Oncology

The Oncology service at the Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston provides your pet with a state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary approach to cancer diagnosis and treatment. Angell’s oncology team uses their compassion and expertise to develop thoughtful treatment protocols to optimally manage your pet’s cancer. Unique to Angell, our Oncology Service works collaboratively with the Angell Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Services to provide maximum comfort and safety to our patients. In addition, Angell’s soft tissue surgeons are among the most experienced in the world, working together with Angell oncologists to effectively treat mast cell tumors and other oncological conditions.

Angell’s routine use of Vascular Access Ports to more comfortably administer treatment (less needles!), and side-effect-limiting Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), are also distinct benefits to Angell’s offerings not found at most veterinary cancer centers in Massachusetts.

Our role as the oncology team is to provide you with options for management of your pet’s cancer and to implement your choices. Our commitment is to improve your companion’s quality of life and to do so in an atmosphere of caring and compassion. We pledge to work with you and your primary veterinarian to offer the best in veterinary care for your pet.

The Angell Oncology Experience

Our Services

Why Choose the Angell Oncology Center?

For pets whose cancer treatment includes radiation therapy, the Angell Oncology Center offers advanced equipment for radiation delivery, including a 6 MV linear accelerator with electron capability and computerized 3-D radiation treatment planning system.

Angell’s oncologists have in-house access to a large team of specialists in the fields of radiology, internal medicine, cardiology, neurology, ophthalmology, dermatology, nutrition, dentistry, and avian and exotic medicine for optimal patient care.

Angell is unique in offering Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), and our radiation oncologist, Dr. Kubicek, has extensive training in its use. IMRT dramatically minimizes side effects by sculpting the radiation treatment beam to the exact size and dimensions of the tumor. This can have a tremendous positive, protective impact on the surrounding structures and tissues during treatment. For example, potentially sparing eyes and vision during nasal tumor treatment. To watch a video of a dog receiving IMRT, click here.

Paramount to our commitment to improve and maintain your pet’s quality of life after a diagnosis of cancer has been made, the oncology team works in collaboration with the the Critical Care service to offer state-of-art pain management for pets experiencing discomfort.

Surgery is an important part of the treatment of many tumors. Angell’s Surgery service boasts five board-certified surgeons who are available for timely surgical intervention. When surgery is part of the cancer treatment, the surgeons and the oncologists work together to determine the best surgical plan for the patient.

Imaging tumors and determining their extent in the body plays a critical role in the diagnosis of cancer. Angell’s Diagnostic Imaging department provides state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging facilities, including radiography, helical computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and fluoroscopy. Three board-certified radiologists work closely with oncologists to provide accurate and timely imaging information about your pet’s cancer.

Key to optimal cancer diagnosis and management are laboratory and pathologic analyses of body fluids and tissues. Angell offers an advanced, full-service, on-site laboratory with Clinical Pathology and Histopathology services. The Pathology department is led by one double board-certified clinical and anatomic pathologist and a board-certified anatomic pathologist. Collaboration between the pathologists and the oncologists is an integral part of cancer care, and this is facilitated at Angell with on-site pathology services.

Oncology patients have access to Angell’s Pain Medicine service led by Lisa Moses, VMD, DACVIM, CVMA. The Pain Medicine service offers treatment for companion animals with discomfort that negatively affects their quality of life, regardless of their primary diagnosis. Dr. Moses is trained to work with patients with complex medical issues that complicate treatment for pain. She tailors individual pain treatment plans using novel drug therapy and non-drug modalities of treatment, including acupuncture and mobility exercises.

If and when oncologic emergencies arise, Angell’s Emergency and Critical Care service, with board-certified critical care specialists and residency-trained critical care veterinarians, is available to contribute its expertise to oncology patient management. Oncologists and critical care specialists work together to manage oncology patients when critical care is needed to maximize the chances of a full and speedy recovery. The emergency service is open for walk-in visits 24 hours a day seven days a week. The state-of-the art Angell Critical Care Unit offers 24-hour nursing care and doctor supervision.

Angell offers a full-service pharmacy for all your pet’s medications and prescription diets. A full-time, on-site pharmacist and pharmacy staff are available to answer your drug-specific questions. To contact the pharmacy, click here.

What is a Veterinary Oncologist? A board-certified veterinary medical oncologist is a veterinarian with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. After receiving a degree in veterinary medicine (DVM), he/she has received post-graduate training in a residency program accredited by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and has successfully completed the testing and research requirements established by the ACVIM. A veterinary oncologist is an expert in the biology of cancer and specializes in the use of chemotherapy and biological therapies for the treatment of cancer. Veterinary oncologists work in close association with surgeons and radiation oncologists when a multi-disciplinary approach to cancer management is indicated.

• Dr. Lyndsay Kubicek talks about Radiation Oncology
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Prescriptions

Pet Loss Support and Counseling

When a companion animal passes away, their loss is felt by the entire family. The following links can be helpful for parents struggling to find a way to comfort their child, or themselves, during the bereavement process.

• Pet Loss and Children
• Pet Loss Counseling
• Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement