Pet Pig Nemo Receives Lymphoma Treatment for Cancer

When farmer George Goldern when to feed his six pet pigs earlier this year, he found that 730-pound Nemo was no longer eating and lying in the mud.

After a quick doctor's visit, Goldner found that Nemo had blood cancer B-cell lymphoma.

According to hospital researchers, they had never treated a pig for cancer, but this would not deter them from helping the farmer who loved the animal desparately, according to Reuters.

Just four months after Goldner rushed the pig to the hospital, Nemo made history as the first kown pig to undergo a lymphoma treatment, and successfully leave researchers with hope for advancements in treating cancer in large animals.

Before when large animals were diagnosed with cancer, it was pretty much impossible to treat them," said Emily Barrell, a resident who picked all of Nemo's chemotherapy drugs and delivered them, according to Yahoo News. "Now we have a model to base it on."

Barrell notes that because pigs have larger necks than humans, their veins may have trouble receiving helpful medications.

Doctors at CUH consulted with researchers about possibly implanting a vascular access port in which a small metal port with a silicone cover could be placed directly under Nemo's skin and behind his ear.

The port would contain a catheter that could run through a jugular vein in his neck, allowing Nemo to receive the sort of cancer treatment administered to dogs and humans.

Nemo is now believed to be in remission, thanks to the doctors, and assuming everything continues to go to plan.

"(Nemo) is a really special story about people being innovative and owners being dedicated," Barrell said.