MEET THE
Radiotherapy TEAM
Led by James Elliott, a renowned RCVS, European and American Specialist in Radiation Oncology, our veterinary radiotherapy team has many years of experience dealing with radiation oncology cases.
James was trained in the United States at a centre that is at the forefront of pioneering stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiation therapy – and is the most experienced Radiation Oncologist in the country in the planning and delivery of this type of treatment.
James works closely alongside experienced oncologist Sarah Mason who heads up the General Oncology team. The team also includes dedicated Radiotherapy Technicians and Therapeutic Radiographers who have extensive experience in administering radiotherapy treatments.
James Elliott
Head of Service – Lead in Radiation Oncology
BVM&S CertSAM Dipl. ECVIM-CA-RO (Oncology & Radiation Oncology) DACVR (RO) MRCVS
EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Oncology and Radiation Oncology
American Specialist in Veterinary Radiation Oncology
James graduated from the University of Edinburgh and initially worked in small animal practice in England before completing a one year internship and residency in small animal oncology at the University of Liverpool. Here he underwent extensive training in the disciplines of medical oncology and radiotherapy. James holds the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ECVIM) Diploma in Small Animal Oncology and is a recognised European Specialist in Small Animal Oncology and a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Oncology. He also holds the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Certificate in Small Animal Medicine.
Subsequent to his training, James became a lecturer in oncology at the University of Liverpool where, in addition to running busy clinics seeing cancer patients, he was also responsible for teaching undergraduate students, postgraduates undergoing oncology training, and members of the nursing team. In 2013, James joined a large referral centre where he helped to develop the oncology service. James is a member of the Veterinary Cancer Society, the European Society of Veterinary Oncology and is a regular speaker to vets on oncology topics and has published on various subjects in veterinary literature, including blood biomarkers in certain cancers, chemotherapy for canine lymphoma and canine oral mast cell tumours.
Having spent the last few years working in America in one of the most established veterinary radiation centres in the world, James is experienced in all aspects of modern veterinary radiation, clinical oncology and achieve high-level skills in treatment planning; particularly intensity-modulated radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic body radiation therapy.
James was awarded the 2019 ACVR resident prize for his research into radiation therapy for plasma cell tumours
In his spare time James enjoys getting out and about in the countryside, music and travelling.
Publications
Successful definitive-intent radiation therapy for recurrent and metastatic feline thymoma with unusual extra-thoracic metastasis
Ionescu I & Elliott J
Veterinary Record Case Reports 2023, epub e717
Transmission of canine transmissible venereal tumour between two dogs in the United Kingdom
Hayes A, Schiava L & Elliott J
Journal of Small Animal Practice 2023, 64(9), 590-594
A modified full thickness labial/buccal rotational flap reconstruction technique following bilateral rostral maxillectomy and nasal planectomy for resection of maxillary tumors: Technique and results in two dogs
Kokkinos P, Elliott & J Ruiz J
Veterinary Surgery 2023, https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.14018
Retrospective Study of T Cell Leukaemia (Large Granular Lymphocyte Variant) in Dogs Associated with Suspected Immune-Mediated Cytopaenia(s) in the Absence of Peripheral Lymphocytosis
Capasso A, Villiers E & Elliott J
Animals 2023, 13(3), 357
Guide to radiation therapy use in companion animals
Elliott J
In Practice 2022;44;3:124-140
Feasibility study evaluating arrhythmogenesis and cardiac damage after heart-base irradiation in mice: A brief communication.
Elliott J, Linder K, Nolan MW.
Vet Med Sci. 2020 Jun 10. doi: 10.1002/vms3.303
Response and outcome following radiation therapy of macroscopic canine plasma cell tumours.
Elliott J, Looper J, Keyerleber M, Turek M, Blackwood L, Henry J, Gieger T.
Vet Comp Oncol. 2020 Apr 19. doi: 10.1111/vco.12600
Histiocytic sarcoma in miniature schnauzers: 30 cases.
Purzycka K, Peters LM, Elliott J, Lamb CR, Priestnall SL, Hardas A, Johnston CA, Rodriguez-Piza I.
J Small Anim Pract. 2020 Apr 22. doi: 10.1111/jsap.13139
A Retrospective Study of Multi-agent Chemotherapy including either Cyclophosphamide or Lomustine as Initial Therapy for Canine High-grade T-cell Lymphoma (2011-2017).
