LONDON(National Times)- A zoo in Britain hailed on Friday for curing a cancer-stricken python named after Hollywood star Jodie Foster, who became the first snake to receive an innovative treatment combining surgery and electrochemotherapy (ECT).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chester Zoo, in north-western England, said the 4.5 metre (15-foot) reticulated python had fully recovered after first undergoing surgery and then receiving ECT following the return of a cancerous tumour in her jawbone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Animals are increasingly being treated for cancer with drugs and therapies once only used on humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other creatures, including a turtle and lizard, have had ECT treatment previously, according to case reports posted on medical science databases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Chester Zoo\u2019s veterinary team, who worked alongside University of Liverpool cancer specialists to adapt the pioneering treatment, believe it is a first for a snake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were facing the possibility of losing her as the tumour made it more and more difficult for her to eat,\u201d Chester Zoo vet Ian Ashpole said in a press release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo we worked with cancer specialists to see whether we could adapt electrochemotherapy for a snake. As far as we\u2019re aware, this is the first time it\u2019s ever been used in one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zookeepers first became concerned when 23-year-old Jodie, who has been at the zoo for two decades, began eating less and spending more time inactive in her habitat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bright and feisty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tests confirmed a mali\u00adgnant tumour in her jaw, which was removed through surgery. But it then returned, prompting another surgical procedure when ECT was also deployed to target any remaining cancerous cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Electrochemotherapy combines the use of cancer drug bleomycin with a series of electrical pulses directly on the tumour site which temporarily make cancer cells more permeable, allowing the drug to enter more effectively.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" LONDON(National Times)- A zoo in Britain hailed on Friday for curing a cancer-stricken python named after Hollywood star Jodie Foster, who became the first snake to receive an innovative treatment combining surgery and electrochemotherapy (ECT). Chester Zoo, in north-western England, said the 4.5 metre (15-foot) reticulated python had fully recovered after first undergoing surgery and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":131685,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-131684","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n