Is Chemotherapy Dangerous for Animals?

Answer

Most common chemotherapeutic agents have a similar effect on animal cells. Many chemotherapeutic drugs have a so-called cytostatic or cytotoxic effect, which means that they stop cell division or are toxic to the cell. Because cancer cells are rapidly dividing cells, these cells are especially affected by the chemotherapy. These cytostatic or cytotoxic influences apply to all (eukaryotic (say higher)) cells, whether they are animal or human. So chemotherapy can also be curative for animals that have cancer. Besides, chemotherapeutic drugs were usually first extensively tested in laboratory animals.

In recent years, much attention has been paid in medical scientific research to so-called targeted molecular drugs, which are sometimes mentioned in the same breath as chemotherapy. These molecular drugs intervene on a certain small aspect of cell function (eg genetically) and are very specific. Such medicines will have a much more different effect on humans or animals, so the above applies much less or not there.

More information about cancer (treatment) can be found in a book that I recently wrote to the general public: A clear view on cancer. If a cell in the body derails … (see link http://www.wpg.be – search term: Lardon).

Sincerely
Filip Lardon