Center of Focus: BluePearl Cyberknife Cancer Center.

BluePearl Veterinary CyberKnife Cancer Center (BPVCCC) is a specialty animal hospital dedicated to providing the highest level of cancer care to patients.

If your pet has been diagnosed with cancer, our team of highly experienced veterinary professionals is here to provide support and deliver elite radiation oncology care using advanced, specialized technology.

Our services.

Clinicians standing with the Cyberknife equipment at the BluePearl Veterinary CyberKnife Cancer Center

Our experienced team of veterinarians, vet technicians and support staff work closely together to provide the comprehensive, compassionate care your pet needs and deserves.

In addition to our CyberKnife unit, which is the only dedicated veterinary CyberKnife in the world, we also use a linear accelerator for precision radiation on tumors, giving us another non-invasive tool to target your pet’s cancer.

Prior to radiation treatments, imaging technology such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to help visualize tumors and their surrounding anatomy and to help our radiation oncologists design a unique, three-dimensional computerized treatment plan for your pet.

Our radiation oncologists have extensive training and experience using traditional radiation therapy or SRT alone to treat tumors; or, in the case of certain tumors, a combination with chemotherapy or other immunotherapy to induce a stronger tumor response.

Because your pet’s safety is important to us, we follow rigid quality assurance practices for each patient and each individual treatment to ensure the highest quality delivery of radiation.

To ensure that your pet receives the comprehensive care that cancer treatment requires, our radiation oncologists and nurses work as a team that also includes your primary care veterinarian and often a veterinary specialist such as a neurologist, medical oncologist or internal medicine specialist.

A team-oriented approach is key to ensuring successful therapy. Your primary care veterinarian and referring specialist will be kept apprised of your pet’s protocol and any updates or changes to the prescribed plan throughout their treatment.

After radiation therapy is over, you will be provided with a plan for future rechecks or recommended imaging such as CT or MRI scans. It is vital to keep in touch with your primary care veterinarian for future preventative care after radiation therapy is completed.

Clinicians do imaging on a patient at the Malvern Cyberknife Center.

Our
veterinarians.

Caring for your pets is our passion. Meet our team of veterinary specialists here to help you and your pet.

About our BluePearl CyberKnife Cancer Center – Malvern.

Your pet’s primary veterinarian or oncologist may refer you to our hospital for radiation therapy or CyberKnife treatment. BPVCCC is located next to our BluePearl Pet Hospital in Malvern, and we work seamlessly with the medical oncology team to deliver continuous care and streamline your pet’s diagnosis and treatment process.

We offer conventional radiation therapy, as well as more advanced forms of radiation, including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), also known as stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT). Specifically, we offer CyberKnife robotic radiotherapy, which is an advanced form of SRT.

Pet owners.

At BluePearl, providing our customers with remarkable service is a top priority. We’re committed to making your veterinary visit as smooth as possible.

Have questions prior to your visit? We’re happy to help. Contact our hospital team at 610.296.2099 (option #6) or [email protected].

Frequently asked questions about radiation oncology for pets.

Below are some of the most common questions regarding radiation oncology treatments for pets. We’re here to help answer questions and address any concerns you may have about your pet’s well-being, so if your question isn’t answered here, please don’t hesitate to call us at 610.296.2099 (select option #6) or ask during your appointment.

Most pets will require advanced imaging, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to allow radiation to be targeted specifically to the tumor while avoiding the healthy tissue around it.

Typically, our radiation oncologists will create a unique 3D plan using proprietary 3D treatment planning software and your pet’s CT or MRI images. Not all pets will require a 3D treatment plan – it largely depends on their specific tumor and anatomy. Our team will discuss if your pet needs a 3D treatment plan during your initial consultation.

Conventional radiation and CyberKnife treatment provide a pain-free, non-surgical option for patients with inoperable or surgically complex tumors. The procedure is non-invasive, meaning no incision or cutting occurs and no recovery time is needed.

Often, our clients will report that their pets seem more comfortable after radiation treatments, which may result from reducing the tumor’s size, which decreases tumor-related side effects.

Most radiation treatments are performed on an outpatient basis. Pets usually need to stay at the hospital for about two to three hours but may stay for up to eight hours for treatment. The length of stay depends on the type of radiation therapy administered to your pet.

The side effects associated with any radiation treatment depend on the number of treatments and the location of the tumor. Typically, side effects consist of temporary inflammation of any tissue surrounding the tumor site, but inflammation usually resolves within two weeks of the completion of treatment.

Side effects with CyberKnife are typically very minimal to absent, which is one of the significant advantages of CyberKnife therapy over conventional radiation therapy. However, not every pet is a candidate for CyberKnife, nor is it the right treatment for every type of tumor.

Any side effects ultimately depend on the location of your pet’s tumor and will be discussed before treatment.

CyberKnife radiation therapy is so precise and accurate that we can deliver an entire dose of radiation in far fewer treatments. The surrounding healthy tissue receives minimal radiation, significantly shortening the time required for treatment.

It is important to note that cancer biology is complex and some tumors, such as pituitary and urogenital tumors, may respond better to more prolonged courses of radiation therapy than to CyberKnife. Your pet’s oncologist will review all treatment options with you to decide what course of action is best for your pet.

The effects of radiation treatment vary and may occur gradually and over time. Depending on your pet’s medical condition, the timeframe can range from days to months or years. Some tumors may decrease in size more slowly than others, while others may stop growing.

Four to six months after radiation treatment, patients may have a repeat CT scan to identify if the tumor treated was reduced in size.

This will be determined based on the tumor’s location, the dose of radiation previously received and the length of time after initial treatment. It is important for our radiation oncologists to have access to your pet’s medical records and radiation treatment records so the appropriate radiation protocol can be prescribed.

The cost of radiation treatment varies based on the type and location of the tumor and the number of fractions needed. During your initial consultation with the oncologist, you’ll receive an estimate for treatment, including advanced imaging.

Most veterinary insurance companies cover a portion of radiation treatment, depending on your pet’s policy. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information about fees or using pet insurance.

We understand that transporting your pet to appointments can be difficult with work and family obligations. For our patients who travel to our hospital from another state, we work with a local hotel, Sheraton Great Valley, which is less than two miles from our practice and is very pet-friendly. The hotel offers a shuttle service to BPVCCC and a discounted room rate for our clients.

Please contact our office for more information about transportation, boarding and hotel accommodation options.

Unlike human radiation therapy, we cannot rely on our patients to stay perfectly still during treatment. Anesthesia is unequivocally the least stressful option to ensure there is no movement during radiation.

The length of anesthesia time will vary depending on the type of radiation treatment your pet is receiving, but it can range from just a few minutes to two hours. A veterinary nurse dedicated to overseeing your pet’s anesthesia continuously monitors your pet’s vital signs throughout treatment.

In most cases, your primary veterinarian will be able to refer you to a specialist. Our sister hospital, BluePearl Pet Hospital Malvern, is a 24-hour specialty and emergency hospital located directly next door with a team of veterinary oncologists on staff.

You also have the option to research online. For your convenience, we’ve listed two websites below:

  • ACVR – American College of Veterinary Radiology
  • ACVIM – American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine

We recommend the Animal Cancer Foundation’s resources for learning more about nutrition tips, clinical trials, and other resources for pets with cancer.

You are always welcome to call us for assistance in finding the best pet oncologist in the Chester County area.