Cancer.
A diagnosis of cancer is not a death sentence. "A cancer" is not "THE CANCER". There are numerous forms of cancer (also called neoplasia, anaplastic activity, malignancy). Some are limited in their ability to cause damage. Many of these are relatively simple to treat.
Nobody "KNOWS" what is best for the individual cancer patient. 
Statistics deal with populations of cancer patients, not individuals. If statistics say patients with a particular form of malignancy have a "one in three chance of survival" what does that mean for an individual? If patient "A" is one of the 33% to survive, his chances of survival actually are 100%. If patient "B" is included with the typical patients that do not survive, there is little comfort in knowing he was part of the majority. No two individuals, human or otherwise, are totally identical. Collect all the information you can to help make the most beneficial choices for the patient and yourself. No Doctor, and certainly no hairdresser, neighbor, or friend at work, knows for certain what will happen, regardless of what choices you make.
Science tells us that everybody makes numerous cancer cells every day of their life. But the immune system of most people/pets kill off those abnormal cells before they get a chance to multiply. There are numerous theories why cancer develops in some individuals and not others. Except in the laboratory, no one gives someone cancer. If you think it was the "wrong" food, shampoo, vaccine, birth date or whatever, remember there are probably thousands of other individuals that had the same experience without developing cancer. Guilt trips do not help heal cancer.
Oncologists (cancer specialists) owe you a clear picture of where you/your pet are, what treatment involves, the risk/rewards of treatment options, and what they hope to accomplish with treatment. Many cancer patients are treated without any intent to actually eradicate the malignancy. Ask to have any unclear concepts or terms explained. A "good response" to the specialist might mean the patient lived an extra two weeks or that only one kidney was destroyed by the treatment.
Remember you have the right to make choices concerning treatment options before, during, and after the treatment. Resist the temptation to argue with the oncologist. Reading an article in "Family Circle" or "Omni" magazine does not make a person an expert in anything. Board certified oncologists spend their lives trying to stem an ever increasing flood of malignancies. But they're only human! They are likely to have their own focus when discussing treatment protocols. If you dislike their perspective, they are not "wrong" you are not "right". Get as many treatment options as you can from Doctors that have actually used those options. Your choices should be based on what seems best for this individual patient. You must believe with every fiber of your body the choices you make are the best for you and your pet.
Resist the urge to try everything you have ever read, heard, found on the Internet, or think you remember hearing Uncle George used to cure cancer in the "old country". Some treatments are incompatible. Others are irreversible. If part of a bone is removed but "they didn't get it all", no amount of traditional or alternative therapies will replace the missing pieces. Most treatments take some time before the patient shows a response. No therapy stands much of a chance of success if the caregiver jumps from therapy to therapy every few days. Often the treatment is causing a profound internal response even through no superficial changes are noted.
Let the Doctor know why you prefer to avoid a particular therapy. If the odds of eradicating a particular cancer are favorable but the patient's hair will turn grey, don't risk losing a life in order to prevent a cosmetic chance. Also, let the Doctor know if you prefer to utilize a particular therapy.
Every therapy is not necessarily useful for every type of cancer in every patient. There are almost always "other options." If you ask the Doctor "Is there anything else we can try?" the answer will almost always be "Yes". But remember we are treating a patient, not a disease in a test tube. Always consider what is best for the patient.
Published in DVM News Magazine, December, 1997
Lymphatic cancer in dogs: Median survival 16 months with combination of 4 chemotherapy agents. "Important to adjust treatment to individual animals." "...some level of toxicity is unavoidable"
Lymphatic cancer in cats: Median survival 4.2 months with multiple chemo agents. "source of significant mortality despite introduction of Feline Leukemia vaccines in 1985." "only 8% where FeLV (leukemia virus) positive." "Intestinal form has median survival rate of 1.6 months"
Bone cancer in dogs: One year survival of 11.2% with just surgery.
Recurrent or metastatic mast cell:Usually only beneficial for few weeks. No better than 20% response rate.
Breast cancer in dogs:"no benefit to spay (ovariohysterectomy) once carcinoma has formed." "Tumors larger than 5 cm (2") have a much poorer prognosis than those with smaller carcinomas."
