LYMPHOMA IN A FEW WORDS

Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, or in other words a tumor that affects the cat’s lymphoid cells.

Lymphoid cells are involved in the immune system.

They travel throughout the body and work closely with the blood and bone marrow systems; therefore, lymphomas can affect different organs such as the spleen, liver, lungs, or even the bone marrow or nervous system.

It is a common cancer , accounting for about 30% of new feline cancer diagnoses.

Among the different types of feline lymphomas we can mention:

Cat intestinal lymphoma

This term describes a lymphoma that affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is one of the most common lymphomas in cats, accounting for 50 to 70% of feline lymphoma cases. It is more common in older cats, with an average age of diagnosis between 9 and 13 years.

Mediastinal lymphoma in cats

In this form of lymphoma, the lymphoid organs in the thoracic area (such as the lymph nodes) are affected. Mediastinal lymphoma is often seen in young cats, with an average age of onset of 5 years. This type of lymphoma is strongly associated with the feline leukemia virus; 80% of affected cats are positive for it.

Feline renal lymphoma

As the name suggests, this type of lymphoma attacks the animal’s kidneys. Renal lymphoma can lead to signs of kidney failure as functioning kidney cells are replaced by cancer cells.

 

SYMPTOMS OF LYMPHOMA IN CATS

Symptoms vary greatly and depend on the shape of the tumor . Here are some lymphomas and their associated symptoms in cats:

Symptoms of Intestinal Lymphoma in Cats

Signs of this lymphoma are often similar to those of other intestinal diseases. Cats with this lymphoma often develop:

• Weightloss
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Change in appetite: Some cats have a decrease in appetite, some have an increase in appetite, while others have no change in appetite.

Symptom of mediastinal lymphoma in cats

It occurs in the chest and is therefore often associated with breathing difficulties:

• Open mouth breathing
• Cough
• Loss of appetite (anorexia)
• Weightloss

Symptoms of renal lymphoma in cats

Signs associated with kidney failure may be observed here. These signs often include:

• Decreased appetite
• Weightloss
• Increased thirst
• Vomiting

These changes are all associated with a buildup of toxins in the bloodstream, which the kidneys are unable to filter effectively when affected by lymphoma.

Other Symptoms of Lymphoma in Cats

Again, symptoms vary from one lymphoma to another. These may include:

• Itching
• Constipation
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Increased kidney volume
• Convulsions
• Localized hair loss
• Paralysis
• General weakening
• Behavioral disorders
• Conjunctivitis
• Sensitivity to light
• Blood between the iris and the cornea
• Blindness
• Ulcer formation
• Sneeze
• Edema

 

CAUSES OF LYMPHOMA IN CATS

The causes of lymphoma are diverse and can depend on several factors. It can be an infection with the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), or feline AIDS, overexposure to cigarette smoke, pollution or even chronic inflammation of the cat’s intestine.

Note: Lymphomas associated with exposure to feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) have a significantly higher rate than the general cat population.

 

DIAGNOSIS OF LYMPHOMA IN CATS

If your cat exhibits one or more of the above symptoms, make an appointment immediately with your veterinarian for a clinical examination of your pet. Then, tell him about the symptoms observed to facilitate his conclusions.

He can then prescribe screening tests for the FeLV and FIV viruses, blood hematological tests and imaging tests such as ultrasound or X-ray.

To confirm lymphoma, they will also need a tissue sample to detect the presence of tumor lymphoid cells. There are several ways to collect tissue for analysis.

Surgical biopsy

Surgical biopsy involves opening the abdomen and removing pieces of tissue for analysis. Although this can help stage the lymphoma, it is an invasive procedure that requires general anesthesia and hospitalization. Additionally, chemotherapy must be delayed until the surgical area has healed.

Endoscopic biopsy

Involves the use of a long scope inserted into the mouth and/or anus to view the intestine and stomach from the inside. Much less invasive than the surgical version, cats usually go home the same day as the procedure. A quality biopsy distinguishes benign from malignant disease and allows for its classification. Chemotherapy will not be delayed once the results are in. Unfortunately this procedure does not always produce samples of as good quality as surgery. Endoscopic samples are smaller and only the intestine is accessible.

Fine needle aspiration

Involves removing a sample of cells from a larger organ or mass with a needle, usually under ultrasound guidance. Anesthesia is rarely required and the procedure is less invasive than the other two methods.

Ultrasound without biopsy?

Ultrasound is a non-invasive way to assess the texture of abdominal organs. Intestinal lymphoma tends to have a characteristic disruption of the intestinal mucosa that is visible on ultrasound. In addition, enlargement of the lymph nodes in the abdomen can be assessed as well as the texture in the liver. Lymphoma has the ability to be quite subtle in its manifestation, but if the appearance of the intestine on ultrasound is classic, it may be reasonable to begin treatment based solely on this information and forgo the more expensive/invasive biopsy procedures.

One of the benefits of having an actual tissue sample is the ability to grade the malignancy of the lymphoma. Grade refers to how quickly the cells appear to be dividing and how malignant they are, with a high grade being the most malignant. The grade of the lymphoma depends on its response to chemotherapy.

 

HOW IS LYMPHOMA TREATED?

Lymphoma is usually treated with chemotherapy .

Cats tolerate chemotherapy much better than humans; they rarely lose hair or seem less sick. The most common side effects are vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. However, even these effects are only seen in about 10% of cats.

Lymphoma is usually treated with chemotherapy.

Surgery and/or radiation therapy may be appropriate for lymphoma confined to one area, such as nasal or abdominal tumors, but this is rare. Most cases cannot be successfully treated with surgery or radiation therapy and will require chemotherapy.

 

WHAT IS MY CAT’S LIFE EXPECTANCY WITH LYMPHOMA?

The prognosis of lymphoma depends on the location of the lymphoma, the stage of the disease when treatment begins, its condition, and how quickly the disease is diagnosed and treated.

Most cases of gastrointestinal lymphoma are low-grade lymphomas. With treatment, approximately 70% of cats with low-grade lymphoma will go into remission.

Please note: Lymphoma is never truly cured . Remission is a term used to describe the temporary resolution of all signs of lymphoma.

The average remission for low-grade lymphoma is 2-3 years , or 2-3 years without any signs of disease.

The prognosis of lymphoma depends on many factors.

• High-grade gastrointestinal lymphoma , however, does not respond as well to treatment. Only 25 to 50% of cats with high-grade lymphoma achieve remission with treatment. Typically, this remission period lasts only 2 to 9 months, and then the cats become ill again.
• Mediastinal lymphoma in cats with feline leukemia carries a poor prognosis, with an average life expectancy of 3 months. In cats without feline leukemia, mediastinal lymphoma often shows at least a partial response to chemotherapy. These cats have an average life expectancy of 9 to 12 months, with the initial response to treatment often providing an indication of survival time.
• Renal lymphoma, unfortunately, carries a very poor prognosis. The average life expectancy with this type of lymphoma is only 3 to 6 months, although there are isolated reports of cats surviving much longer. Renal lymphoma has a tendency to spread to the brain and central nervous system; this occurs in about 40% of renal lymphoma cases and worsens the prognosis of this disease.

 

LYMPHOMA AND CBD FOR CATS

Pain, stress, vomiting, convulsions, loss of appetite… are all symptoms that a cat can suffer from when it has lymphoma.

Today, many veterinarians and cat parents are turning to CBD , a hemp extract, to provide relief for their cat and improve its quality of life.

Without addiction or side effects, this natural remedy is today a healthy and natural alternative to contribute to the well-being of animals.