Radiation therapy is administered to cats via a machine like an X-ray machine. Radiating a cat is a bit more complicated than radiating a human, as cats do not understand the need to remain still and must receive anesthesia.
How is radiation used to treat cancer in cats?
Radiotherapy (radiation therapy or RT) is a therapy for cancer treatment in cats (and other species, including people). It uses high-energy x-ray beams to destroy or damage cancer cell DNA to stop it from multiplying. The type of radiation used in radiotherapy is ionising radiation.
What are the different types of radiotherapy for cats?
The most common type of radiotherapy in cats is external beam therapy (EBT). As the name would suggest, EBT focuses a highly targeted beam at the cancer cells while sparing healthy surrounding tissue. Similar to EBT, however stereotactic radiotherapy uses higher doses of radiation to treat very small tumours in as little as one single treatment.
How do I get radiation treatment for my Pet?
Get the pawfect insurance plan for your pup. The patient is carefully screened for suitability to undergo the repeated anesthetics necessary for radiation treatment. Protocols differ but the cat may need repeat sessions on a weekly basis for several weeks, or therapy on alternate days.
Do cats need general anesthetics during radiotherapy?
A short-acting general anesthetic is necessary for cats undergoing radiotherapy treatment as the cat must remain perfectly still to ensure the beam only targets cancer cells.
How is radioiodine administered to cats?
The radioiodine is given as a single dose on the first hospital day. After the treatment is administered, your cat is placed in a special, lead-lined radiation isolation ward, away from other animals not receiving this treatment.
Is radiation therapy hard on cats?
Cats are generally more resistant to radiation effects of the skin. Most cats will have hair loss and dry flaking of the skin which may itch. It is still important to prevent your cat from further irritating the area (E-collar).
How much does radiation therapy for a cat cost?
Initial consultation fees with an oncologist can range from $125 to $250 depending upon the hospital, clinic and geographic location, the average cost for chemo for dogs and cats can range from $150 to $500 per dose and radiation can cost $1,000 to $1,800 for a palliative protocol and $4,500 to $600 for curative intent ...
Can I touch my cat after radioactive iodine treatment?
Your cat may be slightly woozy when you pick them up. For the first two weeks after I-131: Keep your cat indoors or supervised when outside to prevent contact with other people. Limit close contact (closer than 1 foot) to one hour per day.
How long does it take for a tumor to shrink after radiation?
At the same time, if a cell doesn't divide, it also cannot grow and spread. For tumors that divide slowly, the mass may shrink over a long, extended period after radiation stops. The median time for a prostate cancer to shrink is about 18 months (some quicker, some slower).
What is the most common side effect from radiation in pets?
The most common side effects of radiation therapy in dogs are similar to those in people. The patients may experience skin redness or moisture for a short period of time. In cats the side effects are milder and may just be limited to short-term dry, flaky skin.
How do you shrink a tumor on a cat?
Radiation therapy, like surgery, can be curative or can shrink the tumor to help alleviate pain and improve the quality of life. Radiation therapy is generally available at veterinary universities' teaching hospitals and veterinary specialty hospitals in large metropolitan areas.
What is palliative radiation for cats?
Palliative radiation is one way of providing comfort focused care. The goals of palliative therapy are to provide symptom-relief. Palliative radiation therapy can be used to control the symptoms associated with many localized tumors that cannot be treated by other methods (such as surgical removal).
Should you put your cat through chemotherapy?
Cats tend to tolerate chemotherapy even better than dogs, and both tend to handle chemotherapy better than people. We have effective medications that can help minimize the most common side effects that may happen and help your pet get through them more quickly.
How long can a cat live after radioactive iodine treatment?
“Studies have shown that cats treated with I-131 live longer than those treated with pills,” added Mosenco, citing a study where I-131-treated cats lived an average of four to five years following treatment, versus an average of only two years for cats on medication.
What are the long term side effects of radioactive iodine for cats?
There are almost no side effects from radioiodine treatment. When your cat returns home, there may be a readjustment period while your cat's thyroid returns to normal function. Your cat may be quieter and less active . This is due to the metabolic rate returning to normal.
How long does radioactive iodine stay in cat?
How long will your cat be radioactive? After radio-iodine treatment all cats will return to normal (“background radiation”) by 28 days. Cats can be discharged from the Centre from 4 days after treatment, although this depends on exactly how much radio-iodine is given and on how quickly the radiation levels fall.
