One of the UK’s leading cancer units for animals has enhanced its elite service for patients and referring vets by introducing electrochemotherapy treatment (ECT).

The renowned Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in Solihull, now offers the breakthrough therapy as part of its industry-leading, specialist-led oncology service.

The arrival of ECT at Willows is an exciting development, as it can make a dramatic difference to the effective treatment of a wide-range of tumours while also minimising complications and side effects.

Willows’ Head of Oncology, the highly-experienced small animal surgery and oncology specialist Dr Stephen Baines, says the new ECT service will be a huge help in caring for pets with cancer, with the new initiative driven by Dr Chiara Penzo, one of Willows’ medical oncology specialists.

Dr Penzo, pictured, said: “Electrochemotherapy is a reliable and versatile treatment which can be performed in virtually any patient, whatever their health status.

“It is rapid, safe and efficient, and is a cost-effective treatment which enhances the quality of life of treated patients.

“ECT also has low systemic toxicity, as the drug concentration in normal cells is low, it results in minimal or no functional impact and treated regions heal without damage to healthy tissues. Side effects from ECT are also minimal.

“It’s versatile, too. In principle, almost any type of tumour can be tackled effectively with electrochemotherapy.

“Overall, the rate of complete tumour regression following electrochemotherapy treatment is high and response to ECT may be long-lasting.

“Even in patients with a partial response, ECT can result in improvement in the quality of life, especially in terms of reduced pain, reduction in bleeding, and reduced need for medical care.”

Willows, part of Linnaeus, is widely acknowledged for its expert cancer care. It is the only UK small animal hospital to have active specialists in veterinary oncology from both a medical and surgical background, forming one of the most experienced specialist oncology teams in the country.

The expertise and experience of Willows’ team is underpinned with leading-edge technology, world class diagnostics and surgical techniques which all contributes to helping pets with cancer stay well for longer.

Willows offers specialist services in anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology, clinical nutrition, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery and spinal surgery.

To find out more about Willows’ wide range of specialist services, visit www.willows.uk.net or search for Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service on Facebook.

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