Feline Cancer Treatments: Chemotherapy For Cats And Feline Radiation Treatments

You've just found out that your cat has just been diagnosed with feline cancer.  Although cancer in cats used to be a death sentence, there have been many recent innovations in veterinary care that can add months or even years to your kitty's life.  Here is what you need to know about three options for treating cancerous feline tumors.

Surgery

Your vet may want to operate to remove the tumor.  If the cancer hasn't spread, this is often a good choice as it offers the best chance of curing your kitty.  However, it may not be possible to remove some tumors, depending on where they're located.  If your furry friend has been diagnosed with leukemia, which affects the bloodstream, surgery isn't an option.

Feline Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy for cats is becoming more common.  It's interesting that the same chemo drugs that are given to people are used on cats, too.  However, unlike people, chemo in cats isn't used to try to cure cancer.  The aim is to slow down the progression of the disease by lowering the number of cancer cells present in your kitty's body. 

Most felines tolerate chemo fairly well.  Vomiting, diarrhea, and appetite loss are sometimes side effects.  Although cats may lose their whiskers, their fur usually doesn't fall out.  If your kitty was shaved for surgery, the fur will grow back more slowly than it normally would.

Feline Radiation Treatments

Radiation injures cancer cells, and stops them from dividing.  Radiation treatments for cats are useful if surgery isn't an option, or if all the cancerous cells couldn't be surgically removed.  Radiation is quite effective on some types of cancer, but may not affect others.

Do Natural Treatments For Feline Cancer Help?

Some cat owners want to treat their cats with holistic remedies like dietary changes, herbal remedies, and homeopathic treatments.  Often, these treatments will help your cat to feel better and increase his quality of life, so most vets have no problems with this, but be sure to consult with him or her before using any alternative treatments.

A Tough Decision

Not everyone is able to commit the time and money to feline cancer treatments.  Your kitty may be quite elderly or be facing other health issues, like feline diabetes or kidney failure.  You may not be able to afford the treatment, or you may feel that treatment won't extend your cat's life for any reasonable length of time.  There's nothing wrong with making the decision not to treat your cat.  You may just opt to keep him as comfortable as you can for as long as possible. 

Making the decision to euthanize your cat with cancer is very difficult.  You don't want to miss out on any remaining time together, but you don't want to wait too long and let him suffer.  Talk with your family to iron out any disagreements before the time comes, and keep in close contact with your vet. 

Unfortunately, there are no easy answers for cancer in cats.  But knowing your options will help you make wise decisions, and help you to enjoy your furry friend for as long as possible.