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A 15-foot reticulated python named Jodie Foster has made a full recovery after becoming the first snake known to receive a pioneering cancer treatment combining surgery and electrochemotherapy, according to Chester Zoo.
Pioneering Cancer Treatment at Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo announced on Friday that the 4.5-metre python is now cancer-free following a complex medical procedure in northwest England. Zookeepers grew concerned when the 23-year-old snake—who has resided at the facility for two decades—began eating less and spending prolonged periods inactive in her habitat, as reported by CTV News. Subsequent veterinary tests confirmed the presence of a malignant tumour in her jawbone.
Veterinary teams from Chester Zoo collaborated with cancer specialists from the University of Liverpool to adapt electrochemotherapy (ECT) for the reptile. While ECT has previously been used on other animals, including a turtle and a lizard, zoo officials believe this marks a first for a snake species. According to Chester Zoo vet Ian Ashpole, the tumour was initially removed via surgery, but it later returned, necessitating a second operation that incorporated ECT to target remaining cancerous cells.
The Surgery and Recovery Process
Due to the snake’s substantial size, veterinary staff had to push two operating tables together to create a surface equivalent to a double bed. The 90-minute procedure involved removing a portion of the python’s jawbone, while medical teams utilized heated blankets and warmed air to stabilize her body temperature.
Electrochemotherapy works by combining the cancer drug bleomycin with electrical pulses directly applied to the tumour site. This process temporarily makes cancer cells more permeable, allowing the medication to penetrate more effectively. Following a recent check-up, veterinary staff confirmed that Jodie is eating normally and has returned to her active disposition. Jose Alvarez Picornell of the University of Liverpool noted that the team plans to formally publish details of the procedure so that veterinary colleagues worldwide can utilize the approach.
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