Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) is a contagious parasitic cancer that occurs in the Tasmanian Devil, which has been reported to cause the death of 20 to 50 percent of the devil population in the last ten years.

There is no test available to determine if a devil has been infected with the condition.

There is no known cure for this condition.

Once tumors show, it appears to be fatal, usually within a few months. The first signs of Devil facial tumor disease are lumps or small lesions in and around the mouth, which rapidly develops into large tumors on the neck and face. Sometimes, other parts of the body also develop tumors. When this happens, it interferes with feeding and leads to starvation and breakdown of body functions.

Transmission of this condition is made through aggressive mating, biting and feeding on the same materials. Devil facial tumor disease was first taught to be caused by a virus, but no evidence of this virus has been seen in cancer cells. However, studies have shown that the real cause was an abnormality on the non-tumorous cells that was not present in the tumor cells. Meaning, the tumor developed from the animal’s own cells.