Breast cancer in cats:"cats with tumors larger than 3 cm (1.2") in diameter have a 6 month median survival time."
Primary lung tumors in dogs: Following lung lobe removal, "median survival is only 10 weeks for dogs with lymph node metastasis". "Adjuvant chemotherapy...may be palliative." i.e. make feel better but does not alter end result.
From Dr. Villalobos at the Animal Cancer Center
"Cancer is the major killer of senior pets world wide."
"Many oncologists still remain pessimistic about the capability of systemic chemotherapy (to cure) soft tissue sarcomas."
Regarding vaccine associated sarcomas in cats; "Dr. Pederson suggests reducing vaccination as one reduces exposures to carcinogens, just as we quit smoking to prevent cancer."
Dr. Greg Ogilvie
Double board certified - Co-authored "Managing the Veterinary Cancer Patient"
Stated at the 1996 Oregon Veterinary Medical Association conference; "'mental attitude' plays a role in recovery from cancer." "If the owner, veterinarian, or both believe the pet will die of its cancer, they are right and the pet cannot be saved. The dedicated owner with realistic but optimistic expectations often has a dog or cat that experiences a long and durable remission or cure."
Chronotherapy
Recently "discovered" field of medicine that studies the interrelationship of when medications are administered and the rate of side effects or level of benefits. Basically a RE-discovery because acupuncturists, among others, have known for thousands of years that when a treatment is applied has a direct bearing on its effectiveness. When considering ovarian cancer, 50% of women given adriamycin (a chemotherapy drug) at 6:00 am, then cisplatin (another chemo drug) at 6:00 pm, were alive 5 years after starting treatment versus only 11% five year survival for patients receiving the same drugs in reverse order.
Immunomodulators
February, 1992
Immunomodulators are FDA approved drugs which cause a change in the way the body's immune defenses respond to a disease. Typically they are used to stimulate the immune system.
"ImmunoRegulin (brand) is a whole cell bacteria preparation..."i.e. Bacteria are injected intravenously.
Study of Acemannan (brand) required participants had not responded to traditional treatments. Of 43 dogs and cats in study, 26 (60%) showed evidence that pet's immune system was attacking the tumor after using Acemannan.
"They (immunomodulators) non-specifically stimulate the immune system." i.e. same premise as acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy, aroma therapy.
"Regressin (October, 1984) is an emulsion of mycobacterial cell walls which have been modified to reduce their toxic and allergic effects, and retain their antitumor activity...88% effective for immunotherapy of mixed mammary tumors and mammary adenocarcinomas of dogs." Injected directly into the tumor. The tumor dies and drains. Other tumors typically regress even though not injected. i.e. Same principle as homeopathy and nosodes.
As you can see...
The supposed gap between modern "traditional" medicine and centuries old "alternative" therapies is sometimes hard to define. There are many areas of overlapping perspectives. You owe it to your self and your pets to know all your options to you can choose wisely.
If you have any questions concerning options for treating cancer, please contact us.
"Scientists now recognize that our bodies' internal biological clocks play an important role...These fluctuating rhythms influence how we respond to diagnostic tests and procedures, medication, surgery, and other forms of treatment. As our knowledge about these rhythms increases, so will our ability to use that knowledge to devise new or more effective therapies for a variety of illnesses." There are none so blind as those who will not see.
Dr. Paul Marks
President and CEO of Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, November, 1996
"Close to half of all cancer cases could be prevented through changes in lifestyle." i.e. same recommendation "alternative therapists" have been expounding the past 40 centuries.
Cancer vaccines: "Cancer 'vaccines' are substances that are developed to stimulate the body's reaction against cancer cells that the patient already has...They are preferable to other kinds of drugs because they have relatively few side effects..." i.e. the sample principle as nosodes and isodes.
"As researchers begin to understand the unique characteristics of a particular cancer cell,...they will be able to refine their diagnoses and treatments to precisely fit each individual case." i.e. Most alternative therapies are rooted in treating each patient as an individual rather than focusing on just the disease.