Understanding Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy approaches are tailored to each pet's unique condition.

Full-Course Radiation Therapy aims for a durable outcome, typically involving daily treatments over several weeks to maximize cancer cell destruction while allowing healthy tissues to recover between sessions.

Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT), a more advanced form of radiation therapy, delivers very high doses of radiation in fewer, precisely targeted treatments. This method is ideal for certain well-defined tumors, minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Overall treatment time and side effect potential are reduced.

Palliative-Intent Radiation Therapy focuses on improving a pet's quality of life by reducing pain, shrinking tumors that cause discomfort, or alleviating other clinical signs. Treatment schedules are flexible but are generally weekly for 4-6 weeks or daily for 5 days.

Common Tumor Types Treated (list not all inclusive):

• Nasal tumors

• Brain tumors (e.g. meningioma, glioma, pituitary)

• Bladder/prostate tumors

• Oral tumors (melanoma, SCC, fibrosarcoma)

• Soft tissue sarcoma

• Osteosarcoma

• Thyroid carcinoma

• Anal sac adenocarcinoma

• Feline injection site sarcoma

• Liver tumors

• Adrenal tumors

• Cardiac hemangiosarcoma

• Spinal tumors

• Palliative radiation for pain control or quality of life

Advanced Radiation Therapy Techniques Offered:

• Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT): Highly precise radiation delivery that shapes the radiation dose to the tumor's exact contours, minimizing exposure to healthy tissues.

• Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT): Advanced form of radiation therapy that delivers extremely high doses of radiation with pinpoint accuracy in 1-5 treatments.

• Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT): An advanced form of IMRT where the linear accelerator rotates around the patient during treatment, delivering a continuous, modulated dose.

• Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT): Uses imaging before each treatment to ensure the most accurate tumor targeting possible. Our system utilized a cone-beam CT scan (CBCT) to confirm patient positioning prior to treatment.

• Palliative-intent Radiation Therapy (PRT): Short-course treatment aimed at improving comfort and quality of life.