Nearly one in four dogs will develop cancer during their lifetime. Less is known about the cancer risks in cats, but one thing’s for certain — as our pets live longer lives, their risk of cancer increases.

Cancer treatment for pets relies primarily on surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. And now, some advances in cancer treatment for people — like immunotherapy and targeted radiation — are being applied to animals too. The priority with pets is to ensure the best quality of life possible, so veterinarians concentrate on minimizing the side effects of treatment.

Since most of these therapies are costly, veterinarians can offer other options too. It’s important to discuss your goals before determining if cost is a dealbreaker for treatment.