Our oncology department specializes in the diagnosis of cancer, staging of tumors, the development of treatment plans, and the administration of chemotherapy. In order to provide the very best outcome for your pet, a combination of diagnostics and treatments could include the following:
Oncology Diagnostics
- Bone marrow aspirate/biopsy
- Contrast Studies
- Computed Tomography Scans
- Digital Radiography
- In-house Laboratory
- Minimally invasive biopsies – Tru-Cut, Endoscopic and Ultrasound assisted
- Ultrasound, including: Fine needle Aspirate and Cytology
Oncology Therapeutics
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Radiation treatment
- Surgery
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.
