Feline Bladder Cancer

 

Barbara Jones has started a Yahoo group for Feline Bladder Cancer. She has a kitty named Mincho that has this disease. Her desire is to help others with cats that have this horrible disease

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Barbara says " I just have been so frustrated trying to get information or hearing from other caregivers who are dealing with this [feline bladder cancer ] and wanted a place where people could receive some information and contact others if they wanted. I have started a Yahoo group : felinebladdercancer to try to get information from people whose cats have this rare cancer.  I just want a place where people can go to discuss treatment, possible etiology, diet, breed, sex to see if there is any commonality that might be responsible for this cancer.  If you run across someone again facing this [disease} I would hope you encourage them to join the group or get in touch with me.

I would like people to post histories of their kitties - age, sex, diet, what symptoms led to diagnosis, what treatments were recommended or what is being used, how long if the life expectation, etc.  That way people could be getting some information about the cancer and some support if they want it from other people who cats have died or are living with the cancer.

They can join the group briefly if they just want to put up some background and information and then "unsubscribe" if they are not interested in participation."

Barbara Jones

Barbara's email address is barbcat40@netzero.net

A message from Anna Maria Gardner DVM MA. MB MRCVS in relation to Feline Bladder Cancer:

"There are several types of bladder cancer in cats, which are rare but
unfortunately like many other cancers, they seem to becoming more
common. The rareness of this type of cancer in cats may be due to a
difference in tryptophan metabolism which leads to lower urinary
concentrations of tryptophan metabolites, which contribute to bladder
cancer. The average age of developing bladder cancer in cats is age
nine. The cause of any cancer is complex, and multi factorial, and
includes exposure to toxins, in the environment, diet and water, as
well as chronic inflammation and genetic pre-disposition. Its not
always easy to say what caused a particular cancer to develop, and it
is usually not just one thing but usually several factors. As animals
age too cells start to deteriorate and the body is not always able to
control the abnormal cell growth which then develop into tumors of
various types.

The most common form of bladder cancer in cats is Transitional Cell
Carcinoma, others are adenocarcinomas, fibrosarcomas,
leiomyosarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas, hemangiosarcomas, and
occasionally osteosarcomas . Transitional cell carcinomas are very
invasive and metastasize to the lymph nodes and lungs.

Symptoms of bladder cancer include problems urinating, blood in the
urine, chronic urinary infections, abdominal pain, and general
malaise. They are usually diagnosed with an x-ray or ultrasound, and
possible a biopsy for a definitive diagnosis. Treatment is often
surgical, and this can be very successful depending on the location
and extent of the tumor. Chemotherapy is sometimes used too. Holistic
treatment can also help either slow things down, or prevent
recurrence after surgery, and anti-oxidants, vitamins, homeopathic
remedies and Chinese and western herbs are definitely worth
incorporating into the treatment plan. "