Dr Sue Cancer Vet

Dr Sue Cancer Vet Veterinary cancer specialist, vlogger, speaker, book author & focused on early detection & helping pets live longer & live well. www.drsuecancervet.com

Sue Ettinger, DVM, Diplomate ACVIM (Oncology)

Time will heal, but for now, I’m allowing myself to grieve. 🙂⁠⁠Some days are harder than others. Some days I smile at a ...
06/10/2026

Time will heal, but for now, I’m allowing myself to grieve. 🙂⁠

Some days are harder than others. Some days I smile at a memory, and other days I’m reminded of just how much space Penelope filled in my life.⁠

I’ve learned that healing isn’t about moving on; it’s about learning how to carry the love, the memories, and the loss together.⁠

So for now, I’m giving myself permission to feel it all. The sadness. The gratitude. The heartbreak. The joy of having loved her for so many years.⁠

And if you’re grieving a beloved pet too, I hope you’ll give yourself that same grace. 💜🐾

06/09/2026

7️⃣ things that I don't care about anymore after 25 years as a veterinary oncologist, and yes... I started my career when I was 12. 😉⁠

Keep watching to learn!

06/08/2026

☀️ HOT TOPIC: Can your pet travel while receiving chemotherapy? 🏝️🚗⁠

Most often YES, but watch to learn my tips and best practices.⁠

Disclaimer: All pets and cases are different; please consult your oncologist or veterinarian for guidance on what to do for your pet.⁠



06/05/2026

Dear algorithm,⁠
You’ve been given your assignment. ⁠🫡⁠
Thanks⁠



To my veterinary colleagues, imagine being part of a supportive, FREE, and thoughtfully curated professional community d...
06/04/2026

To my veterinary colleagues, imagine being part of a supportive, FREE, and thoughtfully curated professional community designed to help you feel more confident managing mast cell tumors and other oncology cases. 🩺⁠

That’s exactly what my private MCT Facebook group has become, now with over 2.4K veterinary professionals and growing. I’ve loved watching this evolve into such a valuable educational and collaborative space.⁠

What you can expect: ↓⁠

⭐️ Real case discussions⁠
⭐️ Clinical support from colleagues⁠
⭐️ Conversations around STELFONTA® and other MCT treatments⁠
⭐️ Insight from veterinarians, technicians/nurses, assistants, and other veterinary professionals, all learning together⁠

I’m personally active in the group, answering questions, discussing cases, and sharing experiences right alongside you.⁠

The goal is simple: to create a space where veterinary professionals can ask questions openly, learn from one another, and feel supported while navigating these cases.⁠

And while mast cell tumors are a major focus, we also discuss a variety of other canine and feline skin tumors as well. 🐕🐈⁠

Link to request to join:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1KyBZzzTCA/
⁠⁠
P.S. There are a couple of membership questions required to complete first, and I review requests about once a week. If you don't fill out the questions, you won't be approved.)⁠

P.P.S If you're a pet parent and interested in a free Facebook group to communicate with other pet parents going through this treatment, I highly recommend checking out the STELFONTA Injection For Dogs with Mast Cell Tumors ⁠group.

06/03/2026

Three medications. Non-negotiable. 💉⚠️⁠

If a dog is receiving STELFONTA® treatment for a mast cell tumor, the essential medications are not “optional prep work.” They are a critical part of the treatment protocol.⁠

And yes, without them, a dog can potentially experience a severe, even life-threatening, reaction.⁠

Here’s why:⁠

One of the major mechanisms of STELFONTA® is mast cell degranulation, meaning mast cells release inflammatory compounds, including histamine, as the tumor breaks down.⁠

That’s exactly why these medications matter. ⬇️⁠

💊 Corticosteroid (like prednisone)⁠
Started at least TWO days before treatment to help reduce inflammation and minimize complications⁠

💊 H1 blocker (like diphenhydramine/Benadryl)⁠
Helps counteract histamine release associated with mast cell degranulation⁠

💊 H2 blocker (like famotidine/Pepcid)⁠
Helps protect the gastrointestinal tract from excess histamine effects⁠

Per the protocol, the H1 and H2 blockers must be started the morning of treatment, but I have the owners start all three medications above two days before treatment (plus the gabapentin the morning of - see below)⁠

These medications significantly decrease the risk of serious adverse reactions during and after treatment.⁠

Pain medications are also prescribed. Personally, I often have my clients administer gabapentin at home the morning of treatment as well.⁠

And thankfully, there is a FREE Essential Medication Tracker available on stelfonta.com to help owners stay organized before treatment day. 🙌🏻⁠

Bottom line:⁠
If your veterinarian emphasizes these essential medications, it’s because they matter A LOT and truly are essential.⁠

