Oncology - Appointments
What will happen at an appointment?
An appointment includes taking a history, performing a physical examination, and a discussion of prognosis and treatment options. The patient will typically remain in the hospital for 1-2 days for purposes of evaluation of the extent of the tumor-called staging.
Options are presented to the pet owner describing what tests are necessary to reach the final diagnosis or, if the diagnosis is already known, what treatments are recommended. All of the resources of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at North Carolina State University are available for use, if needed. At North Carolina State University, we are fortunate to have a highly educated and enthusiastic faculty of veterinarians to support the health care process. Additionally, very high quality diagnostic and therapeutic options are available. In the Oncology Service, we are very concerned that pet owners make the best possible decision regarding the care of their pet.
What will it cost?
The fee for the consultation with the oncology service is approximately $160. There are additional costs for emergencies. A typical visit including the clinical evaluation of extent of disease (which may include radiographs, ultrasound, aspiration of lymph nodes) costs $600-800. If advanced imaging techniques are needed, such as a CT scan, the cost may be higher. Treatment costs vary widely, depending on the treatment plan agreed upon.
There are research treatment protocols which may pay for treatment or defray some of the costs associated with treatment. A pet must be evaluated by the service before we can determine if they are eligible for one of the funded protocols.