While radiation therapy might seem like an unrealistic option for managing horses with cancer, Janean Fidel, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVR, Dipl. ACVIM, from Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine suggests the opposite. She attests that radiation therapy is a viable option for numerous equine tumors, including melanomas and sarcoids.

"Even though cancer is not as common in horses as dogs or cats, it does still occur and just like in small animals, radiation therapy is a valuable tool in the treatment of our equine oncology patients," emphasizes Fidel.

At the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Forum, held June 4-7, Fidel reviewed the biology of radiation therapy and highlighted that the goal of this modality is to deliver the highest possible dose of radiation to the tumor while sparing the normal surrounding tissue–a challenging task at best