Feline Lymphoma, Part 2
Cat Talk|June 2023
It is now three and a half years since my beloved Siamese, Polar, was diagnosed with renal lymphoma. After 15 months of treatments, countless trips back and forth from Long Island to the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital in Philadelphia, endless ultrasounds and follow-up visits, my warrior boy was declared not just in remission, but miraculously "cured."
Elizabeth Jennings
Feline Lymphoma, Part 2

"I think at this point, you can consider him cured," said Dr. Pascale Salah, DVM, DACVIM (oncology). Dr. Salah is the Oncology department head and Associate Professor of Clinical Medical Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School. "If anything else comes up after this, I think you could consider it unrelated," he continued. Dr. Salah also pointed out that Polar was one of only three cats in Penn Vet history to make it through the treatment protocol for renal lymphoma and be in remission.

While Polar proved an exception in this very serious case, there are many success stories in less serious types of lymphoma.

Is lymphoma more or less treatable than other cancers in cats?

"There are several types of lymphoma that can occur in cats, and they can have very different behaviors," said Dr. Katherine Skorupski, DVM, DACVIM (oncology). She is Chief of Medical Oncology and Professor of Clinical Medical Oncology at the University of California, Davis. "Lymphoma can be high-grade or low-grade, and grade predicts the behavior of the cancer. This includes the speed at which the cancer grows."

Skorupski further explained that high-grade lymphoma can occur anywhere in the body, often affects many organs at once, and usually grows quickly. In the case of Polar, who was diagnosed with a large tumor on his kidney (renal lymphoma), the oncologists at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital felt the tumor had only been there for an estimated two weeks. In other words, very fast-growing.

"Compared to other cancer in cats and to high-grade lymphoma in dogs, response rates with chemotherapy are lower and survival is not as good (for high-grade lymphoma)," said Skorupski. "Lowgrade (also called small-cell) lymphoma is a slower-moving form of lymphoma that most commonly affects the intestines. Low-grade lymphoma responds very well to oral chemotherapy, and cats usually live many years after diagnosis."

Bu hikaye Cat Talk dergisinin June 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Cat Talk dergisinin June 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

CAT TALK DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Checklist For What to Look For in Your Club's Next Show Venue
Cat Talk

Checklist For What to Look For in Your Club's Next Show Venue

Show Manager To Ring One, Please

time-read
7 dak  |
August 2024
Tonkinese
Cat Talk

Tonkinese

When You're Well and Truly Tonked

time-read
10 dak  |
August 2024
AVOIDING The Kitten Fear Period
Cat Talk

AVOIDING The Kitten Fear Period

Young kittens seem fearless.4 As soon as those eyes open and they can get their legs under them, they are off to see the world if their mama and humans let them.

time-read
10+ dak  |
August 2024
No Milk For You!
Cat Talk

No Milk For You!

Milk Issues and Kittens

time-read
8 dak  |
August 2024
Fostering Kittens
Cat Talk

Fostering Kittens

When asked if I would be interested in fostering a queen and her eight newborn kittens, I volunteered without question.

time-read
10 dak  |
August 2024
Do You present ? Polish! OR DO YOU
Cat Talk

Do You present ? Polish! OR DO YOU

IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS!

time-read
6 dak  |
August 2024
No Kitten! Cats Are Part of the Military!
Cat Talk

No Kitten! Cats Are Part of the Military!

Felines have graced the decks of boats and ships back nearly to the beginning of time, roaming freely on passenger ships, war vessels, and merchant schooners, keeping vermin at bay.

time-read
4 dak  |
April 2024
Feline Summer Movie Fun!
Cat Talk

Feline Summer Movie Fun!

School is almost OUT! Huzzah! But raindrops are plunking against the window, the amusement and water parks haven’t opened yet, camping is out, and roasted hot dogs and S’mores are another month away.

time-read
5 dak  |
April 2024
Kittens Are Special...
Cat Talk

Kittens Are Special...

...and so are some of the show rules for them:

time-read
7 dak  |
April 2024
Genetic Pleiotropy and the Risks in Breeding Recessive Mutations
Cat Talk

Genetic Pleiotropy and the Risks in Breeding Recessive Mutations

Nearly everyone loves what’s rare and unique. A slight defect in the minting process of a coin can create a demand and a value well beyond the face value of the coin. The coin is functionally no different than its perfectly minted counterpart, but its scarcity and uniqueness alone make it more desirable than the rest.

time-read
5 dak  |
April 2024