Animal Emergency & Referral Associates (AERA)
Radiation Oncology
We understand how difficult it can be to discover your pet has cancer. It's important to know that treatment options are available and they can improve quality and length of life, and in some cases, offer a cure. Maintaining an excellent quality of life for your pet will be the most important goal of this treatment plan. Our board-certified radiation oncologist, Dr. Theodore Chang, will partner with your pet’s healthcare team throughout the entire course of treatment—from diagnosis through follow-up care—to ensure that all medical needs are being met. Your pet’s comfort is at the forefront of all decisions.
The treatments used for cancer therapy in pets are very similar to those used in humans, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Here at AERA, we offer radiation oncology treatment options under the guidance of a radiation oncology specialist and radiation therapist to target and treat your pet’s cancer. Our goal is to offer a collaborative approach to cancer care, creating a treatment plan customized to your individual pet and their needs. Our team will work directly with you and your pet’s healthcare team to ensure everyone is feeling informed and confident in the approach to treatment.
AERA offers cutting-edge technology as one of the few veterinary hospitals utilizing a Varian Halcyon linear accelerator. This allows for delivery of advanced radiation with extreme precision, resulting in decreased radiation to the adjacent normal tissues and less side effects while still delivering accurate doses of radiation to the tumor.
There are 2 main intents of radiation therapy, palliative and definitive.
Definitive
Definitive intent radiation protocols are utilized when there is a potential for long-term control of a tumor. Traditionally, patients treated with definitive intent protocols receive treatments over a 3-4 week period with a small “fraction” of a daily radiation dose (15-20 daily fractions). With advanced technology, high precision Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT) protocols can be utilized to treat our pet’s cancer. SRT therapy consists of fewer larger doses of radiation (1-5 daily fractions) and requires special radiation therapy equipment including the ability to confirm the location of the patient’s tumor for each treatment. SRT can be used for definitive intent for many different types of tumors.
Palliative
Palliative radiation therapy consists of fewer fractions delivered in a daily or weekly fashion. Palliative radiation protocols are utilized to alleviate pain and clinical signs associated with the tumor. The goal of palliative radiation therapy is to improve the patient’s quality of life, which is a great treatment option for patients with advanced disease.
Our Team
Theodore R. Chang
DVM, MS, DACVR | Radiation Oncology
Theodore R. Chang
DVM, MS, DACVR | Radiation Oncology
