Feline Carcinoma

 

Cats get cancer just like people do.  Some types of cancer are more prevalent in cats and one of those is small cell carcinoma.  BCR's Chester was diagnosed with this form of cancer last year and Skipper has also been diagnosed with this condition.  Because it's one of the most common forms of cancer in cats, it's good to have as much information as possible to be on guard for your cat.

This form of cancer begins as an infection in the internal tissues or organs and develops into a carcinoma, or tumor.  Behind the infection is usually lymphoma, the most common type of feline cancer, which is a cancer of specific white blood cells, called lymphocytes.  Carcinomas may develop in several locations in a cat's body but are most often found in the gastrointestinal tract, lymph nodes or in the tissue around the lungs.  Cats who are positive for FIV or feline leukemia are more prone to getting carcinomas because their immune systems aren't functioning at full strength.

Veterinarians usually categorize carcinomas as two types.  The first is high grade, or large cell, carcinoma, which develop and grow quickly  The second is low grade, or small cell, carcinomas, which grow more slowly and are less aggressive.

If you have read about many feline illnesses, it may seem that the symptoms to look for are similar for most of them.  In some ways that's good, because as a cat parent, you should be on the lookout for anything about your cat's behavior that seems "off" for them or something obvious that means they're in distress.  With lymphoma and carcinoma, symptoms will relate to where the tumor is located and what stage of development it is in.  Things to be concerned about if you see them in your cat are weight loss, lethargy and lack of appetite.  For carcinomas in the abdominal area, symptoms might include vomiting and diarrhea.  If located in the chest, breathing difficulty could be a symptom.  If the cancer is in the lymph nodes there may be swelling in those areas.

We always say, if you see any of these signs in your cat, get to your veterinarian right away.  A thorough physical exam, blood work, imaging tests and a biopsy will determine what's going on and exactly what's causing it.  With all feline diseases, the goal is to catch it early.  As a BCR cat, Chester gets regular veterinary checkups, his weight is monitored and the staff knows how he's eating.  When he lost an unusual amount of weight, Alana got him right to the vet, where he was found to have a carcinoma, and treatment began right away.  Chester's carcinoma is small cell, which is slow-developing and has allowed time to actually treat the condition. 

Treatment for small cell carcinoma may include oral chemotherapy drugs that have a high rate of success.  High grade carcinoma, the more aggressive kind, requires more intense treatments that might include surgery to remove a tumor, radiation, as well as chemotherapy.  A cat may have a reaction to oral drug treatment for small cell carcinoma or may experience some side effects, but, in general, they do well and can maintain their quality of life.

Read more about feline carcinima from ethosvet.com and from Pets.WebMD.