Abdominal Cancer in a Cat
Abdominal cancer in cats is a serious illness that is very difficult to treat successfully. This type of cancer is a silent killer that unfolds in many ways. Cat owners should know the symptoms to be able to detect this cancer as early as possible and treat their cat. Quick response might extend the cat's life.
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Types
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There are three types of abdominal cancer in cats. In the first type, normal cells develop into clusters or tumors in the cat's digestive system. Adenocarcinoma is the second type; it starts in the gland tissue and moves to the stomach, causing cancerous tumors to form. The third, lymphoma, happens after the second type attaches to the lymph nodes.
Symptoms
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Cats with stomach cancer might stop eating, avoid contact with their owners and become lethargic. Cats that are lethargic lose interest in their environment and exhibit signs of frowziness. Sick cats might hide in spots where they won't encounter other pets or people.
Cats often start vomiting blood, develop anemia, become dehydrated, urinate blood and excrete black feces from internal bleeding. You might be able to feel masses or tumors on the cat's body.
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Diagnosis
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Veterinarians will do various tests of your feline for stomach cancer. These include blood tests, X-rays and ultrasounds to diagnose cancer. In addition, the vet might gather cells for biopsy and use an endoscope to view the cat's abdominal system.
Treatment
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The most common treatment is surgery. Chemotherapy is not effective in cats, and radiation can destroy other organs. Additionally, vets will put your sick cat on a special diet.
Pain will vary from cat to cat. It's very important you make your cat as comfortable as possible during their illness, and discuss how to do so with your vet.
Prognosis
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Prognosis for feline stomach cancer is always never good, because the disease often isn't diagnosed until it's too late. The Pet Cancer Center says that abdominal cancer accounts for less than 1 percent of cat cancers. The center estimates the age of affected cats to be 8 years. Male cats seem to be affected more than females.
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References
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- Photo Credit cats image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com
