A 15-foot reticulated python named Jodie Foster has made an impressive recovery after undergoing an unusual cancer treatment.
The 50kg snake had developed a malignant tumour in her jaw.
After the cancer returned following surgery, veterinary specialists decided to try a different approach.
A Rare and Serious Diagnosis
Jodie first showed signs of illness when she became less interested in food and spent more time resting.
Tests revealed a type of cancer called a fibrosarcoma in her jaw.
The tumour was removed, but it later returned and began damaging part of her jawbone.
That meant another treatment was needed.
Vets Tried a Pioneering Approach
The veterinary team removed the tumour along with part of the affected jaw.
They then used electrochemotherapy to target any remaining cancer cells.
Jodie is believed to be the first snake to receive this type of treatment.
How Electrochemotherapy Works
The treatment combines a cancer drug with carefully controlled electrical pulses.
The pulses temporarily make cancer cells more receptive to the medication.
This can help the drug reach and destroy cancerous tissue more effectively.
It is a technique already used in some forms of cancer treatment, but applying it to a giant snake required a very different approach.
A Giant Patient Needed a Giant Setup
Jodie’s size created another challenge.
Two operating tables had to be placed together to provide enough room for her 15-foot body.
The procedure lasted around 90 minutes.
Heated blankets and warm air were also used to keep her body temperature stable throughout the operation.
Jodie Is Cancer-Free
Months after treatment, checks found no signs that the cancer had returned.
Jodie is now eating normally and behaving much more like herself again.
She has also been seen exploring her enclosure and showing plenty of energy.
Losing Part of Her Jaw Has Not Stopped Her
One concern was whether the surgery would affect Jodie’s ability to eat.
Fortunately, she has adapted remarkably well.
Keepers have watched her successfully strike, grip and swallow food despite losing part of her jaw.
Her appetite has returned, and she appears able to feed normally.
The Treatment Could Help Other Animals
The success of the procedure may have benefits beyond one snake.
Details of the treatment could help veterinary specialists understand how electrochemotherapy might be used for other unusual or difficult cancer cases.
It also shows how techniques used in human medicine can sometimes be adapted for wildlife and veterinary care.
Back to Being Herself
For now, Jodie’s recovery is the biggest reason to celebrate.
A few months earlier, her future was uncertain.
Today, she is cancer-free, eating well and back to her active behaviour.
There Is a Story Behind Her Name Too
Jodie’s unusual name came from an abbreviation on her records.
She had been described as a “JF”, meaning juvenile female.
That eventually inspired the name Jodie Foster.
After such an extraordinary recovery, the star-inspired name seems more appropriate than ever.