Lymphoma radiation therapy for dogs and cats — AARADONC Palm Beach Florida
Lymphoma Radiation Therapy · Dogs & Cats · Florida

Lymphoma radiation
therapy for pets
in Florida.

Lymphoma is the most common cancer in cats and one of the most common in dogs. Radiation plays a critical role in localized forms — particularly nasal, mediastinal, and spinal lymphoma — providing targeted local control.

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Understanding Lymphoma in Pets

Targeted local control
for localized lymphoma.

Lymphoma is a systemic disease — but some forms are highly localized. For these, radiation provides precise local control that complements chemotherapy. Nasal lymphoma in cats, mediastinal masses causing breathing difficulty, and spinal lymphoma compressing the cord are all situations where radiation changes the outcome.

The biology of lymphoma varies enormously by anatomic site, cell type (B-cell vs. T-cell), and grade. High-grade multicentric lymphoma requires chemotherapy as the primary treatment. But localized anatomic lymphoma — confined to the nasal cavity, mediastinum, spine, or skin — may respond well to radiation, alone or with chemotherapy.

Nasal lymphoma in cats — a standout case

Nasal lymphoma is the most common nasal tumor in cats and one of the most radiation-responsive cancers in veterinary medicine. With radiation — alone or combined with chlorambucil or CHOP-based chemotherapy — median survival of around 1–1.5 years has been reported. Many cats maintain excellent quality of life throughout.

Not all lymphoma is the same. Before any treatment recommendation, Dr. DiBernardi reviews the full workup — histopathology, immunophenotyping, anatomic site, staging — to determine whether and how radiation should be integrated into the overall treatment plan.

When radiation changes the course

For mediastinal lymphoma causing respiratory compromise, radiation can reduce tumor bulk quickly. For spinal lymphoma causing progressive paresis, radiation can decompress the spinal cord and allow neurological recovery. These are situations where radiation plays a central role, not just a complementary one.

At AARADONC, Dr. Lisa DiBernardi holds dual board certification in radiation oncology and medical oncology — meaning she evaluates the full systemic and local picture before any treatment recommendation.
References

Scientific references.

The clinical information on this page is grounded in peer-reviewed veterinary radiation oncology literature.

  1. Haney SM, et al. (2009). Survival analysis of 97 cats with nasal lymphoma: a multi-institutional retrospective study (1986–2006). J Vet Intern Med.
  2. Reczynska AI, LaRue SM, et al. (2022). Outcome of stereotactic body radiation for treatment of nasal and nasopharyngeal lymphoma in 32 cats. J Vet Intern Med.
For Pet Families
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Prompt response.

Dr. DiBernardi is on site and personally reviews every case. Tell us about your pet and we'll respond promptly with a clear recommendation.

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For Veterinarians
Refer a patient with
lymphoma.

Submit a referral and receive prompt acknowledgment. We coordinate directly with your practice and any oncology team managing the systemic component.

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