VDI offers a range of specialty cancer blood tests, each having different applications. Below are 6 options for when to consider using a VDI panel and which panels may be most appropriate. Scroll down to read more on each case.
- Identified Mass
- Mass Removal
- Evaluate Therapy
- Ain’t Doing Right (ADR)
- Chronic GI Issues
- Stem Cell Therapy
- BONUS! Disease Progression
1. Identified Mass
To Biopsy or Not to Biopsy
If you have identified a mass but the pet parent is unsure of biopsy, or if the location or patient status makes it tricky, a VDI cancer panel can help determine if the mass is more likely malignant or benign. This can help make the decision to biopsy or not easier, as well as give you a baseline for monitoring.
Relevant Panels
2. Mass Removal
Post-surgery screening for metastasis
If you have identified a mass but the pet parent is unsure of biopsy, or if the location or patient status makes it tricky, a VDI cancer panel can help determine if the mass is more likely malignant or benign. This can help make the decision to biopsy or not easier, as well as give you a baseline for monitoring.
Relevant Panels
3. Evaluate Therapy
Is cancer therapy effective?
Whether you decide to use traditional, holistic, or a combination of therapies, making sure the protocol is effective and having the desired outcome is important. VDI cancer panels utilize disease activity markers that rise and fall with the status of the disease, making them extremely useful in monitoring therapy effectiveness at a low cost. Read more about cancer monitoring here.
Relevant Panels
4. Ain’t Doing Right (ADR)
Sick patient with unknown cause – could it be cancer?
Sometimes clinical signs present with no clear source. If you’re wanting to rule-out cancer, especially in high risk breeds and older animals, then VDI cancer panels are a great way to start. Depending on the clinical signs, you can choose one of the many panels to get to the bottom of it.
Relevant Panels
5. Chronic GI Signs
Chronic Enteropathies – GI Lymphoma could be the culprit
GI patients are notoriously complex workups. VDI has a couple GI-related cancer panels that help aid in the rule-in of GI Lymphoma and other diseases that may be the cause of the ongoing GI distress. In cats especially, the Advanced GI Panel is a great starting spot for all GI workups since it looks for multiple diseases, including LSA, at the same time.
Relevant Panels
6. Pre-Stem Cell Therapy Panel
Don’t throw fuel on a fire.
Pre-stem cell therapy, commonly used in patients with degenerative joint disease as well as some other conditions, involves giving new undifferentiated stem cells to the body. What you don’t want to do is give those stem cells to patient with cancer, which can cause additional tumor growth and worsen the condition. Screening to make sure the patient is cancer free is an important step to limit adverse outcomes.
Relevant Panels
7. BONUS! Disease Progression
Haven’t officially diagnosed cancer – let’s monitor the values.
Sometimes the results of bloodwork, imaging, pathology and physicals is not as clear cut as we’d like. VDI’s cancer panels are useful tools for monitoring the changes in the patient’s biomarkers to determine if we have advancing disease, stable disease, transient conditions, or chronic but indolent conditions. Monitoring disease progression like this can help determine when more drastic efforts need to be initiated to either diagnose or treat a disease.