Curing Cancer in Cats

The prospect of your beloved feline friend being diagnosed with cancer is a scary one at best. According to The Pet Center, the development of cancer in cats is common. But many treatments are now available for the treatment of feline cancer, some of which may even result in a cure. Early detection is important, however, so before you can think about seeking appropriate treatment, take the first step for maintaining your pet's health by ensuring he sees the vet regularly.

  1. Surgery for Cancerous Tumors

    • Surgery is usually the first treatment option for removing cancerous tumors. The surgery will involve removing the tumor and some healthy tissue surrounding it to ensure that all of the cancer has been removed. So long as the tumor is in a location that can be operated on and the cat is healthy enough to withstand it, surgery is the primary treatment that should be considered.

    Chemotherapy

    • Chemotherapy is another way that cancer is treated in cats. A series of drugs will be administered to the sick cat in the hope that it will kill cancer cells within the body and help to shrink tumors. This is usually used in cats that have cancer spread throughout their entire body or following surgery as a preventative measure so that any remaining cancer cells will not spread.

    Radiation

    • Another type of treatment is radiation therapy. This involves using X-rays targeted at the affected area of the cat's body in an effort to kill cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue. However, healthy tissue is often damaged by this process and can be painful.

    Immunotherapy

    • Sometimes immunotherapy is used in the treatment of cancer in cats. This method works by elevating the immune system and helps the body fight back against the cancer. This has the positive effect of making the cat healthy and more able to undergo the other, more difficult treatments. Immunotherapy is most often used in this combination with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.

    Cryotherapy

    • In some cases, cryotherapy is an effective way to treat cancer in cats. This is mostly used in skin cancer. The method involves freezing cancer cells in the form of a mole or lesion with liquid nitrogen. Once the area thaws, the lesion will slough off the cat's body and hopefully take all the cancer cells with it.