In April, 2009, the WesternVet Cancer Centre opened as the newest and most up-to-date veterinary oncology centre in Western Canada. The centre offers advanced treatment modalities including surgery, chemotherapy, a new Linear Accelerator capable of administering courses of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy modeled by Dr. Neal Mauldin, and immunotherapies like the canine oral melanoma vaccine and Palladia™ (toceranib phosphate) oral anti-neoplastic medication, whose co-developer, Dr. Philip J. Bergman, is the Chief Medical Officer of BrightHeart Veterinary Centers.
For more information please call Dr. Neal Mauldin, at (403) 770-1340, or email oncology@westernvet.ca.
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.
Our oncology specialists are:
Neal Mauldin, DVM, MVScM
Glenna Mauldin, DVM, MSc Nutrition
Dave Szentimrey, DVM, MSc
Donna-Lee Taylor DVM
