Risk Factors & Symptoms
According to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, mammary cancer occurs in female cats 95% of the time and is the third most common type of feline cancer, following lymphoma and skin cancer. Mammary cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in kitties over the age of 10.
Diagnosis & Treatment
If your veterinarian finds a lump in your kitty's mammary tissue, he or she will send tissue samples to a special laboratory for testing. According to PetMD, approximately 85% of mammary tumors are malignant. X-rays and abdominal ultrasound can be utilized to determine if a tumor has metastasized to surrounding lymph nodes, the lungs, adrenal gland, kidney, or liver.
Photo Credit: K B
The most common method of treatment for mammary cancer in cats is complete removal of the affected gland and associated lymph node. A veterinarian may also choose to do a radical mastectomy where the entire mammary gland chain on one side is removed to prevent recurrence of tumors. Chemotherapy may be combined with surgery if a tumor has metastasized to other parts of the body.
Prognosis
As with humans, early diagnosis and treatment of feline mammary cancer offers the best survival rates. The removal of tumors smaller than two centimeters in diameter can offer a kitty three years or more of survival time.
Always consult your veterinarian if you feel any unusual or new lumps under your cat's skin. Early detection and treatment offer the best outcomes for surviving mammary cancer.
That Evil C is just so darn scary.
ReplyDeleteYup, out Peep knows all about that darn breast cancer. It is very scary. But thanks for the good information. Hope very few kitties get that cancer. Take care.
ReplyDeleteCancer is a really tough one. My first pet - a dog- died from ovarian cancer. That was one of the toughest times in my life. Thank you for spreading the news.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an important post. Thank you for sharing this information. Cancer is a nasty thing to have.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post! Very informative.
ReplyDeletePawppy had dogs in his childhood who died from various kinds of cancer.
ReplyDeleteUs kitties here and our angel furblings have been spared this scourge...at least as far as we know. Though there are plenty of other nasty ailments. Sheesh, so much misery to be watchfur fur and to be knowledgeable about.
Meowmy herself has lost loved ones to cancer, and had her own bout with it too, in 2006. Praise the Lord, she has no evidence of it today. (Stage 3b Ovarian Ca)
Pawesome post - we have a friend who lost her girlcat at a very young age to this - she was simply devastated.
ReplyDeletehorrible stuff cancer,xxRachel
ReplyDeleteI am so glad I was spayed before I went into heat! That makes the possibility of my ever getting breast cancer very remote!
ReplyDeleteI so wish I could have gotten Annabelle spayed before she gave birth.
ReplyDeleteI had a TWitter furrend who was a feline breast cancer survivor. Great info.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info. We didn't know much about Feline Mammary Cancer. It's important to spread awareness for diseases like this!
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