Cats Vaccines & Treatments for Cat Cancer
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) describes cancer as an uncontrolled growth of abnormal, unhealthy cells in the body called a neoplasm, or tumor. Malignant tumors can grow and spread to other parts of the body. Many types of cancer lack a cure, but some varieties use chemotherapy or surgery as treatment options. Early detection and treatment can prolong your cat's life.
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Symptoms
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According to the AVMA, if your cat has cancer she may display certain symptoms. For example, she may have a sore that will not heal, or a lump or swollen area that keeps growing. She may not eat and have difficulty swallowing her food. Depending upon the type of cancer that she has, she may exhibit weakness and lethargy. She may also have bleeding from a body opening or a foul odor.
Types of Cancer
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Lymphoma is one of the more common types of cancer seen in older cats. This cancer type affects the white blood cells. The Pet Cancer Center says that lymphoma often affects the spleen and bone marrow as well as the lymph nodes, but it can happen in any part of the body that contains lymph tissue. The specific type of lymphoma and its symptoms will vary depending upon where the cancer is located, but a veterinary examination will reveal a low number of red blood cells. Your cat may feel weak and may not want to eat. She might also have nasal discharge or fluid in her chest, and may have difficulty breathing.
Another type of cancer, called sarcoma affects cats of any age. Sarcoma tumors occur on or under the skin, in the muscles, or in the mouth, according to Vet Surgery Central. These tumors often have deep roots and require surgical extraction.
Vaccines
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The AVMA has expressed concern about sarcoma development at the vaccination injection site. Established in 1996, the Vaccine-Associated Feline Task Force examines the safety of feline vaccinations and shares information with the public about the dangers associated with vaccines. Vaccines are not normally dangerous, and it is common for cats to have a small amount of swelling or a lump at the injection site after vaccination, but the swelling should disappear after a few weeks. If the lump grows or is still there three months after vaccination, your cat may have developed a sarcoma.
On the other hand, there are some types of lymphoma prevented by vaccines. The Pet Cancer Center indicates that mediastinal lymphoma, a type of lymphoma that involves the lymph nodes in the chest, frequently occurs in young cats that test positive for the feline leukemia virus. The Feline Leukemia (FeLV) vaccination can help prevent some cats from contracting feline leukemia or mediastinal lymphoma.
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References
- Photo Credit cat image by Lori Boggetti from Fotolia.com
