When “Misty” Van Clief’s owner learned that her beloved Shih Tzu had a large cancerous tumor on her hard palate, she was understandably devastated. But after consulting with our Radiation Oncologist Dr. Theodore Chang, Ms. Van Clief has hope that Misty will live comfortably for the rest of her days. Thirteen-year-old Misty is the first patient to receive radiation therapy at AERA’s new Radiation Oncology service. She is receiving palliative therapy via our Varian Halcyon linear accelerator, which allows for delivery of advanced radiation with extreme precision.

Misty was referred to AERA after her primary care veterinarian discovered that surgery could not completely remove the oral squamous cell carcinoma tumor (SCC), which had penetrated through Misty’s hard palate into her nasal passages. Ms. Van Clief adopted Misty three years ago. “She was a senior looking for love,” she said, and despite her estimated age, Misty is as feisty and stubborn as a dog half her age. “I want to do what’s best for her--she deserves it.” Dr. Chang explained that Misty’s treatment options ranged from aggressive to conservative, depending on the owner’s wishes and comfort level with potential side effects. “There are no cookie cutter options,” said Dr. Chang. “We tailor each treatment according to each case.” Because of the location of Misty’s tumor, the aggressive nature of SCC, and her age, a palliative radiation protocol is being followed. “Fractions” of a daily radiation dose will be delivered over a 5-day course for Misty, with the goal of alleviating pain and clinical signs associated with her tumor, thus improving her quality of life.