Elliott J and Baines S
Aust Vet J. 2019 Sep;97(9):308-315. doi: 10.1111/avj.12847. Epub 2019 Jul 22.
Evaluation of a multi-agent chemotherapy protocol combining dexamethasone, melphalan, actinomycin D, and cytarabine for the treatment of resistant canine non-Hodgkin high-grade lymphomas: a single centre’s experience.
Smallwood K, Tanis JB, Grant IA, Blackwood L, Killick DR, Amores-Fuster I, Elliott J, Mas A, Harper A, Marrington M, Finotello R.
Vet Comp Oncol. 2019 Jun;17(2):165-173. doi: 10.1111/vco.12. Epub 2019 Feb 13.
Response and outcome following toceranib phosphate treatment for stage four anal sac apocrine gland adenocarcinoma in dogs: 15 cases (2013-2017)
Elliott JW
J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2019 Apr 15;254(8):960-966. doi: 10.2460/javma.254.8.960.
Lomustine Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Presumptive Haemophagocytic Histiocytic Sarcoma in Flat-coated Retrievers
Elliott JW
Australian Veterinary Journal (2018) Dec;96(12):502-507. doi: 10.1111/avj.12767
Managing cancer pain in dogs and cats
Elliott J and Alderson B
In Practice 2019;41:361-367.
External beam radiotherapy for the treatment of feline salivary gland carcinoma: six new cases and a review of the literature
Blackwood L, Harper A, Gramer I and Elliott J
J Feline Med Surg. 2019 Feb;21(2):186-194. doi: 10.1177/1098612X18771772. Epub 2018
Indolent, T-cell, Large Granular Lymphocytic Leukaemia (LGLL) in a Dog Presenting with Severe Neutropenia and an Absence of Lymphocytosis
Elliott JE and Villiers E
Open Veterinary Journal (2018) 8(2): 118-124
A Dexamethasone, Melphalan, Actinomycin-D and Cytarabine (DMAC) chemotherapy protocol as a rescue treatment for feline lymphoma
Elliott JW and Finotello R
Vet Comp Oncol (2018) Mar;16(1):E144-E151
Temporary Spontaneous Regression of Feline Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Elliott JW
Aust Vet Journal (2018) Mar;96(3):83-85
Unusual Radiographic Appearance of an Osseous Metastasis to the Distal Radius from a Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder
Anesi, Simone; Parry, Andrew; Monti, Paola; Elliott, James
Veterinary Record Case Reports 5: e000474. doi: 10.1136/vetreccr-2017-000474
Temozolomide alone or in combination with doxorubicin as a rescue agent in 37 cases of canine multicentric lymphoma
Treggiari E, Elliott JW, Baines SJ, Blackwood L
Vet Comp Oncol. 2017 Aug 2. doi: 10.1111/vco.12335
Intramuscular mast cell tumors in 7 dogs
Robinson W, Elliott J, Baines S, Owen L & Shales C
Canadian Vet Journal (2017) September, Vol 58, No.9, Page 931-932
Malignant pilomatricoma in a dog with local and distant metastases treated with chemotherapy and bisphosphonates
Treggiari E, Elliott JW
Open Vet J. 2017;7(3):208-213
Successful Treatment of a Metastatic, Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour in a dog with Toceranib Phosphate (Palladia™)
Elliott JW, Swinbourne F, Parry A, Baines L
J Small Anim Pract. 2017 Jul;58(7):416-418
New drug therapies for treating cancer in dogs and cats
Elliott J
In Practice 2017;39:2-9.
Gastric histiocytic sarcoma in a dog.
Elliott J
J Small Anim Pract. 2016 Dec;57(12):719
Treatment of Acute Undifferentiated Leukaemia in a Dog
Elliott, JW
Veterinary Record Case Reports (2016) 4: e000242. doi: 10.1136/vetreccr-2015-000242
Treatment & Outcome of Oral Mucosal Mast Cell Tumours in Dogs
Elliott J, Grant IA and Blackwood L
Vet Comp Oncol. 2016 Mar;14(1):101-11
Hypersensitivity reaction during epirubicin infusion in a cat.
