How long did your cat live with lymphoma?
How long did your cat live with lymphoma?
Cats with lymphoma who are not treated with chemotherapy have an average survival time of 4 weeks once the diagnosis has been made. Cats with intestinal lymphoma who are treated with prednisone alone have a life expectancy of 60-90 days. Other protocols using multiple drugs yield significantly better results.
Why do cats get intestinal lymphoma?
What Causes Lymphoma in Cats? The exact cause is unknown. However, exposure to the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) can greatly increase your kitty’s risk for developing lymphoma.
What causes gastrointestinal cancer in cats?
Risk factors for intestinal cancer in cats include age, infection with feline immunodeficiency virus, and infection with feline leukemia virus. Males are slightly more likely to develop intestinal cancer as are some breeds, like Siamese.
How do cats get intestinal lymphoma?
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection can also predispose cats to lymphoma, but due to screening programs, infection with FIV and FeLV is much less common nowadays and most cats with gastrointestinal lymphoma are not infected with these viruses.
How is intestinal lymphoma diagnosed in cats?
In some cases, feline lymphoma can be diagnosed with a fine needle aspirate. In this test, a veterinarian will insert a needle into an area of concern (an enlarged lymph node, enlarged kidney, thickened region of intestine, or fluid present within the chest) and remove a small number of cells.
What do you feed a cat with lymphoma?
Based on these metabolic changes, many veterinarians recommend feeding feline cancer patients diets that are relatively low in carbohydrates (particularly simple carbohydrates) and high in protein and fat. It is important that all the ingredients used to make the cat’s food be highly digestible and absorbable.
What are the symptoms of intestinal lymphoma in cats?
Decreased or no appetite
What are the signs of lymphoma in cats?
Depression/extreme lethargy
What is the treatment for lymphoma in cats?
Treatment of Lymphoma in Cats. The most effective treatment for cats diagnosed with lymphoma is chemotherapy. This will involve the use of several types of chemotherapeutic drugs. Chemotherapy has the highest chance of putting affected cats into the remission stage.
Why do cats get lymphoma?
While there are no breed dispositions for lymphoma, cats who have had either leukemia or immunodeficiency virus have a higher risk of developing lymphoma. Lymphoma is a common type of malignant cancer that forms when there is an uncontrolled growth in the number of lymphocytes in the immune system.
