Also referred to as cancer, carcinoma occurs when abnormal or damaged cells grow out of control---causing tumors and damage to the surrounding tissues in the body. In both cats and dogs, cancer can account for up to half of all deaths.
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Identification
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Some of the most common signs of cancer including abnormal swelling, weight loss, discharge from body openings, odor, difficulty eating or swallowing, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing and difficulty with urination or defecation.
Common Feline Carcinomas
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In cats, the three most common types of cancer include lymphoma, mammary (breast) cancer and skin (non-melanoma) cancer.
Additional Feline Cancers
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Like humans, cats can suffer from nearly any type of cancer. This includes the heart, prostate, anal sac, thyroid, bladder, kidney, nasal cavity, blood or bones, the vaginal cavity, lungs, spleen, the eyes and the testicles.
Treatment
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Cancer treatments for cats include surgical removal of tumors, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hyperthermia, cryosurgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and photodynamic therapy (Resource 1). In some regions, there may be additional clinical trials available (Resource 2).
Life Expectancy
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Feline life span expectancy can vary greatly from a few weeks to several years depending on several factors, including the location, metastasis (spreading) of the cancer and the type of cancer.
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