Feline Lymphoma/Cancer/Tumours
Yes, cats do get cancer too, and like humans, a compromised immunity system makes them more suseptible too. Like humans, cats may get cancers of many differnt kinds too. Milly, tested FiV positive at age 2.5, died from multi-cystic intestinal lumphoma at age 3.5. It's important to note:
Intestinal lymphoma is now the most common form of lymphoma in the cat. The average patient is an elderly cat with a history of vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, appetite loss or any combination thereof. Patients are generally older cats (median ages ranging from 9-13 years depending on the study) with a tendency for male cats to be more predisposed to development of the condition than female cats. source
Researchers previously believed that all cats with lymphoma were infected with the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). However, most cats in the past decade diagnosed with intestinal lymphoma tested negative for FeLV. Exposure to second-hand smoke, not a virus, is now viewed as a contributing causative factor to intestinal lymphoma. source
Whatever the cancer though, it is important to remember cancer doesn't have to be a death sentence, unless we're talking about the hapless ones like Milly. But even then, don't give up hope, not unless it's truly the end. Get with the program, and play your part well - your cat's well-being depends on it.
- Go to Pawprints: TLC for cat minon requisite education
<< purrsNswipes