Feline Lymphoma Chemo Therapy
| Feline lymphoma is described as an uncontrolled cell proliferation occurring in the lymphoid tissues or organs in the cat’s body. However, the most prevalent sites of occurrence are the lymph nodes surrounding the intestinal tract. |
Feline lymphoma is the most common type of hematopoietic tumors in cat. Cats infected with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) or Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are more susceptible to developing feline lymphoma.
Feline lymphoma is more prevalent in older cats, particularly in males. Some of the prominent symptoms of feline lymphoma include appetite loss, formation of lumps, swelling of lymph nodes, vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss, fur loss, breathing troubles, fluids in the lungs, increased water intake and increased urination.
There are three major forms of treatment available for treating feline lymphoma. These include radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy. Surgery and radiation therapy is possible only when the tumor is localized and is easily accessible. However, effective chemotherapeutic compounds or drugs are available for the purpose of treating cats suffering with feline lymphoma. Around 70 percent of the infected cats respond favorably to the treatment while many of them see an increased life span. Some of these common therapeutic agents include doxorubicin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, lasparaginase, chlorambucil and prednisone.
There are various chemotherapy protocols in practice and are associated with minimal side effects. Drugs might be used individually or as a combination therapy. While cats treated with prednisone alone have survived till 60 days, those treated with prednisone and chlorambucil had a remission after 20.5 months. However, there are quite a number of factors that influence the fate of chemotherapy. These include the disease-free period, survival period, typical period of remission and expenses.
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