One in four dogs will die from cancer.
In October, Emma, a 7 year old Lab Husky mix with cancer was given just three months to live.
But thanks to a number of treatments she is beating the odds.
Her owner Connie Biggs feels the process has been more emotional for her than the dog.
"She really has dealt with it and handled it very well," said Biggs.
Emma had mass cell tumors that showed up in the form of nodules on her underside.
Doctor Barbara Kitchell is the Director for the Center of Comparative Oncology at Michigan State University. Every year they treat hundreds of dogs just like Emma.
They are more likely to see certain breeds over others though. In fact Golden Retrievers have the highest cancer rate among any particular breed.
"To get that beautiful golden retriever look some cancer genes snuck in there," says Doctor Kitchell. "Certain breeds of dogs have certain cancer predispositions."
The treatment plan for dogs includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. It's very similar to what human cancer patients go through.
"All of those types of treatments always work better when there's less disease to deal with so the smaller the tumor burden the better the outcome for the patient for sure," according to Doctor Kitchell.
So early detection is crucial, but the challenge with picking up on warning signs is that they manifest in every dog differently.
The Morris Foundation is on a mission to raise 30 million dollars to cure canine cancer. They offer 10 potential warning signs that every dog owner should be aware of:

Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
Sores that do not heal
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
Offensive odor
Difficulty eating or swallowing
Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
Persistent lameness or stiffness
Difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating

The number one risk factor for cancer is advancing age. 50% of dogs over 10 will develop cancer. So some of the signs and symptoms of cancer can easily be written off as age related changes.
Lymphoma is a common kind of cancer among dogs. Dr. Kitchell says a typical course of treatment lasts 6 months and it's not uncommon for someone with a big dog to spend $5,000 or $6,000 over that 6 month period.
Luckily for Emma, the Biggs family was able to catch her tumor before it was too late. She'll hopefully have her last chemo treatment this week.
Click on the Hot Button for more information on what breeds are more at risk for certain kinds of cancer.