Questions about STELFONTA® prep medications? ⁠
Drop them below. ⬇️⁠


05/15/2026

This holiday was actually on Monday, but tbh, as I’ve still been grieving the loss of Penelope and some things in my life are still a mess, so we missed the day. However, we still celebrate Pet Cancer Awareness Month in May, so I had to post it. 💜⁠

Keep watching to learn what I wish every cat and dog parent knew about cancer in pets. 💡⁠



05/13/2026

It’s no secret I’m a fan of STELFONTA® 😏 and if you’d seen the cases I have, you would be too.⁠

Allow me to break this treatment down:⁠

STELFONTA® is an intratumoral treatment for mast cell tumors in dogs.⁠
That means it’s injected directly into the tumor, where it works locally to destroy tumor cells from the inside out. ⁠

The best part is that this can be administered by vet techs, general practitioners, and oncologists, provided they have proper training. (There are tons of free resources available.)⁠

What makes it so impactful?⁠

✔️ It can be a great option for dogs who aren’t ideal surgical candidates - though it can be used for select surgical candidates as well⁠

✔️It’s a treatment option performed with sedation and not anesthesia, which is a great alternative where anesthesia might be risky, or owners are looking for a non-anesthesia option⁠

✔️ It can help preserve function and avoid more invasive procedures in certain locations⁠

✔️ And in the right case, it can deliver really meaningful outcomes⁠

But, as with anything in oncology, case selection matters.⁠

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s a tool. And when used appropriately, it’s a powerful one.⁠

For me, I’ve treated well over a hundred MCTs with it at this point, and it’s been a way to offer another option, especially in cases where surgery wasn’t ideal or would significantly impact their quality of life.⁠

And that’s what I care about most.⁠

Not just treating cancer…⁠
but helping pets live comfortably, functionally, and fully. 🐾💜⁠

If you’ve used STELFONTA®, I’d love to hear your experience.⁠


Although I’ve worn many titles throughout my life, being a mother has always been my favorite one. 💜⁠⁠And over the years...
05/10/2026

Although I’ve worn many titles throughout my life, being a mother has always been my favorite one. 💜⁠

And over the years, I’ve learned that motherhood takes many forms.⁠

For some, it’s raising children and watching them grow into adults you’re endlessly proud of, and learning how to stay strong when they’re away at college, and your house suddenly feels a little quieter.⁠

For some, it’s being a devoted dog mom, structuring your days around dog walks, routines, medications, endless hair cleanup, cuddles, and unconditional love.⁠

And for others, Mother’s Day can feel complicated. Heavy. Painful. A reminder of loss, distance, grief, or relationships that were never easy to begin with.⁠

So today, I just want to acknowledge all of it.⁠

The joy.⁠
The sacrifice.⁠
The pride.⁠
The longing.⁠
The love around ‘mom’ that exists in so many different forms.⁠

And I especially want to thank my own mother , who has been one of the greatest pillars of strength in my life. Through every season, every challenge, and every success, her love and support have always grounded me more than she probably knows.⁠

To all the moms, stepmoms, grandmothers, dog and cat moms, caregivers, mentors, and women nurturing others in ways both seen and unseen, I’m thinking of you today.⁠

Happy Mother’s Day. 🌷🐾⁠


05/08/2026

I’ve spent over two decades walking pet owners through a cancer diagnosis. ⁠

Sitting with them in the hardest moments.⁠
Helping them make decisions no one ever wants to make.⁠

I’ve spoken about loss, prepared families for it, and held space for it for years.⁠

But this is the first time… it’s been my own dog who succumbed to cancer.⁠

There’s a depth to this grief you can understand intellectually…⁠
but not fully feel until you’re living it.⁠

The quiet moments.⁠
The empty spaces.⁠
The replaying of memories, or decisions, wishing for just a little more time.⁠

And now, I’m learning what it means to move forward without her and working on giving myself the grace that I did everything a doctor and mom could do.⁠

Right now, I’m not just “moving on”… but moving with her, just carrying Penelope with me in a different way.⁠

In this past week, some days have felt lighter.⁠
Some still feel heavy, but I know most will be a mix of both.⁠

I’m finding comfort in the memories and in the love that doesn’t go anywhere, even when they do.⁠

This experience has changed me in both ways, as an oncologist and as a person.⁠

I’ve always had compassion for what my clients and patients go through.⁠
But now, I carry a piece of that experience in my own heart. 💔⁠

And because of that, I will sit with people differently. I will listen more deeply and understand the weight of their decisions more personally.⁠

If you’ve ever loved and lost a pet, especially to cancer, please know I see you. I feel you, and now, more than ever, I truly understand you.⁠

Thank you for giving me the space to grieve, reflect, and share this part of my journey. 💜🐾⁠

Together we will continue to work together to kick cancer’s butt! 💪🏻⁠

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Brewster, NY

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