Pet Parents Decision Map — My Pet Has Cancer, What Do I Do?
From diagnosis to choice, one step at a time
Every step after diagnosis has options. This map walks you through five steps — diagnose, check samples, choose a route, save tissue, contact us — so you can see the whole path before you decide.
When the word "tumor" lands on your pet, what you need most is a clear map: what to do first, what comes next, and what options exist at each step. Keep one sentence in mind: read it first, then treat it. This map unfolds in five steps, each with actionable guidance.
Step 1: Get a diagnosis first
Early tumors often show no obvious symptoms, but these signals deserve attention:
- A lump or abnormal swelling, growing quickly or feeling firm
- Wounds or ulcers that won't heal
- Loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, lethargy
- Unexplained vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stool
- Breathing difficulty, coughing, lameness
Diagnosis takes three steps: clinical exam (palpation + imaging to assess extent and metastasis) → pathology (biopsy or post-surgery histology to confirm type and grade — the most important step) → staging (which drives treatment direction). Online information helps you understand but cannot replace pathology and staging.
Step 2: Check your sample type — it decides your route
PETcura's three precision routes have different sample requirements. First check whether fresh tumor tissue is available — the sample is the "ticket" to each route: preserve the sample properly first, then choose your path calmly. Preserving is not a treatment decision today; it keeps the right to choose tomorrow.
| Sample condition | Routes available |
|---|---|
| Fresh tumor tissue available (upcoming surgery/biopsy, or re-surgery after recurrence) | All three: mRNA immunotherapy (dogs only) · drug sensitivity testing (dogs & cats) · gene sequencing |
| Only paraffin blocks / aspirates (surgery already done) | Gene sequencing (qualified FFPE blocks/slides can be tested) |
Drug sensitivity testing needs fresh tissue; the mRNA study needs fresh or properly frozen tissue. If only paraffin blocks remain, ask whether re-sampling is possible.
Step 3: What each route answers
| Route | Level · Verb | Question answered | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gene sequencing for targeted drugs | Molecular · Read | What drug directions exist (154-gene panel; paraffin blocks accepted) | Coming soon |
| Organoid drug sensitivity testing | Cellular · Try | Which drug really works (48 drugs, ~10-day report) | Available now |
| Personalized mRNA immunotherapy | Immune · Teach | Awakening your pet's own immune system (customized per dog) | IIT study recruiting |
These are not "better or worse" — they look at the same tumor from different levels and complement each other. For the treatment framework (surgery/chemo/radiation/targeted drugs/PD-1/mRNA, each with its role), see the full comparison.
Key window: save tissue on surgery day
This is the most important step in the whole map: surgery is not just treatment — it is the critical sampling window.
- RNA sequencing requires high-quality fresh tumor tissue; paraffin blocks usually cannot substitute
- By the time pathology results arrive (usually 3–7 days), the surgery-day window is gone
- So even before pathology results are ready, have fresh tissue properly frozen on surgery day (dedicated preservation solution + cold chain)
Freezing is not a treatment decision today — it keeps your options open for tomorrow. It is the shared prerequisite for both the mRNA study and drug sensitivity testing. Read first, then treat — sampling is where this path begins. More: why surgery-day sampling is the key window (education) and the Surgery-Day Sampling Guide (action guide).
Step 4: Contact PETcura
Add WeChat petcura to reach the PETcura team:
- Enrollment evaluation (mRNA immunotherapy): share pathology/imaging/expected surgery date/city → the team matches a partner hospital → the attending veterinarian assesses
- Testing inquiries (drug sensitivity / gene sequencing): confirm sample conditions, preservation solution, and shipping arrangements
- You may also read participating cities and process for hospital coverage
Learn more: Full treatment comparison · Pet Cancer Decision Handbook (17 articles) · Pet owner FAQ