This study, A Multi-Institutional Collaboration to Understand Neoplasia, Treatment and Survival of Snakes, is just published in the journal Animals (January 21 2022). Although snakes seem to have more tumors than other species of reptiles studied, nothing much is known about the type of caners they get or the best forms of treatment. Looking at medical records and pathology data of 133 snakes from 65 species and 6 different institutions, Tara Harrison and her colleagues discovered that most tumors in snakes are malignant. Most animals were not given any treatment, but the ones that received surgery to remove their tumors survived a little longer. Though there may be several explanations for this, the researchers suggest that all tumors in snakes be tested for cancer since early diagnosis and treatment my help the animals survive longer.
