11536 Lake City Way NE
Seattle, WA 98125
Phone: 206-364-3733 Fax: 206-364-3667
Jake - incompletely resected soft tissue sarcoma
One of our Radiation Therapy Technicians marks our patient for treatment.
Tools such as clothes pins are used to "spare" skin that we do not want in the treatment field.
Gauze is used as "bolus" to protect certain structures and/or reduce or increase the amount of radiation received at certain levels (i.e. skin).
Final set-up means we are ready to treat.
Radiation therapy: the use of high energy x-rays or particles in an attempt to damage cancer cells.
Radiation therapy can kill cells in two ways: occasionally, the high energy beam will kill cells outright with one treatment. More often, each treatment does a small amount of damage to the cells, which then die when enough damage has been accumulated. Often cells do not die until they attempt to reproduce. Sometimes the cells do not die but permanently or temporarily lose their ability to reproduce.
In most cases, the goal of radiation therapy is to reduce the size of the tumor or prevent a tumor from coming back after it has been removed surgically. In some individuals, the goal of treatment is to stabilize the tumor at its current size. Radiation therapy may also be used in a palliative fashion - in an attempt to relieve pain and/or decrease symptoms.
Treatment planning is assisted by radiographic images and a treatment planning computer; sometimes a CT or MRI will be necessary for planning. The exact treatment plan is determined by Dr. Karri Meleo, a board-certified veterinary radiation oncologist, with the help of a dosimetrist, when necessary.
Radiation therapy does involve general anesthesia at each treatment; a veterinarian and a veterinary technician or assistant are always present. Closed circuit TV allows us to monitor respiration throughout treatment. We also have a pulse oximeter that displays the patient's pulse and oxygen saturation values during treatment.
Most animals that undergo radiation therapy will experience some side effects. The type and severity of these effects varies greatly depending on the location of the tumor, the number of treatments given and the total radiation dose that is delivered. Nausea and vomiting after radiation therapy is rarely seen in dogs and cats unless a large amount of the abdomen is irradiated.
Here is a picture of Toby doing an agility run during his radiation treatment. This was on Feb. 23, after I believe, 5 treatments. I was actually amazed at the amount of energy and enthusiasm Toby displayed, even for his 5th and final run each day. Most of the time, he's pretty pooped by the last run. Toby seems to be dealing with the treatments really well." 
Strontium-90 and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy are two treatment options we also have available for our patients. Strontium-90 is delivered via a probe to superficial tumors, thus sparing deeper tissues, while IMRT techniques allow us to more directly treat a tumor volume while sparing normal tissue surrounding the tumor. If either of these options is appropriate for your pet, it will be discussed in detail with you.
"Mr. Kat" receiving strontium-90
"Sammy" 3 weeks post strontium-90 treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the nose
