SCAM25043U Companion Animal Oncology - Cancer Surgery

Volume 2025/2026
Education

This course is a specialisation course at the Master of Companion Animal Clinical Science. The Master is a post graduate education targeted small animal veterinarians seeking Continual Professional Development (CPD).

Read more about the Master of Companion Animal Clinical Science.

Content

To extend the students knowledge, skills, and competences within the approach to, assessment and management of the companion animal cancer patient in need of surgery.  The course will extend the students assessment and management of companion animal cancer patients in need of surgery and plan the perioperative management of the patient including special anesthesia and analgesia requirements.

Learning Outcome

Having completed the course, the student shall be able to:

Knowledge
• Understand the etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical appearance of neoplastic disorders in companion animal patients with a focus on surgical intervention.
• Understand the influence of surgical neoplastic disorders in companion animal patients on the selection of anesthesia and pain alleviation.
• Use and continue to develop common and typical surgical techniques in the treatment of neoplastic disease in companion animal patients with a focus on acute symptom relief.
• Explain, reflect on, and discuss a problem-oriented and evidence-based work-up and treatment plan for companion animal patients with surgical neoplastic disease.
• Define and identify relevant anatomical structures.

Skills
• Perform atraumatic surgical techniques in particular concerning tissue handling and minimally invasive diagnostics regarding companion animal neoplastic disorders including fibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, oral cancer, mastocytoma, and mammary cancer.

• Evaluate, plan, and perform reconstructive surgery used for cancer patients.

• Assess companion animal cancer patients perioperatively with a focus on treatment effects, complications, and prognosis, including adjuvant therapy.

Competences
• Evaluate, plan, and manage a diagnostic work-up for a companion animal patient with neoplastic disease in need of surgical intervention.
• Plan advanced therapy/procedure for companion animal cancer patients including decision on the surgical dose in relation to specific neoplasias.
• Independently obtain, evaluate, and elaborate on evidence-based new knowledge within companion animal cancer surgery.
• Collaborate and communicate within and between specialist and non-specialist peers and lay persons involved in companion animal surgical cancer patient management.

Updated literature lists will be posted 1 month prior to course start. The participant should have theoretical knowledge prepared prior to participation.

Inclusion criteria for Master's Programme in Companion Animal Clinical Science: Degree in veterinary medicine and at least two years of relevant work experience.

SCAM13001U, SCAM13002U, SCAM13003U, SCAM13004U or one of the following certifications in Companion Animal Diseases:
• Danish Certificate in Small Animal Diseases, in danish known as "Fagdyrlæge i sygdomme hos hunde og katte".
• Swedish Specialist in Diseases of Dogs and Cats, in Swedish known as "Steg 1".
• Norwegian Specialist in Diseases of Dogs and Cats, in Norwegian known as "Specialisering i veterinærmedisin, spesialitet smådyr".
• Finnish Specialist in Diseases of Dogs and Cats, in Finnish known as “Pieneläinsairauksien erikoiseläinlääkäri".
A mixture of lectures, e-learning, theoretical and practical exercises. Case-study work.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 15
  • Preparation
  • 80
  • Theory exercises
  • 12
  • Practical exercises
  • 15
  • Exam
  • 40
  • Total
  • 162
Written
Oral
Credit
1 ECTS
Type of assessment
Other
Type of assessment details
The Ongoing Test consists of three parts:
a) a minimum of 80% active participation,
b) preparation and oral presentation of a problem-oriented clinical case, and
c) a written assignment: a master thesis protocol.

To pass the course, students must have passed both Exam 1 and Exam 2. However, students may attend Exam 2 without having passed Exam 1
Aid
All aids allowed except Generative AI
Marking scale
passed/not passed
Censorship form
No external censorship
More than one internal examiner.
Exam period

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Re-exam

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the grade passed, the student shall be able to:

Knowledge

• Understand the etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical appearance of neoplastic disorders in companion animal patients with a focus on surgical intervention.
• Understand the influence of surgical neoplastic disorders in companion animal patients on the selection of anesthesia and pain alleviation.
• Use and continue to develop common and typical surgical techniques in the treatment of neoplastic disease in companion animal patients with a focus on acute symptom relief.
• Explain, reflect on, and discuss a problem-oriented and evidence-based work-up and treatment plan for companion animal patients with with surgical neoplastic disease.
• Define and identify relevant anatomical structures.

Skills

• Perform atraumatic surgical techniques in particular with regard to tissue handling and minimally invasive diagnostics in regard to companion animal neoplastic disorders including fibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, oral cancer, mastocytoma, and mammary cancer.
• Evaluate, plan, and perform reconstructive surgery used for cancer patients.
• Assess companion animal cancer patients perioperatively with a focus on treatment effects, complications, and prognosis, including adjuvant therapy.

Competences

• Evaluate, plan, and manage a diagnostic work-up for a companion animal patient with neoplastic disease in need of surgical intervention.
• Plan advanced therapy/procedure for companion animal cancer patients including decision on the surgical dose in relation to specific neoplasias.
• Independently obtain, evaluate, and elaborate on evidence-based new knowledge within companion animal cancer surgery.
• Collaborate and communicate within and between specialist and non-specialist peers and lay persons involved in companion animal surgical cancer patient management.

 

Credit
5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Type of assessment details
The written assignment includes an exam with multiple-choice, short answer, and/or essay questions.

To pass the course, students must have passed both Exam 1 and Exam 2. However, students may attend Exam 2 without having passed Exam 1
Examination prerequisites

Students may attend this examination without approval of Exam 1 (SCAM25043E Ongoing Test).

Aid
All aids allowed except Generative AI
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Exam period

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Re-exam

For information about the exact exam dates, please visit the exam schedule.

Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the maximum grade 12, the student shall be able to:

Knowledge

• Understand the etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical appearance of neoplastic disorders in companion animal patients with a focus on surgical intervention.
• Understand the influence of surgical neoplastic disorders in companion animal patients on the selection of anesthesia and pain alleviation.
• Use and continue to develop common and typical surgical techniques in the treatment of neoplastic disease in companion animal patients with a focus on acute symptom relief.
• Explain, reflect on, and discuss a problem-oriented and evidence-based work-up and treatment plan for companion animal patients with surgical neoplastic disease.
• Define and identify relevant anatomical structures.

Skills

• Perform atraumatic surgical techniques in particular with regard to tissue handling and minimally invasive diagnostics in regard to companion animal neoplastic disorders including fibrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, oral cancer, mastocytoma, and mammary cancer.
• Evaluate, plan, and perform reconstructive surgery used for cancer patients.
• Assess companion animal cancer patients perioperatively with a focus on treatment effect, complications, and prognosis, including adjuvant therapy.

Competences

• Evaluate, plan, and manage a diagnostic work-up for a companion animal patient with neoplastic disease in need of surgical intervention.
• Plan advanced therapy/procedure for companion animal cancer patients including decision on the surgical dose in relation to specific neoplasias.
• Independently obtain, evaluate, and elaborate on evidence-based new knowledge within companion animal cancer surgery.
• Collaborate and communicate within and between specialist and non-specialist peers and lay persons involved in companion animal surgical cancer patient management.