Veterinary Oncology is a new and rewarding aspect of Veterinary Science.
Surgery remains the most successful method for treating cancer in animals. The most common skin tumours in dogs include mast cell tumours, and squamous cell carcinomas. The vast majority of these will be cured with appropriate surgery. The most common skin tumours in cats are squamous cell carcinomas, and about 95% will be cured with surgery. Many other cancers are treated with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy, and survival times and cures are constantly improving. Chemotherapy in pets is generally associated with much less severe side effects than with humans due to less intensive dose regimes. Veterinary chemotherapy aims to improve survival times for as long as possible, but maintain a good quality of life for the patient. If you believe your pet requires a specialist in cancer diagnosis and treatment please organise a referral with your veterinarian. In addition to Maurine Thomson, the oncology referral service includes Dr Emma Warry,a resident in Oncology. Maurine is also assisted by Dr Matt Reeves and Alison Griffin, specialists in internal medicine.
Dr Maurine Thomson Specialist
BVSc FACVSc
Dr Maurine Thomson is a 1987 graduate of the University of Queensland. Maurine completed the first surgical internship at QVS in 1994 and then completed a surgical residency at Murdoch University in 1994-95. Maurine returned to the University of Queensland as a registrar in surgery. Then in 1997-98, Maurine completed a surgical oncology fellowship at Colorado State University. Maurine is a registered specialist in surgery and surgical oncology. She is also an adjunct associate professor and lectures at the University of Queensland in both oncology and surgery. She has contributed to over 10 articles and book chapters. Maurine re-joined the team at QVS in 2002 and takes referrals in soft tissue surgery and oncology.
Dr Kathleen O'Connell Oncology Resident
Bsc (Hons) BVSc (Hons)
Kathleen completed a bachelor of biomedical science in 1999 and then completed honours in immunobiology in 2000. She worked as a researcher on the melanoma trial conducted at the Princess Alexandra hospital in the Centre for Immunology and cancer research. Kathleen returned to the University of Queensland and studied veterinary science, graduating in 2006 with first class honours. She then worked in a small animal practice on Brisbane’s south side before joining the QVS team in 2008 as the oncology resident.
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