What is the treatment for cancer in cats?
Radiotherapy Treatment For Cats. Radiotherapy (radiation therapy or RT) is a therapy for cancer treatment in cats (and other species, including people). It uses high-energy x-ray beams to destroy or damage cancer cell DNA to stop it from multiplying. The type of radiation used in radiotherapy is ionising radiation.
What is the most common type of radiotherapy for cats?
The most common type of radiotherapy in cats is external beam therapy (EBT). As the name would suggest, EBT focuses a highly targeted beam at the cancer cells while sparing healthy surrounding tissue.
How long does it take for a cat to recover from a radiotherapy procedure?
Images are taken to check the cat is properly aligned. Radiotherapy commences, which lasts 10-20 minutes. Once the radiotherapy is finished, the cat moves to recovery where it is given drugs to reverse the anesthetic, and the breathing tube is removed.
What type of radiation is used in radiotherapy?
The type of radiation used in radiotherapy is ionising radiation. Unlike chemotherapy, which goes everywhere in the body, radiotherapy uses a beam to focus on the area of treatment.
How long does a cat's beam treatment last?
Before the start of treatment, the area is shaved, to allow better penetration of the beam. The treatment itself lasts between 10 and 20 minutes. The cat is given sedation and anesthesia; a breathing tube is inserted.
Do cats need anesthesia for radiation?
A short-acting general anesthetic is necessary for cats undergoing radiotherapy treatment as the cat must remain perfectly still to ensure the beam only targets cancer cells. Most treatments are performed in fractions; that is, the total radiation dose is spread out over several treatments carried out over days or weeks;
Is radiotherapy for cats the same as EBT?
Stereotactic radiotherapy: Similar to EBT, however stereotactic radiotherapy uses higher doses of radiation to treat very small tumours in as little as one single treatment. Not all cats are suitable candidates for frequent general anesthesia.
What is Radiotherapy?
Radiotherapy is a means of treating certain cancers in the cat. The aim is to damage and kill the cancer cells that make up a tumor, while preserving healthy tissue. Not all cancers are amenable to radiotherapy because of their type or location.
Radiotherapy Procedure in Cats
The patient is carefully screened for suitability to undergo the repeated anesthetics necessary for radiation treatment. Protocols differ but the cat may need repeat sessions on a weekly basis for several weeks, or therapy on alternate days.
Efficacy of Radiotherapy in Cats
Radiotherapy is rarely the first option for treating a tumor. Where, possible complete surgical removal or chemotherapy is prefered. However, for tumors that are not suitable for surgery, radiotherapy offers a highly effective, and life-extending treatment.
Radiotherapy Recovery in Cats
Lower doses of radiation are used in cats, which means less discomfort post-treatment. Once awake from the anesthetic the cat may experience a short period of discomfort but this soon passes. Indeed, radiation is sometimes used for pain relief as it also damages the nerve supply to the tumor.
Cost of Radiotherapy in Cats
Not only is the actual procedure expensive but there will be associated costs such as for travel and accommodation for those who live some distance from the referral center.
Cat Radiotherapy Considerations
Radiotherapy is a relatively new science for the treatment of cats. It offers the potential to extend life in what might otherwise be hopeless cases, but unfortunately the therapy is costly and not widely available.
Radiotherapy Prevention in Cats
Radiotherapy is often used when surgery is not an option. By being vigilant and checking your cat weekly for lumps, you are more likely to detect tumors at a stage when they are still amenable to surgical removal.
How does radiation therapy work?
Radiation therapy works by damaging the cells’ DNA to interfere with cell replication and kill them. In this way, radiation can either shrink a tumor or completely destroy it.
How long does a pet tumor treatment last?
This results in less side effects. Typically the treatment schedule is from Monday to Friday and lasts 2-3 weeks, although this can vary depending on the type of tumor and the individual pet.
Why do dogs have to be completely still during radiation?
This is because the pet must remain completely still during the procedure as the radiation must be delivered with absolute precision. Depending on the treatment program ( protocol ), your pet may need to undergo several anesthetic procedures.
Can you use radiation on a tumor?
Although there are several types of tumors that can be treated with radiation therapy alone (e.g. nasal tumors, brain tumors, and certain types of lymphoma), radiation therapy is most commonly used to destroy, or limit the growth of, cancer cells left behind (i.e., microscopic disease) after a tumor has been surgically removed.
