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Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic cells which is a type of white blood cell. The nearest similarity in humans is Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Symptoms

The most common form of lymphoma that we see in cats affects the lymph glands of the intestines. Clinical signs normally seen in these cases are chronic vomiting or diarrhoea. Other relatively common sites in cats are the external lymph glands, the kidneys and the chest cavity. Rarer forms of lymphoma can affect the spinal cord, the nose, the eye, the skin and other organs.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis can be made by biopsy and further “staging” of the cancer is normally indicated. Staging is the process by which we make sure the cancer has not progressed past the original diagnosed site. These procedures include blood tests, ultrasounds, aspirates of other lymph glands or organs such as the spleen or liver, x-rays of the chest and occasionally bone marrow biopsies.

Treatment and Prognosis

Once staging completed, we will have a complete picture of your cat’s lymphoma and treatment and prognosis can be determined. Lymphoma is the most responsive cancer we see in cats and up to 70% of cases undergoing treatment will experience complete remission with minimal side effects. Most treatments involve the use of a combination of chemotherapy drugs called a “protocol”. Cats do not tend to experience the array or degree of side effects that humans do, they do not lose their hair and very rarely experience nausea or vomiting. In most cases, one wouldn’t even realize your cat was going through chemotherapy. We do however sometimes see the whiskers become brittle and can break and fall out.

Without treatment, most cases of lymphoma can only expect a survival of around two to four months from the time of diagnosis. With treatment however, 70% of cases will remain in remission for between 10 to 24 months. These figures are very variable in cats as the duration of response can be very variable and is also dependent on the type of protocol used. We generally expect longer survival times from the more advanced protocols using a wider range of drugs. Treatment can range from just palliative where no remission is attained but there is some relief from clinical signs of the cancer, to mid-range and more advanced protocols. Protocols are generally tailored to suit budget, logistics and the individual patient. Some  protocols will require weekly visits, whilst others can be less frequent.

The main aim of treatment for lymphoma is to reduce all clinical signs associated with the cancer in order to provide an excellent quality of life whilst on treatment and during remission. If there is a relapse of the lymphoma, either the same protocol can be used again or in most cases, a slightly different one is used.

Costs of treatment vary tremendously and will depend on which protocol is most suitable for you and your cat. With the advanced protocols, treatment usually goes on for about 4 to 6 months with visits initially once weekly, then decreasing to fortnightly and monthly. Patients are usually kept in for the day (drop off in the morning and pick up in the afternoon) and will have a complete blood count performed before each treatment.

Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided on this page does not replace the advice of your veterinarian. If you are concerned about your cat’s health in any way, we strongly recommend you seek veterinary advice.