If your cat has been diagnosed with cancer, you may be wondering about treatment options. Chemotherapy is a viable option for many types of feline cancer. But is chemotherapy is the right choice for you and your cat?
It’s important to realize that feline chemotherapy is very different from human chemotherapy. With humans, the goal of chemo is usually a 100% cure. This is achieved through high doses of toxic chemicals, with harrowing side effects. With kitties, the goal of chemo is not usually a 100% cure. The goal is prolonged quality of life. This is achieved through small doses of toxic chemicals, with minimal side effects.
When Chemotherapy is Recommended
Inoperable cancers of the blood, such as feline leukemia and lymphoma, may be treated with chemotherapy. This is because the cancer cells are not localized enough to be treated with surgery or radiation.
Tumors that have been treated surgically, such as sarcoma, may require chemotherapy when surgical margins are “unclean”. This is known as “adjuvant chemotherapy” and is intended to help clean up any leftover cancer cells the surgeon may have missed.
“Neoadjuvant chemotherapy” may be used to shrink a tumor before it is surgically removed. The smaller the tumor, the greater the chance kitty has for recovery.
Other cancers may be treated with “palliative chemotherapy”. The goal here is to slow the progression of incurable cancer and maintain the cat’s comfort and quality of life for as long as possible.
What Happens During a Typical Chemotherapy Session?
Chemotherapy sessions usually take several hours. Before your kitty is admitted, you will be interviewed to see if you have any questions or concerns. Your cat will then be physically examined. A CBC is performed to ensure the conditions are right in your cat’s body to receive chemotherapy. Pet owners aren’t generally invited behind the scenes to witness the chemotherapy process. Many clinics will “dismiss” you until your pet is ready to go home, at which time you will be notified with a phone call. Your cat may be sedated during the actual chemotherapy process, to keep him calm and manageable. When you come to pick him up, he may still be groggy (but he’ll definitely be ready to go home!)
The Positives
*Most cats tolerate chemotherapy pretty well. Two of the most common side effects are nausea and decreased appetite, both of which can be simply treated with prescription drugs.
*Cats do not usually lose fur the way that humans lose hair, although the whiskers may temporarily change color or fall out.
*Giving your cat chemotherapy may help you feel more in control of an upsetting situation.
*The therapy may help extend your kitty’s life-and quality of life-for weeks, months, or even years.
The Negatives
*Chemotherapy is expensive, and it doesn’t always work. It is rarely viewed as a “cure” for feline cancer.
*Chemotherapy necessitates frequent, lengthy trips to the vet or oncologist. Some cats do not tolerate the time spent in the doctor’s office-as well as the time spent in the car-very well.
*Chemotherapy poses the risk of neutropenia (decreased white blood cell count), which can negatively affect kitty’s ability to fight infection.
*In a small percentage of cases, chemotherapy drugs can weaken the heart muscle, which may lead to heart disease.
Making the Decision
There are no easy answers when it comes to treating feline cancer. Maybe your cat will respond favorably to chemotherapy, and maybe he won’t. Maybe he’ll sail through the therapy sessions with no side effects, and maybe he’ll have a hard time. Your veterinarian can give you the “odds” for your particular situation, but unfortunately, you are the one who must make the final decision.
This article is written from personal experience. My recommendation to anyone who is struggling with this tough decision is to look at all the facts, then listen to your heart. The first time my beloved cat, Joey, was diagnosed with feline hemangiosarcoma, I moved mountains to get him into chemotherapy. I’m glad I did. But two years later, when an aggressive tumor filled his abdomen, I knew it was time to let him go. Both of these decisions were laborious and difficult, but they were made out of love and respect for Joey and his quality of life.
That’s the best anyone can do for their cat.