Can radiation therapy be used on tumors?
Depending on the type of tumor, radiation therapy may be used on its own or in combination with other treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy. It is most effective with tumors that have rapidly dividing cells. Not all tumors are responsive to radiation. Although there are several types of tumors that can be treated with radiation therapy alone ...
How does radiation therapy work for cats?
Radiation therapy is administered to cats via a machine like an X-ray machine . Radiating a cat is a bit more complicated than radiating a human, as cats do not understand the need to remain still and must receive anesthesia. While healthy cells may be killed along with the diseased cells, the general consensus is that the benefits of radiation outweigh the risks, according to Native Remedies.
Why do cats need cancer treatment?
Unlike chemotherapy and radiation for humans, these treatments are used in cats to control the disease and prolong the feline's life, according to VetInfo. This is because cancer in cats is usually diagnosed only after it has significantly progressed.
How many cats are diagnosed with cancer each year?
Radiation & Chemotherapy for Cats. According to the Animal Cancer Foundation, nearly six million cats are diagnosed with cancer each year. For some, it is a death sentence. However, increasing numbers of cats are receiving treatment via radiation and chemotherapy with some success. For cats, the good news is that they rarely lose their fur.
What happens if you give a cat a whisker?
Possible side effects include whisker loss, stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea and a temporary loss of appetite. Each session will take a few hours, and regular testing of the cat's kidney and liver functions are necessary to verify that enzyme levels are not elevated.
How long after a cat is treated for cancer can you wash it?
Colorado State University's Animal Cancer Center advises that cat owners not handle any feces, urine or vomit produced by the patient for at least 24 hours after treatment unless it's absolutely necessary. Any bedding or clothing that is soiled by the cat within this time frame should be washed twice with the hottest water possible.
Can cats be radiated?
Radiating a cat is a bit more complicated than radiating a human, as cats do not understand the need to remain still and must receive anesthesia. While healthy cells may be killed along with the diseased cells, the general consensus is that the benefits of radiation outweigh the risks, according to Native Remedies.
Can cats eat carbs while on chemotherapy?
Cats on chemotherapy should eat only a very limited amount of carbohydrates . This is because cancerous cells thrive on that energy source, according to WebMD's Healthy Cats. However, the reverse is true for fats in the diet of a cat undergoing chemotherapy.
Why Use Radiation Therapy?
Radiation therapy is used for localized regions of the body, because the X-rays can kill healthy cells as easily as cancerous ones. It is best in cases where chemotherapy is not needed because the cancer is not yet malignant, or when the tumor is too deep in the body to be removed through surgery, as is usually the case with bone cancer.
How Long Does the Treatment Take?
In order to prevent unnecessary tissue damage, radiation therapy is often spaced out in separate sessions over the course of weeks. Different kinds of cancer require different amounts of treatment, so some cancers will only need a week of radiation therapy, while others can take more than two months.
Side Effects
Since the radiation simply kills tissue, and does not distinguish between cancerous cells and healthy tissue, the main side effect of radiation therapy is that healthy tissue in the region of the tumor is killed. Since it is extremely important for the cat to remain still while undergoing this procedure, anesthesia is necessary.
What Is Radiation?
Radiation can be broadly divided into two groups: electromagnetic and particulate radiation. Whether you know it or not, you interact with electromagnetic radiation every day. It consists of packets of energy, called photons, with no mass or charge. Common examples include microwaves, visible light, and radio waves.
How Does Radiation Therapy Work?
Radiation fights cancer by interacting with strands of DNA in cells, causing breakages that make the cell unable to replicate, meaning a cancer cell can no longer divide to make two daughter cells. When the damaged cell tries to divide, it collapses and is cleared away by the body.
How Much Radiation Is Given?
Doses of radiation therapy are calculated to optimize tumor control without harming nearby normal tissue. The total dose is divided into smaller doses, called fractions, that are given daily or every other day.
What Are the Benefits and Side Effects of Radiation?
The most common side effects of radiation therapy in dogs are similar to those in people. The patients may experience skin redness or moisture for a short period of time. In cats the side effects are milder and may just be limited to short-term dry, flaky skin.
Why do cats never exit the patient?
