CLIFTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Steve Venier knows a thing or two about sick animals. As a regional manager for a large specialty and emergency animal hospital system, he has seen hundreds of ill and injured patients over the years. So when his own pet, a 10-year-old dog named Tina, was suddenly ailing, he quickly brought her in for a comprehensive exam.

Tina was diagnosed with a trigeminal nerve sheath tumor – doubly dangerous because of its proximity to the brainstem and confinement within the skull.

Fortunately, new technologies have been developed to improve the efficacy of treating a wider range of tumors, especially in delicate locations like the brain. Veterinary oncologist Joshua Lachowicz, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology) referred Tina to what was then known as the Veterinary MRI and Radiotherapy Center of New Jersey. The progressive cancer care and imaging center was among the first to deliver an emerging form of advanced radiation therapy called stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Now known as the Veterinary Radiosurgery and Imaging Center (VRIC), the leading-edge practice is part of a national network of cancer care centers operated by PetCure Oncology.
SRS is an advanced form of radiation therapy with decades of success in human medicine. Having recently become available to pets with cancer, SRS offers significant benefits over conventional radiation therapy (RT) by:

offering treatment with the intent to cure cancer rather than just ease symptoms
enabling treatment of some tumors previously considered “inoperable” – including many brain tumors
delivering radiation with sub-millimeter precision in a noninvasive, nonsurgical manner,
minimizing risk and side effects
requiring only 1-3 treatment sessions as opposed to 15-21
“I didn’t know there was even a possibility to cure her – and I am in the industry,” said Steve. “It’s not like a simple tumor that can be easily removed. But after doing research about SRS, seeing how exceptional the VRIC team was, and learning that the equipment was human-grade, I knew we were in the best possible hands.”

Tina had three SRS treatments delivered on consecutive days without any side effects. One year later, a follow-up MRI showed the tumor had been reduced by two-thirds of its original size. Tina was on the path to being cancer-free – until she had a seizure just after her treatment anniversary.

Another MRI revealed a second tumor – completely unrelated to the first – in the frontal lobe of her brain. This time it was a glioma, a brain tumor that is very responsive to radiation therapy. Steve made another appointment that ultimately led to another three-fraction treatment course of SRS. Six months later, a follow-up MRI showed no trace of the tumor. With the exception of general aging, Tina’s personality remained the same throughout the two years of treatment.

US Press Room Homepage