lymphoma prognosis |Prognosis for lymphoma in cats

Prognosis for lymphoma in cats

Lymphoma is a type of white blood cell cancer, which occurs more often in cats than in humans or dogs. According to doctors Foster and Smith, this condition is common in cats that have feline leukemia virus. Depending on the type and location of the lymphoma, it can be successfully treated with chemotherapy.

Types of
Lymphoma occurs in several different forms. According to the Animal Rescue Center, the most common form in cats appears in the digestive system, including the stomach, intestines, liver and surrounding lymph nodes. Cats can also get mediastinal lymphomas, which affects a group of lymph nodes in the chest and is more common in cats with FeLV. Kidney lymphoma, bone marrow lymphoma or leukemia and lymphoma of external ganglia can also occur. Some rare cases concern the skin, brain, spinal cord or nose.

Symptoms
Symptoms of feline lymphoma depend on the cancer site. Cats with digestive tract lymphoma can lose weight, have raw hair, lose their appetite and have digestive problems like diarrhea and vomiting. Cats with mediastinal lymphomas may appear to have respiratory diseases and suffer from fluid in the lungs. Kidney lymphoma can cause signs of renal failure, whereas leukemia usually causes a decrease in blood cells.

Treatment
Lymphoma in cats is usually treated with chemotherapy, although some cases also require surgery. This type of cancer is very susceptible to chemotherapy treatments. According to the Animal Rescue Center, up to 75 percent of the cats treated with chemotherapy go into remission. In remission, cats have a longer life than untreated cats and can live for years.

Recovery
Young cats without any sign of FeLV are more likely to recover from lymphoma with treatment. This is especially true for cats with forms of mediastinum disease. Cats whose central nervous system are often affected have bad prognosis. FeLV decreases the chances of survival. Many other forms of the disease have an unpredictable prognosis. Some cats do not react to chemotherapy and suffer from the rapid progression of the disease.

Considerations
Cats tolerate chemotherapy relatively well, but they know the side effects, such as digestive disorders, fatigue, loss of appetite and loss of whiskers. Cats under treatment for lymphoma can also develop infections more easily. Serious side effects occur in a small percentage of cats and may indicate the need to try a different chemotherapy drug or other treatment.