Because of the short distances they travel they never exit the patient and as a result no one other than the patient is at risk from exposure to the beta particles unless they internalized the radioiodine excreted by the patient. In cats > 95% of the radioiodine is excreted in the urine.
How long does it take for a cat to show signs of hyperthyroidism?
Cats may also continue to show signs of hyperthyroidism, including vomiting and diarrhea, for 3-4 weeks after the radioiodine therapy as the disease continues to resolve. The risk to these cats is the simple fact that many cats in the age range when cats develop hyperthyroidism (8+ years) also develop other diseases.
What are the complications of radioiodine therapy?
These complications include cerebrovascular events (i.e., strokes) and the premature exacerbation of pre-existing kidney disease. Luckily these risks will diminish in time following successful radioiodine therapy and a return to a persistently normal thyroid level.
Can you put radioactive iodine in your cat's urine?
The good news is that virtually every client will already take steps to avoid this, even when radioactive iodine in their cat's urine is not the motivation.
Does iodine help cats with thyroid disease?
When it comes to survival, the studies that have been done show that cats cured of their thyroid disease by radioactive iodine live much longer (up to twice as long) when compared to hyperthy roid cats treated by methimazole. So in this case the targeted radiation exposure is actually increasing survival for these patients.
Can hyperthyroidism cause heart failure in cats?
The chronic elevation of circulating thyroid hormone levels in cats with hyperthyroidism leads to changes in their heart muscle that predispose them to developing heart failure. Hyperthyroid cats are also at risk for complications related to the hypertension that frequently accompanies hyperthyroidism.
Can cats hide under the bed after radioiodine?
But this generally resolves without intervention. It is also common for some cats to hide under the bed for a day or so after returning home as they de-stress following their “out of home” experience.
Why is my cat being separated for 4 days?
One of the reasons the cat was held for four days was to allow for much of the radioactive 131 I to be excreted in urine so that the amount of external radiation exposure is significantly reduced.
What happens if a cat doesn't take up thyroid?
What is not taken up by the thyroid will be present in the cat's bodily fluids and will primarily be voided in the cat's urine (in those first four days at the vet hospital). What is taken up by the thyroid will be released slowly over the next days/weeks to the other bodily fluids which is why they have the precautions that you describe.
How to control radiation exposure?
The three ways that we control exposures to external sources of radiation are time, distance, and shielding. Reduce the time near a source, increase the distance from the source, or use some sort of radiation absorbing shielding between you and the source of radiation and you will reduce your radiation dose .
Does a cat have radioactive iodine?
Now let's deal with the issue of radioactive iodine released by the cat, which I believe is actually the bigger concern. All bodily fluids in the cat will have trace amounts of radioactive material within them, but it will be most prevalent within the urine.
Does iodine make cats drool?
I have a cat also and I know when she is happy and purring while sitting on my lap getting strokes, she drools. In a cat treated with radioactive iodine, the drool will contain radioactive materials. Cats also sweat through their paws and the sweat will have trace amounts of radioactive iodine.
Is cat litter radioactive?
Further, the litter will be radioactive as most of the radioactive iodine will be excreted via this route. I am certain that your veterinarian probably told you to take care when handling the litter and to wash your hands thoroughly after handling litter, the cat, and items that the cat came into contact with.
Radiotherapy Types
When Is Radiotherapy used?
- Radiotherapy can be used in the following ways. 1. Preoperative:Before cancer surgery to shrink the tumour. 2. Postoperative:After cancer surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. 3. Primary definitive:As a standalone treatment when surgery isn’t possible due to anatomy, such as the brain, oral cavity, bone, upper jaw, and nasal cavity or to treat superficial tumours such as soft ti…
What Happens Before and During Treatment?
- Your veterinarian will refer your cat to a specialist centre that has both the necessary equipment and a radiation oncologist. 1. Baseline tests: Complete blood count, biochemical profile and urinalysisare performed to evaluate the overall health of the cat and assess its suitability for radiotherapy. 2. CT scan:This advanced imaging technology is performed to evaluate the size an…
Side Effects
- The treatment itself delivers a painless beam to the target area. The strength of the beam is considerably lower than that used to treat human cancers. Early side effects: Throughout the multiple treatments, the skin can become dry, itchy, irritated and blistered. Other side effects include lethargy, hair loss, conjunctivitisand mucositis (inflammation of the mucous membranes…