Print
Treatment
Because a “cure” is thought to be highly unlikely for cats with epidermotropic lymphoma, providing an adequate quality of life remains the major goal of therapy. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used to treat the disease, but are highly variable in their efficacy. The veterinarian may also recommend surgically excising isolated nodules.
Living and Management
Follow guidelines for using chemotherapy medication at your home, as these drugs are toxic to humans. They should only be used after seeking advice from a veterinary oncologist.
Unfortunately, overall prognosis is very poor in cats affected by this form of lymphoma. Only a few cats may live longer than two years after the diagnosis, and often they are euthanized.
prognosis
The prediction of a disease’s outcome in advance
radiation therapy
A treatment of certain neoplasms that is administered using an x ray
vulva
The genitalia of a female; found on the outside
nodule
A small lump or mass of tissue
urinalysis
An in-depth examination of the properties of urine; used to determine the presence or absence of illness
lymphoma
A term for a type of neoplasm that is made up of lymphoid tissue; these masses are usually malignant in nature
efficacy
The extent to which a drug is effective
lesion
A change in the way that tissue is constructed; a sore
lymphocyte
A type of leukocyte in the body
biopsy
The process of removing tissue to examine it, usually for medical reasons.
malignant
Something that becomes worse or life threatening as it spreads