Elliott J
J Small Anim Pract. 2015 May;56(5):356
Gastrointestinal toxicity after vincristine or cyclophosphamide administered with or without maropitant in dogs
Mason S, Grant IA, Elliott JW and Blackwood L
J Small Anim Pract. 2014 Aug;55(8):391-8
Paraneoplastic syndromes in dogs and cats
Elliott J
In Practice 2014;36:443-452.
Clinical evaluation of small animal cancer patients
Elliott J
In Practice 2014;36:218-228
Atypical, non-secretory presentation of multiple myeloma in a dog
Elliott, JW
Veterinary Record Case Reports (2014) 2: e000110. doi: 10.1136/vetreccr-2014-000110
Epirubicin as part of a Multi-Agent Chemotherapy Protocol for Canine Lymphoma
Elliott J, Cripps P, Grant IA and Blackwood L
Vet Comp Oncol. 2013 Sep;11(3):185-98
Cutaneous mast cell tumor with epitheliotropism in 3 dogs
Oliveira FN, Elliott JW, Lewis BC, Mathews GG, Brown RM and Treadway CM
Vet Pathology. 2013 Mar;50(2):234-7
Thymidine Kinase Assay in Canine Lymphoma
Elliott J, Cripps P and Blackwood L
Vet Comp Oncol. 2013 Mar;11(1):1-13
Treatment and Outcome of Four Cats with Apocrine Gland Carcinoma of the Anal Sac & Review of the Literature
Elliott J and Blackwood L
J Feline Med Surg. 2011 Oct;13(10):712-7
Histiocytic Sarcoma in the Bladder of a Dog
Amores-Fuster IA and Elliott J
J Small Anim Pract. 2011 Dec;52(12):665
Zinc toxicity in two dogs associated with the ingestion of identification tags
Adam F, Elliott J, Dandrieux J, German A, Blackwood L
Vet Rec. 2011 Jan 22;168(3):84-5
Successful Treatment of a Retrobulbar Mast Cell Tumour in a Dog
Elliott J, Grant IA and Blackwood L
Journal of Small Animal Practice (2010) October, 51(10): 561
Sarah Mason
Head of Service – Lead in General Oncology
BVSc BSc PhD CertAVP(SAM) PGCEd DipECVIM-CA [Oncol] (add Rad Oncol) FHEA MRCVS
RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Oncology
EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Oncology and Radiation Oncology
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Medicine
Sarah is a double-boarded specialist in Oncology and Radiation Oncology with many years of experience. She enjoys seeing patients for radiation, chemotherapy and multi-modal care.
She worked at the Universities of Liverpool and Cambridge Vet Schools before joining Southfields in 2018 and before training as a vet, she was a cancer researcher.
In her spare time she enjoys many different sports and music and she has two rescue cats, Nana and Hatchi.
Publications
Hall, J and Mason S.L. 2019 Limb sparing achieved by ray amputation for osteosarcoma of the left third metacarpal bone in a Labrador. Vet Rec Case Rep. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vetreccr-2018-000752
Ravicini, S, Baines, S.J. , Amores-Fuster, I, Taylor, A, Mason, S.L. and Treggiari, E (2018) Outcome and prognostic factors in medically treated canine prostatic carcinomas: a multi-institutional study. Veterinary and Comparative Oncology Manuscript accepted for publication.
Benoit, J.B., Mason, S.L. Maddox, T, Blackwood, L., Killick, D., Amores-Fuster, I., Harper, A. Finotello, R: 2018 Evaluation of a multi-agent chemotherapy protocol combining lomustine, procarbazine, prednisolone (LPP) for the treatment of relapsed canine non-Hodgkin high grade lymphoma. doi: 10.1111/vco.12387
Guilliano, A., Dobson, J.M, Mason, S.L. (2017) Complete remission of an anal sac squamous cell carcinoma treated with carboplatin chemotherapy and palliative radiation: Vet Sci. Sep 14;4(3). pii: E45. doi: 10.3390/vetsci4030045
Mason, S.L., Finotello, R., Blackwood, L., (2017) Epirubicin in the treatment of canine histiocytic sarcoma: sequential, alternating and rescue chemotherapy. Vet Comp Oncol. Mar;16(1):E30-E37. doi: 10.1111/vco.12329
Mason, S.L., Fisher, C., Ressel, L., Bommer, N.X., Buckley, L.M., Nuttall, T., (2016) Presentation, clinical pathological and post-mortem findings in three related Scottish terriers with ligneous membranitis. J Small Anim Pract 57, 271–276.
