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Radiation Oncology is a medical specialty that focuses on treating cancer with radiation therapy, which is a non-surgical treatment option that uses radiation to shrink a tumor or slow its growth.
A targeted dose of radiation is delivered to the tumor with the goal of improving your pet’s quality of life, quantity of life, or both.
Radiation oncologists work collaboratively with medical oncologists, surgeons, neurologists, internists, or other specialists when a pet is diagnosed with or suspected to have cancer.
Sometimes referred to as stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT), is the most advanced form of radiation therapy currently available in human or veterinary oncology.
The biggest difference between SRS/SRT and other forms of radiation therapy is the unprecedented precision, which means that a higher dose of radiation can be delivered directly to the tumor. At the same time, the surrounding healthy cells can be avoided more effectively than ever before, decreasing the frequency and severity of radiation-related side effects in most cases.
SRS/SRT is delivered in just 1-3 treatment sessions with no incisions and minimal time under anesthesia. It is especially useful to treat tumors that are too big or too complex for surgery, and is sometimes delivered in conjunction with other treatments such as chemotherapy.
Uses targeted radiation to shrink or destroy tumors, including those that cannot be safely or completely removed by surgery alone.
While SRS/SRT utilizes complex treatment-planning to deliver high-dose radiation in just a few treatment sessions, CFRT requires less complex treatment-planning and delivers smaller doses of radiation spread out across more treatment sessions and a longer period of time.
It can be used in conjunction with chemotherapy, following surgery, or as the sole treatment in cases where SRS/SRT is not an option. CFRT is typically administered daily in 15-21 treatment sessions over 3-4 weeks.
Intended to increase a pet’s comfort and quality of life, often when local tumor control is deemed unlikely.
This option is especially useful when treatment options with the intent to cure, such as SRS/SRT or surgery, are not viable. Palliative treatments are typically delivered once per week over 3-6 weeks with the goal of relieving symptoms such as pain, bleeding, and decreased mobility.
Radiation Oncology at Sugar Land Veterinary Specialists is supported by PetCure Oncology and their national network of board-certified veterinary radiation oncologists.
Since 2015, PetCure clinicians have been at the forefront of both treatment and clinical research regarding radiation therapy for dogs, cats and other companion animals.
Created with a mission to ensure that human-caliber cancer care is available to pets, PetCure Oncology has developed the first ever national network of veterinary radiation therapy centers with a commitment to delivering great medicine, caring for pet families, and increasing access to SRS/SRT for pet owners everywhere.
