Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system that can affect the lymph nodes, chest, kidneys, or gastrointestinal tract in cats. Between 50% to 70% of cats with lymphoma have the gastrointestinal form.
Lymphoma is classified as high-grade (more malignant), or low-grade (slower growth).
Low-grade lymphoma is more common in the gastrointestinal form, and signs can mimic inflammatory bowel disease.
Management depends on the disease type and stage, and the overall health of your cat. Treatment is not curative, but designed to improve your cat’s quality and length of life.
Low-grade lymphoma can often be treated with oral chemotherapy, and intravenous protocols are used for high-grade disease. Surgery may be an option, as well as appetite stimulants, or anti-nausea medication.
Cats with lymphoma need regular veterinary visits and diagnostic tests to monitor their status and prognosis. Discussing a personalised management plan with your vet and a veterinary oncologist is important for the best outcome for your cat.
More than 70% of cats treated for low-grade intestinal lymphoma experience remission and live a good quality of life for two to three years. The prognosis for high-grade lymphoma is less than 50% remission, and survival time is two to nine months. Unfortunately, most cats with lymphoma eventually relapse into a more drug-resistant form.
At-home needs include:
Immediately contact your vet if your cat has uncontrollable vomiting or diarrhoea, abdominal distention, or difficulty breathing, collapses, or vocalises in pain.
It is vital to begin end-of-life care discussions before your cat’s condition becomes unmanageable, or they begin losing their quality of life.
The team at Goodbye Good Boy offers individualised support to help you and your family navigate this progressive disease by providing quality-of-life checks, in-home euthanasia, cremation and aftercare services, and personalised memorialisation options. Our services can even be pre-paid to help ease the financial burden at the time of your pet’s passing.
To learn more about our pet end-of-life services, give us a call on 1800 953 619 or visit our website goodbyegoodboy.com.au.
This article was reproduced with permission from Goodbye Good Boy advisor Dr Dani McVety, of Lap Of Love.