Sick sea lion battling cancer sees improvement after groundbreaking radiation treatment

A brave sealion diagnosed with an aggressive oral cancer is back scoffing fish after being the first of her species to undergo a groundbreaking radiation treatment. Zoey, a 23-year-old Californian sealion, was diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma in early August after vets in Pittsburgh Zoo became worried and took a biopsy of an ulcer in her mouth. Zoey’s lead veterinarians discovered that the cancer had penetrated the roof of her mouth and spread to her sinuses. Desperate to save zoo favorite Zoey, her healthcare team contacted Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty Emergency Center, who believed she was a candidate for stereotactic radiation therapy.