As in humans, cancer is a disease that threatens the life of your pet. Some owners believe that this disease is exclusive to people, but in fact, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), it is responsible for the death of at least 50% of animals older than 10 years
In this article on our site, we will touch on a very important topic in cats: feline lymphoma, one of the most common types of cancer in cats and one of the pathologies with the highest risk in the world. Keep reading if you want to know more about lymphoma in cats, its causes, symptoms and treatment.
What is lymphoma in cats?
Lymphoma is a type of malignant cancer and is one of the most common neoplasms in feline medicine. It is associated with an abnormal production of defense cells called lymphocytes. These cells are found in the lymph nodes, but can be found practically throughout the body (gastrointestinal tract, skin, liver, nervous system, etc).
Feline lymphoma is one of the most frequent types of cancer in cats and can appear in one place or in several at the same time, as we explain in this other article on our site about Cancer in cats - Types, Symptoms and Treatment.
Types of lymphoma in cats
As mentioned above, lymphoma can appear practically anywhere in the body and, although for obvious reasons it is closely associated with lymph nodes, it can be classified according to its location:
- Gastrointestinal lymphoma: It receives this name because it affects any area of the cat's digestive system. It can be focal (one or several tumor masses) or diffuse (responds to a generalized thickening of the anatomical structures that it affects). This type of lymphoma is associated with middle-aged felines and older cats, it is said that they are approximately 6 to 9 years old. It should be noted that this type of lymphoma can also be classified according to the size of its cells (small or large). It is the most common type of lymphoma found in cats.
- Mediastinal lymphoma: This type of lymphoma affects the thymus gland and lymph nodes in the mediastinum. Due to its location, when the tumor grows, it can make it difficult for the patient to breathe and swallow. Generally, it is classified as a tumor of young cats, in fact, less than 2 years old, and its prognosis is usually positive if it is detected and treated in time.
- Multicentric lymphoma: This term is used in patients who have tumors in several anatomical structures at the same time. It is a very rare form of lymphoma in cats and is associated with the feline leukemia virus. It most often affects cats 3 to 5 years of age.
- Extranodal Lymphoma: This is fairly common in cats and is associated with anatomical structures that do not belong in the above locations. The skin, nasal cavity, kidneys, and central nervous system are the areas that are most commonly affected. Of all these, the most frequent to be seen as target tissue is the nasal cavity. It can cause a wide variety of nonspecific signs and symptoms, from nasal discharge to loss of motor function (in the case of spinal lymphoma). It generally affects cats 5 to 9 years old.
If you suspect that your cat is sick, you can consult this other article on our site on How do I know if my cat is sick? Even so, if in doubt, it is recommended to visit a veterinarian.
Symptoms of lymphoma in cats
The signs and symptoms of the cat with lymphoma will vary depending on the location of the neoplasm. We could classify them in a similar way to that of the types that we made previously:
Digestive symptoms of lymphoma in cats
- Inappetence.
- Diarrhea.
- Threw up.
- Anorexy.
- Blood in the stool.
Mediastinal signs of feline lymphoma
- Difficulty breathing.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Exercise intolerance.
- Hypoxia.
Extranodal signs of lymphoma in cats
- Ataxia.
- Generalized nervous signs.
- Nasal discharge.
- Polyuria.
This pathology, in addition to being quite frequent in felines, is one of the most delicate that exists. For this reason, your pet deserves maximum attention for as long as possible, since the early detection of any disease will increase the chances of being able to cure it.
Causes of lymphoma in cats
The causes of any type of cancer in cats are currently being studied. Depending on the type of lymphoma and some factors inherent to the animal, there are two pathologies in felines that are associated with lymphoma. Many authors describe that on certain occasions, some diseases can cause lymphoma in felines. The pathologies most associated with lymphoma are:
- Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
- Feline immunodeficiency virus or feline AIDS (FIV).
However, it has been made known that these are not the only factors that can trigger the disease, and that many patients can suffer from lymphoma without being positive for the aforementioned pathologies.
Treatment of lymphoma in cats
Because lymphomas are systemic tumors, the treatment of choice is chemotherapy It should be noted that this procedure has side effects, but they are quite manageable in cats. The treatment consists of 4 different phases:
- Remission induction.
- Maintenance.
- Intensification.
- Remission reinduction.
As we have always indicated, the person in charge of diagnosis and decision-making when treating the patient is the veterinarian.
Lymphoma in cats: life expectancy
It is said that with a good chemotherapy protocol, most patients survive for more than a year, and around 25% they can survive 2 years.
