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Horses, too, can receive radiation treatments for cancer. Although cancerous tumors such as melanomas (nodular masses) and sarcoids (skin tumors) are more common in small animals, they can also affect larger equine species. Fortunately, cancer in horses is treatable. There are several options.
Difficult Choices
Because of their relatively large size, horses should not be treated with radiation therapy for tumors that may metastasize (spread). For other types of tumors, here are some forms of radiation therapy:
- Brachytherapy – short distance radiation
- Pleisotherapy – very short distance radiation
- Teletherapy/External Beam Therapy – distance radiation
- Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) – targets tumors with correct dose; spares normal tissue
 UC Davis Leads the Way
With the IMRT method used at the University of California Davis, a laser positioning system is used in conjunction with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans (see photo) to target the area to be treated. Due to the concentration and specificity of the dose, fewer treatments are required. Treatments can be scheduled farther apart, too. Less frequent anesthesia is preferable when treating any animal, especially a large one that can injure itself as it struggles to rise.
UC Davis's Center for Companion Animal Health is more than a hospital for sick pets. Its veterinarians and scientists treat sick animals and perform research while hoping to apply those concepts to treatments and future cures for humans. In addition to the IMRT radiation treatment, equine drugs are tested for potential human use.
That's a Horse of a Different Color: Cancer in Horses
Gray horses are more predisposed to melanomas than horses of any other color. Is this because their relatively light-colored hair does not adequately shield their skin, or because gray horses are genetically predisposed to cancer? I'm not sure.
Gray horses tend to develop lumpy masses known as melanomas, which can often be benign (non-cancerous) rather than malignant (dangerous) around their tails and faces. Surface tumors on a horse's skin can be treated with creams or radiation. Tumors that are relatively close to the surface can also be treated with radiation; however, some tumors that are deep within a horse's body (including some parts of the intestinal tract) are incurable.
Resources:
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=12235&source=rss
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/archives/2006/0607/009.shtml
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1370/58078.html
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/Synthesis/issues/winter_08/features/campus_connection.html
http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/development/100year_historicalfacts.cfm
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Re: Treating Equine Cancer
