23-Year-Old Python Receives World-First Electrochemotherapy for Cancer

1-Minute Brief

This marks the first reported use of electrochemotherapy, a treatment developed for humans, to treat cancer in a snake.

Key Facts

• The reticulated python is 23 years old and named Jodie Foster.
• The snake underwent electrochemotherapy, a procedure typically used on humans.
• Following treatment, the python reportedly returned to a 'bright and feisty self.'
• The tumour was described as cancerous and nearly killed the snake.
• The procedure has been described as a world-first for reptiles.

What Happened

A 23-year-old reticulated python named Jodie Foster received electrochemotherapy, a cancer treatment usually reserved for humans, after developing a life-threatening tumour.

Why It Matters

The use of a human cancer treatment on a reptile represents a significant development in veterinary medicine and may influence future care for exotic animals.

What's Next

Veterinary professionals may monitor the python's recovery and consider the potential for broader application of electrochemotherapy in treating cancer in other animal species.