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of the invasive treatments, the sweet personality she loved about Phantom might somehow change. The biggest problem, though, was the food issue. “Phantom acted like he was absolutely starving, but he forgot what to do and how to take it into his mouth,” she says. But once the anesthesia was fully out of his system, he started eating again.

That was almost eight months ago. “Now he’s back up to almost eleven pounds,” says Judy. “He doesn’t hang his head anymore, and he runs and plays with my other cats. He’s like he was before anything ever happened.” Phantom’s most recent MRI, performed at the end of July 2001, showed the tumor in his brain had shrunk, and only a tiny, insignificant amount of fluid remained.

At the time of the surgery, Dr. Klopp wouldn’t guess at Phantom’s prognosis. After his surgery, and the biopsy, she estimated he’d live at least a year or more—but there was no way to tell. Now that the radiation treatment has been so successful, “She’s not putting any time limit on him at all,” says Judy. “We’re going to do another MRI in the spring to keep an eye on it.”

Other than the tumor in his brain, which no longer causes him any problems whatsoever, Phantom’s health is excellent. “They find nothing wrong with him,” says Judy. “His treatment was worth every penny. I’d do it again if I had to, if only to take him out of his pain.” After all, at 11 years old and counting, Judy says every single day is a gift.

CANCER

Feline cancers can strike at any age, and the kind that is often associated with feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) tends to strike young to middle-aged cats. But cancer mostly strikes older cats, and 80 percent of tumors found in cats are malignant. The Veterinary Cancer Society says cancer accounts for nearly half of the deaths in cats over the age of ten.

Cats can develop many of the same types of cancers that affect people, but some are more common. According to veterinary oncologist Carolyn J. Henry, DVM of University of Missouri, the most common sites for feline tumors are 1) lymph glands, 2) skin and subcutaneous and 3) mammary tissue. The most common of the skin and subcutaneous tumors, in descending order of frequency, are basal cell tumors, mast cell tumors, squamous cell carcinoma, fibrosarcoma, and sebaceous hyperplasia and adenomas.

“Owners of cancer patients are in a state of shock,” says Barbara Kitchell, DVM, an oncologist at Michigan State University. “It’s the C word, the chemotherapy, the horror, the fright.” The good news is that a number of cancers can be easily treated, some can be cured, and in all cases, treatment can help maintain the cat’s quality of life.

Nearly 90 percent of lymph gland cancers are caused by FeLV, and affect the lymphatic system and blood cell-forming organs such as bone marrow and spleen. Skin cancer, the second most common types, usually affects the face and head, often due to overexposure to sunlight. Fibrosarcoma is a malignancy of the connective tissue of the body, with a wide range of subtypes—collectively referred to as soft tissue sarcomas. Vaccine-associated fibrosarcomas are included in this category. Breast cancer is also very common in cats, and Siamese are reported to have twice as much risk as other breeds. Other common old-cat cancers include digestive tract tumors, oral tumors, and bone cancer.

Senior Symptoms

Signs of cancer vary from type to type depending on what part of the body is primarily affected. In general, the Veterinary Cancer Society lists ten common signs of cancer:

Abnormal swelling that persists or continues to grow

Sores that do not heal

Weight loss

Loss of appetite

Bleeding or discharge from any body opening

Offensive odor

Difficulty eating or swallowing

Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina

Persistent lameness or stiffness

Difficulty in breathing, urinating or defecating

The cells of the body die and are replaced all the time in a normal process called mitosis, in which a cell divides