How does the appointment work?
Give us a call and let us know you want a skin cancer screening appointment. We will book you in for a nurse consultation where a full body physical exam will be performed and we will discuss the location of the lumps you are concerned about. We must clip a small patch of fur from the skin so that the device can scan properly, so let us know if this is a problem. If a lump receives a high score, we can discuss sampling the mass. If the mass scores low, then we recommend monitoring for any changes.
Will the device hurt my dog or affect the lump if it is cancer?
No, the device is non-invasive and heats the skin by 6°C / 42°F with an LED light, which is safe for everyone involved.
What if the mass scores low?
This means that the mass’s cancer risk is below 10%, and we are happy for the mass to be monitored and rescanned if there are any changes in its size or texture.
What if a mass scores moderate?
This means the mass’s cancer risk scored between 10% and 50%, indicating a moderate chance the mass is malignant and that further investigation is recommended. The mass might have shown some suspicious thermal features, so we would highly recommend further investigating. By not sampling the mass, there is a risk that a malignant mass might be missed. Early detection offers better prognosis and treatment options. The result could still return as benign, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
What if a mass scores high?
This means that the mass’s cancer risk is above 50% and further investigation is required, as there is a high chance of malignancy.
During a scan, one mass received a diagnosis and another did not. Why is this?
Each mass is screened using the HT Vista screening algorithm, and if a mass meets the specificity requirements, it will also receive a diagnosis. In a case where two masses were scanned, only one of them met those requirements and therefore received a diagnosis.
My dog has a lump on his eye or foot pad. Can we scan it?
Unfortunately, no. The light is too close to the eye and could cause damage, and the footpad cannot be scanned with healthy surrounding tissue, which is needed to complete the scan.
My dog has a lump on his testicle. Can we scan it?
No. We cannot scan testicles, mammary tissue, or lymph nodes because they are different tissue types and react differently than dermal masses.
My dog’s lump is ulcerated. Can it be scanned?
Unfortunately, ulcerated masses are excluded from the algorithm due to their biological nature.
Does the size of the mass matter?
Yes, the mass must be at least 0.5 cm.