DM3 Pt8-3 Other Cancers

Question 1

What type of cancer is squamous cell carcinoma in cats?

Answer 1

A cancer of the skin.

Question 2

Which cats are more commonly affected by squamous cell carcinoma?

Answer 2

White cats and cats kept in hot, sunny countries, as exposure to sunlight is a trigger factor.

Question 3

What areas are most commonly affected by squamous cell carcinoma in cats?

Answer 3

The nose and ears. The tumour may initially look like a small scratch or wound that won’t heal.

Question 4

Does squamous cell carcinoma in cats typically metastasize?

Answer 4

Metastasis is uncommon, though local lymph nodes can sometimes be affected.

Question 5

What are the common treatment options for squamous cell carcinoma in cats?

Answer 5

Surgical removal or radiation therapy. Cryosurgery (freezing the tissue with liquid nitrogen) may be used in some cases, but conventional surgery or radiation therapy is preferred.

Question 6

How effective is chemotherapy for squamous cell carcinoma in cats?

Answer 6

The response to chemotherapy is generally poor for this type of tumour.

Question 7

What type of cancer is mammary carcinoma in cats?

Answer 7

A cancer affecting the mammary glands.

Question 8

Which cats are more commonly affected by mammary carcinoma?

Answer 8

Entire (unspayed) female cats, although it can also occur in spayed females and male cats.

Question 9

What are the typical signs of mammary carcinoma in cats?

Answer 9

Multiple firm swellings or nodules in the mammary glands, often leading to ulceration of the skin.

Question 10

How does mammary carcinoma in cats spread?

Answer 10

It commonly spreads to the local lymph nodes and can also metastasize to the lungs.

Question 11

What is the primary treatment for mammary carcinoma in cats?

Answer 11

Surgical resection of the tumour and associated tissues. Chemotherapy may be used in some cases.

Question 12

Why is early treatment of mammary carcinoma important?

Answer 12

Early treatment of small tumours is more likely to be successful than treatment of larger or multiple tumours.

Question 13

What are mast cell tumours in cats, and which areas are commonly affected?

Answer 13

Tumours that commonly affect the skin, spleen, and intestines.

Question 14

How do mast cell tumours in the intestines behave?

Answer 14

They are often aggressive, causing blockage and spreading to lymph nodes, liver, spleen, or lungs.

Question 15

What is the treatment for mast cell tumours affecting the spleen?

Answer 15

Surgical removal of the spleen, which can lead to good disease-free survival times of around 12 months.

Question 16

How do mast cell tumours present when they affect the skin in cats?

Answer 16

They can appear as solitary masses or multiple nodules, which may ulcerate. Surgical removal is usually curative, and some may spontaneously regress.

Question 17

What is fibrosarcoma (soft tissue sarcoma) in cats, and how does it present?

Answer 17

A cancer that forms from fibroblasts and other supporting tissues, commonly presenting as gradually enlarging firm masses under the skin.

Question 18

How does the malignancy of fibrosarcomas vary in cats?

Answer 18

Some are highly malignant, with extensive local tissue invasion and early metastasis to lymph nodes and lungs, while others are less aggressive.

Question 19

What is the optimum treatment for fibrosarcoma in cats?

Answer 19

A combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy, although the prognosis is variable.

Question 20

What is osteosarcoma in cats, and what areas does it affect?

Answer 20

A cancer affecting bones, commonly in the limbs, spine, and skull.

Question 21

What are the symptoms of osteosarcoma in cats?

Answer 21

Progressive pain, lameness, and possible fractures due to bone weakening.