Cats and cancer
Cancer is the major cause of death in geriatric cats and is a health concern for many pet owners. Up to a third of all tumours in cats are lymphoma, and studies suggest around 80 per cent of all feline tumours are malignant. The care of the cancer patient must therefore also be considered a major part of any progressive veterinary practice.
At our Conference this year we are looking at different aspects of the disease, from diagnosis to nursing and home care, from behaviour to advanced treatments – a comprehensive guide to cats and cancer. As usual there is something for everyone and we look forward to talking to that unique audience of vets, breeders, nurses, those involved in rescue and catteries, and of course owners. Book your place now – a form is enclosed with this issue.
Our thanks to Royal Canin for sponsoring our Conference.
Cancer in cats – what is it and can you treat it?
Dan Batchelor from the University of Liverpool will kick off the conference with an overview of the common tumours of cats including lymphoid malignancies, oropharyngeal tumours, mammary tumours, skeletal tumours and meningeal tumours. He will cover relevant diagnostic techniques, and options for treatment, and illustrate the tumours with case examples.
Radioactive iodine – a glow-in-the-dark treatment for hyperthyroid cats?
Hyperthyroidism is becoming a more commonly recognised condition in the geriatric cat and can be extremely debilitating and life threatening if not treated promptly and effectively. There are several treatment options available all of which have pros and cons depending on the individual cat’s situation.
Sheila Wills, FAB’s senior resident at Bristol Veterinary School will review all of the treatment options, specifically concentrating on the use of radioactive iodine treatment in hyperthyroid cats. She will illustrate her talk with some of the cases she has seen at The Feline Centre at Bristol University - one of the few centres in the country that can undertake this treatment.
Zapping cats – radiotherapy treatment for cats
For many years, surgical removal of tumours was considered the only realistic treatment for domestic pets with cancer. However, continual advancements in veterinary medicine now allow a multi-modal approach to the treatment of cancer in dogs and cats, as in humans. Where radiotherapy of feline patients may have been unheard of a few years ago, it is now performed routinely at several centres in the UK. Cats tolerate the treatment very well, and the side effects are minimal. A wide variety of tumours are susceptible to treatment with radiotherapy, including skin, nasal and brain cancer, and even some tumours within the chest cavity.
Some of these are illustrated in the cases presented by Ellie Mardell. Ellie has spent three very rewarding years in a residency in feline medicine at the Animal Health Trust, where she particularly enjoyed the fields of endocrinology and respiratory disease.
She is currently working within the feline medicine department at Bristol Veterinary School. She has two cats, Jasmine, a typical “naughty tortie” madam, and Thysbe, who was abandoned as a kitten, left on the doorstep in a shoebox.
Polo’s problem
As is usual at our FAB Annual Conference, we ask some of our lecturers and residents to present cases they have treated. Nicki Reed is FAB’s Senior Clinical Scholar at the University of Edinburgh has dealt with many interesting and challenging cases. Cancer cases comprise approximately 25 per cent of the feline caseload, but her interests cover all areas of feline medicine, as many of the cases, particularly the geriatric population, have more than one problem that needs addressing. Polo’s discusses the diagnosis and management of a case of mediastinal lymphoma, which presented as respiratory distress due to the presence of fluid within the thorax.
Suzanne Rudd: Caring for cats with cancer – the importance of good nursing
Cats with cancer need a great amount of nursing care. In her talk, Suzanne Rudd , currently the Fortekor/FAB Feline Nurse at Bristol will demonstrate the different aspects of nursing a cat with cancer, from husbandry requirements to their nutritional support. The lecture will focus on nursing cats after chemotherapy in practice, but will include guidlelines for owners when nursing their cat at home. FAB Senior Clinical Scholar at the University of Edinburgh in August 2004, and since then has dealt with many interesting and challenging cases.
Neoplasia comprises approximately 25% of the feline caseload, but her interests cover all areas of feline medicine, as many of the cases, particularly the geriatric population, have more than one problem that needs addressing.
The cat with cancer – understanding your cat’s behaviour
Cats which feel unwell or are undergoing treatments may behave in ways sometimes dramatically different to normal, but more likely with subtle changes designed not to give away the fact that they may be unwell and therefore vulnerable. Picking up these behaviours and making them feel secure can be a vital part of treatment and Rachel Casey is the ideal person to explain jut how.
Rachel is a vet as well as a behaviourist. She is currently the Cats Protection Lecturer in Feline Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Bristol, where she leads a research programme into clinical aspects of feline behaviour, runs referral clinic, and teaches veterinary, nursing and behaviour students. She is also the Deputy Director of the Anthrozoology Institute at the University.
FAB Annual Conference
The Apollo Hotel, Basingstoke. Saturday, October 15, 2005
‘Cats and Cancer’
09.00 Registration
09.45 FAB update
10.00 Cancer in cats - what is it, and can you treat it?
Dan Batchelor, University of Liverpool
11.30 Coffee
12.00 Radioactive iodine - a glow-in-the-dark treatment for hyperthyroid cats?
Sheila Wills, FAB Resident, University of Bristol
12.30 Zapping cats - radiotherapy treatment for cats
Ellie Mardell, University of Bristol
13.00 Lunch
14.00 AGM
14.30 Polo’s pleural problem - a case of mediastinal lymphoma
Nicki Reed, FAB Senior Clinical Scholar, University of Edinburgh
15.00 Caring for cats with cancer - the importance of good nursing
Suzanne Rudd, Fortekor/FAB Nurse, University of Bristol
15.45 Tea
16.15 The cat with cancer - understanding your cat’s behaviour
Rachel Casey, University of Bristol
17.00 Close
REGISTRATION: £40.00 for FAB members and £50.00 for non-members (Inclusive of lunch, tea and coffee)
For further details contact us on - Tel. 0870 742 2278, email conferences@fabcats.org
