Feline Jaw Cancer

Feline jaw cancer is usually caused by squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type of oral cancer found in cats, as well as one of the hardest types of cancers to treat. However, a tumor at the front of the lower jaw has a somewhat better chance of recovery than tumors located elsewhere in or near the mouth. Unlike tumors under the tongue or of the upper jaw, cancer in the lower jaw can often be surgically removed.

  1. Risk Factors

    • Certain conditions have been found to increase the risk of a cat developing this type of oral cancer. Cats living in homes with smokers who smoke up to 19 cigarettes daily are four times more likely to develop the cancer. Flea collar use was associated with five times the risk, while regular feeding of canned food, especially tuna fish, also seemed to increase risk for the cancer. Generally, older cats were at higher risk, as the average age of diagnosis is 12.5 years.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of feline jaw cancer may include the following: hard swelling of the cheekbone or lower jaw bone, a hole that does not heal after a tooth is lost and unusual odor or ulceration in the mouth. Regular feline dental care may help to detect any cancer early on.

    Diagnosis

    • Usually, a biopsy will be necessary in order to gather cells for examination and determine whether the cancer is malignant, in which case the cat will probably be sedated and have a small amount of tissue surgically removed. In some cases, a less invasive procedure that might not require anesthesia would be used--fine needle aspiration, which uses a needle to extract tissue from the swelled area. A radiograph may aid diagnosis by revealing bone material destroyed by the tumor. A CAT scan may be necessary for determining the size and shape of the tumor prior to surgery.

    Surgery

    • Feline jaw cancer may call for surgical removal of the part of the jaw on which the tumor is growing. This procedure is called a mandibulectomy, and is especially likely when the tumor is located on the front of the lower jaw. Surgery is usually not an option for an upper jaw tumor. Cats have an average life expectancy of five to seven months after this type of surgery. The chance of the cancer recurring after a mandibulectomy is 38 percent.

    Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy

    • Radiotherapy may be used when surgery is not an option, though it may increase survival time when combined with mandibulectomy. It is an expensive treatment, however, and may cause inflammation severe enough to make a feeding tube necessary. Treatments combining radiotherapy and chemotherapy have not had encouraging results. Chemotherapy on its own has been found to be ineffective against feline jaw cancer and is usually not recommended.

    Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

    • Piroxicam and meloxicam are two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs frequently prescribed for arthritis. These drugs also interfere with the binding of enzymes of some cancers and may thus have anti-cancer properties, beyond their ability to control pain and inflammation caused by cancers. Veterinarians have prescribed these drugs for cats with oral squamous cell carcinoma.