The tumors appear as fleshy masses and can be pigmented or non-pigmented. Going forward with cancer treatment can be a roller coaster ride with many up days and down days. Instead the abnormal cells build up in the blood or bone marrow. The risk of skin cancer increases when a cat is exposed to direct sunlight for prolonged periods. Radiation can be a very effective cancer treatment in cats. Staging a tumour often involves taking X-rays or doing an ultrasound to see if there is evidence of spread for example to the lungs or liver , perhaps getting samples biopsies or aspirates from local lymph nodes, and checking blood samples. If your cat has any of these, get a check up, but don't automatically think the worst!
What is cancer?
Cancer in Cats
Some forms of therapy are only available at specialist centres, and your vet may suggest that he or she refers you to one of these places. The sheer idea of your sweet little feline fur baby having cancer is devastating. Compared to people and dogs , cats generally handle chemo pretty well. Squamous cell carcinoma Squamous cell carcinoma SCC is a skin cancer that frequently occurs on the ears and nose of cats with white or light coat colours with little pigmentation. These cells also line interior passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts. When treating cancer, it is important that everyone involved has the same goals in mind.
The 3 Most Common Cancers in Cats
Persians, Himalayans, and Scottish Folds are more commonly affected. Radiation Therapy For nasal tumors, radiation therapy is the preferred standard of treatment for cats. Providing a cat with the healthiest lifestyle possible is the key to prevention. A decreased appetite or a sudden onset of weight loss are surefire signs that something is wrong with your cat. In many cases, appropriate treatment of cancer can result in a significant improvement in quality of life for affected cats. It will likely be prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs and opioids to relieve pain throughout treatment.

The gastrointestinal form can be very hard to detect on physical examination as the cancer cells are within the gut wall and can't be easily felt. The nose can become misshapen. Severe and extensive bone involvement is common. Fibrosarcoma has developed at the site of injection of various necessary medications and preventives, where it is called feline injection-site sarcoma FISS. These tumors are rare in cats, but occur most often in the short-nosed breeds, like their canine counterparts. But the cancers that cats get are more likely to be malignant. Secondly, just because your cat has a brain tumor does not mean its cancerous.