If there is no evidence of malignant tumors in patients who underwent cancer screening alongside regular health check-ups, it is recommended to monitor appetite, vitality, and other signs. Re-testing with the cancer screening kit should be performed during the next health check-up at intervals of 6-12 months.
Patients who show results in the high range (4-5, 55% or higher) on the cancer screening kit are at a higher risk of progressing to malignant tumors. If no evidence of malignant tumors is found during health check-ups alongside the cancer screening, it is recommended to monitor appetite, vitality, and other signs, and to recheck with the cancer screening kit at intervals of 1-3 months.
The cancer screening kit can be used for prognosis and metastasis evaluation after surgery in patients diagnosed with malignant tumors. It is recommended to recheck the patient’s condition 6-8 weeks after the tumor has been removed, and then at 1-3 month intervals based on the patient’s status. If the malignant tumor has been completely resected, the results should improve to a lower range. However, if recurrence or metastasis occurs, the results may increase again.
[No. 31] Can the cancer screening kit be used during chemotherapy?
Yes, the cancer screening kit can be used during chemotherapy. It can help monitor the patient's response to treatment, track changes in tumor markers, and assess for potential recurrence or metastasis. However, it is important to interpret the results in conjunction with other diagnostic tests and the overall clinical condition of the patient, as chemotherapy can affect the immune system and tumor markers. Regular follow-up with the healthcare provider is essential during this period.
According to internal experimental results, after administering 0.5mg/kg of PDS once daily (sid PO) for one week, the ECPKA autoantibody levels were measured to be 25-30% lower compared to the control group. The levels were observed to recover starting two weeks after discontinuation of the medication. Therefore, it is recommended to reduce or discontinue steroid medications and wait at least 2-4 weeks before conducting the cancer screening test. If topical steroid preparations or eye drops containing steroids were used, they could also influence the results, so it is advisable to wait 2-4 weeks before testing in these cases as well.
In relatively younger patients (under 7 years old) where no malignant tumors have been identified, if Immunoglobulin G levels are repeatedly measured as low in the cancer screening kit, it is possible to select the Aniscan 2 Kit to measure Immunoglobulin G levels alone for monitoring. This allows for a more focused evaluation of the IgG concentration in these cases.
The concentration of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the blood is influenced by the lifespan of red blood cells (which is known to be 86-106 days, or an average of 115 days in dogs). If blood sugar is well controlled, it is advisable to measure HbA1c at regular intervals of 1-3 months, in consultation with the veterinarian. Conditions such as hyperadrenocorticism, steroid medication use, splenectomy, and anemia, which can affect red blood cell lifespan, may also influence HbA1c levels and should be taken into account when interpreting the results.
If the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) result is very high when first tested, it suggests a higher likelihood that the liver mass may be malignant. If surgery or chemotherapy is not performed and the mass is monitored, it is recommended to recheck AFP levels at intervals of 1-3 months in consultation with the veterinarian. On the other hand, if AFP levels do not increase, the mass may be a benign condition such as nodular hyperplasia or a cyst, which are common age-related changes. In this case, it is recommended to monitor the size of the mass through ultrasound every 4-6 months.
A dog's immune system is not fully mature until it reaches around 1 year of age, so early vaccinations in puppies and interference from maternal derived antibodies (MDA) can reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine. To confirm the development of immunity, it is advisable to conduct an antibody titer test at least 2 weeks after the last vaccination booster in puppies, once their initial vaccination series is completed. This will help evaluate the level of antibody formation and ensure the puppy is adequately protected.
For dogs over 1 year of age, it is recommended to include an antibody titer test as part of their annual health check-up. Annual booster vaccinations may be unnecessary and can lead to over-vaccination. By checking antibody levels each year, only additional vaccinations when needed can prevent the side effects of excessive vaccination. Senior dogs, due to various reasons, may experience a decrease in antibody levels if booster vaccinations are discontinued. For senior dogs with decreased immunity, it is important to check for any insufficient antibodies and administer additional vaccinations if necessary.