Mason, S.L. (2015) Palliative treatment in Small Animal Oncology. (2016) In Practice 38: 5 http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/inp.i1869
Ainsworth, S., Carter, S., Fisher, C., Dawson, J., Makrides, L., Nuttall, T., Mason, S.L., 2015. Ligneous membranitis in Scottish Terriers is associated with a single nucleotide polymorphism in the plasminogen (PLG) gene. Anim. Genet. 46, 707–10.
Mason, S.L, Elliott J., Grant I., Cripps, P. and Blackwood L. (2014) Effects of maropitant on vomiting in dogs receiving vincristine and cyclophosphamide. JSAP 55, Issue (8) 391–398
Mason, S.L., Jepson R., Maltman, M. Batchelor, D. (2014) Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome in three U.K. Border Collies. JSAP 55(1) 57-60
Mason, S.L., Maddox, T., Lillis, S. and Blackwood L. (2013) Late presentation of canine nasal tumours in a UK hospital and treatment outcomes JSAP 54(7) 347-353
Mason, S.L., McElroy, P. and Nuttall, T. (2012) Genetics of ligneous membranitis in Scottish Terriers (letter to editor) JSAP 53(11) 668
German A.J., Holden S.L., Mason S.L., Bryner C., Bouldoires C., Morris P.J., Deboise M., Biourge V.J. (2011) Imprecision when using measuring cups to weigh out extruded dry kibbled food. Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) Jun; 95(3):368-73
Medina-Torres C.E., Mason S.L., Floyd R.V., Harris P.A., Mobasheri, A. (2011) Hypoxia and a hypoxia mimetic up-regulate matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 in equine laminar keratinocytes A.Vet J. Nov;190(2):e54-9. Epub 2011 Apr 1.
Floyd, R.V, Mason S. L. Proudman, C.J, German, A.J, Marples, D. and Mobasheri, A. (2007) Expression and nephron segment specific distribution of major renal aquaporins (AQP1-4) in Equus caballus, the domestic horse. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. Jul; 293(1):R492-503. Epub 2007 Apr 18
Mobasheri A., Dobson H., Mason S.L., Cullingham F., Shakibaei M., Moley J.F., Moley K.H. (2005) Expression of the GLUT1 and GLUT9 facilitative glucose transporters in embryonic chondroblasts and mature chondrocytes in ovine articular cartilage. Cell Biol Int. Apr; 29(4):249-60.
Mason S.L., Loughran, O. and La Thangue, N.B. (2002) p14(ARF) regulates E2F activity. Oncogene. 21(27): 4220-30.
de la Luna, S., Allen, K. E, Mason S.L. and La Thangue, N.B. (1998) Integration of a growth-suppressing BTB/POZ domain protein with the DP component of the E2F transcription factor. EMBO J. 18:212-228.
Jenny Gordon
Senior Radiation Therapist, Registered Veterinary Nurse
BSc (Hons) RVN
Jenny qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2001 and was promoted to head nurse in 2002. She joined Southfields Veterinary Specialists (then VRCC) in 2004 and whilst working full time as head nurse, she managed to complete her BSc Honours Degree. Jenny then took up the role of radiotherapy technician. Following maternity leave, she returned to Southfields and trained in CT imaging. After a brief spell back in first opinion practice, Jenny resumed her role as radiotherapy technician at Southfields in 2017.
When she is not at work, Jenny is very busy with her husband, two young boys, four cats and dog called Murphy who loves to go on very long walks. And if that’s not enough to keep her busy, she also enjoys socialising with family and friends and takes part in zumba and pilates too!
Emma Fordham
Radiotherapy Therapist, Registered Veterinary Nurse
RVN, DipHE CVN DipAVN (Small Animal)
Emma qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2003, and became especially interested in critical care whilst working at the Royal Veterinary College. She joined our team in 2009, and completed the Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (Small Animal) in 2010. Emma has one cat, a three-legged extremely affectionate black cat called Marley.
Outside of work, Emma spends her time with her husband, young son and cat and likes to go rowing whenever possible.