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SPECIALISTS at the Sinnamon Park Animal Reference Hospital are using a revolutionary new cancer treatment for dogs and cats that is safer, sweeter and faster.
Dr. Kathleen O. Connell, a specialist oncologist, said that the new treatment, stereotactic radiotherapy, was used to treat previously unoperable tumors.
"Stereotactic radiotherapy is a phenomenal development because it lies at the heart of the major barriers to cancer treatment – time and side effects," said Dr. O. Connell.
"We are now able to offer a much simpler treatment plan that gives pets and owners more quality time together and is also more effective in treating certain cancers.
"With 50% of dogs and cats over the age of 10 developing cancer, the TRS will have a real impact on the lives of many patients."
The Sam patient from the Animal Reference Hospital has been successfully treated for a life-threatening cancer.
The ARH Radiation Therapy Program is managed by Dr. O. Connell, Dr. Maurine Thomson (Specialized Oncologist) and Dr. Elizabeth Morgan (Registrar of Oncology).
They work closely with Dr. David Lurie, a radiation oncologist in Sydney, who introduced SRT to Australia in 2018.
"This new technology is in line with the treatment of cancer in humans and has up to now a limited availability in the veterinary field," said Dr. O. Connell.
She added that the treatment meant that healthy tissue surrounding cancer was receiving less radiation and that some of the side effects such as skin irritation, nausea and pain were avoided.
Kathleen O'Connell, Oncology Specialist, and Erica Munro, Nurse, tell the story of their patient and her treatment for cancer, Milly.
"It allows to deliver larger doses in less treatments, it is usually sufficient only three."
She added that the new treatment would reduce the number of anesthetics needed from 18 or 20 to four.
"We can now treat cancers found to be inoperable, including many brain tumors," said Dr. O. Connell.
"We can also treat bone, nasal, prostatic, oral and urethral tumors."
Millie, a seven-year-old English shepherd whose big-jawed tumor was growing too big, was successful.
Millie's tumor was very susceptible to SRT and, after receiving treatment, she returned to normal.
The owners of Sam, Stephen and Narelle, began to worry when he was not able to get up on the couch or run to the park.
He had a mbad on the pelvis, which turned out to be a rare and unpleasant cancer derived from cartilage.
Dr. Maurine Thomson withdrew part of her pelvis and was treated with an SRT.
The doctors said combined surgery and radiation gave Sam the best chance of long-term survival.
"We are looking forward to developing this program and being able to help many other animals suffering from such a debilitating disease," said Dr. O. Connell.
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