If a general practice veterinarian suspects that a pet has cancer, the advice of a veterinary oncologist will likely be sought to determine the most appropriate course of treatment and coordinate the treatment program either on a consultative or a referral basis.
BrightHeart endorses the belief that the single greatest key to disease management and possible cure is early detection. Armed with advanced diagnostic tools and treatment protocols ranging from surgery to chemotherapy to radiation therapy, veterinary specialists who are board certified in internal medicine and have gained further accreditation in oncology can offer pets the best chance of survival with the highest possible quality of life.
Some of the cancers addressed by these highly trained specialists are:
- Common Cancers
- Skin tumors
- Mammary tumors
- Lymphosarcoma
- Endocrine tumors
- Osteosarcoma
- Hemangiosarcoma
Radiation Oncology
Radiation therapy is primarily designed to achieve tumor control in a localized area. It is often used in conjunction with surgery to try to cure cases where surgery alone is either not possible or where it would result in significant disfigurement or loss of function. Many tumors with locally aggressive behavior can be controlled or even cured with a combination of surgery and radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy is often used as an adjunct to treating cancers with a systemic behavior as well. For some tumors, using radiation to achieve local control with adjuvant chemotherapy to prevent or delay systemic metastasis can be a very successful strategy.
Finally, radiation therapy may be used in a palliative setting. For some cancers, significant pain relief and return to function can be achieved with just one or 2 doses of radiation. For patients with bone lesions, radiation therapy may be the most effective method of pain relief available.
Most radiation therapy protocols are 18-21 fractions given over 4-7 weeks. Veterinary patients must be anesthetized for each treatment.
