Published: October 31, 2009 11:47 pm         

PAW PRINTS: Lymphoma is most common cancer in cats

TERRE HAUTE — Cancer is the number one cause of death in companion animals in the United States, according to Dr. Laura Garrett, veterinary oncologist at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana. For cats, a common type of cancer is lymphoma. Originating in the white blood cells of the immune system, the disease often attacks the lymph nodes causing them to enlarge.

Garrett says, “Lymphoma is common in middle-aged to older cats.” Typically, it begins in the tissues associated with the immune system (lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and bone marrow) although it can start in almost any part of the body.

Currently, the gastrointestinal variety of lymphoma is the most common form in cats. Typical symptoms experienced are weight loss, loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea.

“If a young cat is diagnosed with lymphoma it is usually feline leukemia [FeLV] positive,” Garrett explains.

Except for the gastrointestinal type of lymphoma, this virus is linked to most forms of lymphoma. The feline immunodeficiency virus can also increase the risk of developing lymphoma and cats exposed to second-hand smoke are also at greater risk. In order to diagnose gastrointestinal lymphoma, a fine needle is inserted into the intestinal mass, a minimally invasive procedure. The biopsy is examined. If it contains a large percentage of white blood cells (lymphocytes), it is diagnosed as lymphoma. Since lymphoma is a form of cancer that can infect many different parts of the body (systemic), chemotherapy is necessary. Generally, lymphoma responds well to this treatment. Although each patient is different, and each form of lymphoma responds differently to drugs, it’s difficult to determine the percentage of cats that will go into remission.

“It is important to note that because veterinary medicine uses lower dosages of chemotherapy than human medicine, the majority of patients receiving treatment maintain a good quality of life. In addition, because a cat’s hair does not continually grow like humans, they usually do not lose their fur coat during treatment,” Garrett says.

According to Arnold Plotnick MS, DVM, ACVIM, ABVP, the average survival time, with chemotherapy for high-grade (large cell) lymphoma is 2.7 months and cats with low-grade lymphoma average 17 months to 2 years or longer.



Oscar

Oscar is a beautiful, orange marble, male kitten approximately 5 months old. He is loving, inquisitive and very playful. He loves to be petted while cuddled on your lap. Oscar is altered and ready to go home with an approved application. He is currently in foster care, and you can meet him by calling the Terre Haute Humane Shelter at (812) 232-0293. Consider adopting Oscar; he would be a great addition to your family.