Inspired by Heather’s listener question about using radiation therapy to treat transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in dogs, Dr. Megan Duffy, a veterinary oncologist, shares her expert insights on when radiation is recommended, how it complements other treatments like surgery and chemotherapy, and the importance of effective communication with your veterinary oncologist.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Dr. Megan Duffy’s insights on the use of radiation therapy in treating TCC.


• The role of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation in managing bladder tumors in dogs.


• Factors influencing the recommendation of radiation therapy.


• Tips for communicating effectively with your veterinary oncologist.


• The importance of understanding each component of your dog’s treatment plan.

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Notable Quotes:

• "Recommending radiation on top of surgery tells me that there may be something about that local situation that isn’t completely gone with surgery." - Dr. Megan Duffy


• "It’s worth asking the oncologist, ‘What about my individual dog makes radiation a recommendation?’" - Dr. Megan Duffy


• "I think it’s fun when people are this involved in their pet’s care." - Dr. Megan Duffy

Your Voice Matters!

If you have a question for our team, or if you want to share your own hopeful dog cancer story, we want to hear from you! Go to https://dogcancer.com/ask to submit your question or story, or call our Listener Line at +1 808-868-3200 to leave a question.

Related Videos:           

Learn about transitional cell carcinoma from Dr. Demian Dressler:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5prSL7yn82E

Here’s another listener calling about whether their veterinarian has a good plan for TCCL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCGJc_UvEXE

We worry about bladder cancer a lot. Here’s some advice from Dr. Nancy Reese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhUcJyme52Y

Related Links:

An amazing overview article about transitional cell carcinoma in Dogs on DogCancer.com:

https://www.dogcancer.com/articles/types-of-dog-cancer/bladder-cancer-in-dogs-including-transitional-cell-carcinoma/

Chapters:

0:00 – Introduction from Molly Jacobson

02:00 - Listener question from Heather about radiation therapy for TCC

03:58 - Dr. Megan Duffy’s explains the role of surgery, chemo, and radiation in TCC treatment

05:11 - Discussing the importance of surgical margins and local control

06:02 - When radiation therapy is typically used

07:07 – Why radiation might be or might not be recommended in individual cases

07:24 – Coaching on conversations with veterinary oncologists

08:58 – Why Dr. Duffy welcomes proactive clients

10:51 – Appreciation for DogCancer.com team

11:15 - Closing Remarks and Reminder to Share Your Own Story!

11:39 - Outro and Disclaimer

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Get to know Dr. Megan Duffy: https://www.dogcancer.com/people/megan-duffy-dvm-acvim-oncology/

For more details, articles, podcast episodes, and quality education go to the episode page: https://www.dogcancer.com/podcast/

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