The Baylor Family Rallies Around Mascot Lady During Treatment of Tumor

The tumor was found during a routine wellness examination with veterinarians at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Lady’s care involved an innovative yet noninvasive radiation treatment called tomotherapy. The state-of-the-art TomoTherapy System targets tumors while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues, reducing the level of side effects typically associated with conventional forms of radiation therapy.

“We are still able to treat this in an aggressive manner using the advanced technology while ensuring that she is able to be at home with her sister, able to eat and drink normally and able to have a good quality of life,” said Lauren Smith, DVM, radiation oncologist and clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

While no external signs of treatment are expected, Lady’s primary care veterinarian, Dr. Sharman Hoppes, DVM, will continue monitoring the wellness of both Lady and Joy.

“The veterinarians have begun a course of tomotherapy we hope will reduce the size of the tumor — a treatment that is believed to be the first ever done on a bear. We are grateful to have access to a remarkable team with the expertise needed for Lady’s care,” President Livingstone wrote in the letter to the Baylor Family. “Our priority is Lady’s comfort and wellbeing. Following the treatments, we will visit again with the veterinary team. We are optimistic about the results and Lady’s health.”

Thanks to Lady’s veterinary team and the tireless efforts of the dedicated caregivers in Baylor Chamber, Lady’s follow-up scans have shown no signs of further growth of the mass. The tumor and Lady’s wellbeing will be further monitored this spring to ensure her overall health.

Working under the motto, “A Tradition of Stewardship Through Education and Conservation,” the Bear Program continues to evaluate and pursue the best possible care of Baylor’s bears.

The response from near and far reaches of the Baylor Family has been incredible, with get well cards and gifts for the bears flooding in from across the country.

Since their launch in 2019, the official social media channels of the bears have been a viral hit, with the Twitter account (@bubearhabitat) and particularly the Instagram page (@baylorbearhabitat) gaining large numbers of followers and providing an excellent connection between the Baylor Family and our favorite bears.

To financially support the Bear Program, you can make a gift online at baylor.edu/bear or by calling 1-800-BAYLOR-U (1-800-229-5678), option 4.