaways. Together, they offer practical guidance on staging, diagnostics, and treatment decisions in general practice, alongside disease-specific insights in canine and feline cancer, emerging therapies, and the human experiences that shape oncology care.

Articles:

Understanding oncology diagnostics and therapeutics: Written by two leading veterinary oncologists, this in-depth article breaks down how primary care teams can approach cancer staging, diagnostics, and treatment. It highlights in-house staging essentials, emerging noninvasive tests, and oncology therapies now accessible in general practice, clarifying when to treat, when to refer, and how to better guide client conversations.

Feline small cell GI lymphoma: A cancer that overlaps with IBD: A practical overview of recognizing, diagnosing, and managing this often elusive cancer, including why this slow-moving cancer is frequently missed, how it overlaps with irritable bowel disease, and emerging treatment options.

Practical tips for canine lymphoma diagnostics, screening, and treatment: A slideshow with must-know tips from oncology specialist Pamela Jones, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), on canine lymphoma care that veterinarians can apply immediately.

Oncology resources for the general practitioner: A curated list of practical oncology resources for primary care veterinarians, shared by Ann E. Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology, SAIM), director of Pet Health Information at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in New York, New York, during a lecture at the 2025 New York Vet Show.

Podcast episodes:

5 common oncology mistakes: Oncology specialist Rachel Venable, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), highlights common diagnostic and surgical pitfalls in veterinary cancer care and explains how proper cytology, histopathology, and staging can change outcomes.

Veterinary oncologist overcomes cancer herself: On The Vet Blast Podcast, Renée Alsarraf, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), reflects on how her own cancer diagnosis reshaped her perspective as a veterinary oncologist, from the emotional dynamics of the waiting room to what companion animals can teach us about coping, connection, and care.

Expert interviews:

Bone marrow transplantation at the intersection of human and veterinary medicine: At the 2025 ACVIM Forum in Louisville, Kentucky, physician-scientist Frederick R. Appelbaum, MD, traced the development of bone marrow transplantation, from its origins in canine research to its role in modern human oncology, and discussed how advances in immunotherapy may eventually translate back to veterinary patients.

Clinical insights into feline mast cell disease: Feline mast cell disease isn’t just a smaller version of the canine disease. At the 2025 dvm360 Fetch National Harbor conference, Zachary Wright, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), explains how mast cell disease in cats differs biologically and clinically from dogs, highlighting why cutaneous tumors are often benign, and what clinicians should watch for when visceral disease is the real concern.

Shorts:

Why pet cancer treatment isn't one-size-fits-all: No two lymphoma cases are the same. In 60 seconds, Pamela D. Jones, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), explains how veterinarians must tailor therapy for each patient, like a chef perfecting a recipe.

Do stem cells cause tumors?: Rebecca Windsor, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology) addresses a common myth in regenerative medicine: can stem cell therapy cause tumors? Watch this minute-long video to learn the answer.