My cat has small cell lymphoma. When should I stop Leukeran therapy?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am sorry to hear that. Lymphoma is an aggressive disease in cats, especially when in the gastrointestinal system and in circulation. Usually even with chemotherapy you are looking at a prognosis of 2-6 months depending on the exact type of lymphoma. You could try prednisolone as a palliative treatment to make her feel better for the time being and perhaps extend her survival time for a few weeks. If she is already anemic, she may also require a blood transfusion making things a bit more complicated. If she is not doing well and you are not interested in pursuing therapy knowing the prognosis then euthanasia is a good option. Let me know if you have further questions regarding her disease. Sorry for the sad news!

If these symptoms are new then they could be related to the leukeran. If they are symptoms you were seeing prior to treatment then they could also be disease related. It is also possible as well that there is another cause such as pancreatitis as these cata are at increased risk for secondary health issues. Definitely let your oncologist know what you are seeing. He or she may want to make some suggestions/medication modifications. There are some cats that ultimately do not tolerate leukeran but this is uncommon. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Maybe and maybe not. You will need to talk to the doctor who is treating your cat as to whether or not he or she thinks that the poor appetite is due to the small cell or due to the leukeran. This drug can cause this side effect so it is important to discuss this with your doctor. If you are not seeing an oncologist your doctor can contact a local oncologist for advice on your kitty. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hello, and thanks for your question. I'm sorry to hear about Trixie's diagnosis! It's great that you're working with an oncologist; I can tell you're wanting to provide the best care for Trixie. Most cats do feel better and perk up on the medication. If her appetite was down, you may see her start eating a bit better, and if you had noticed lethargy you may see her perk up and act more social again. Often we can see an increase in both appetite and thirst, which leads to more urination as well. Generally we don't see too many other side effects from the medications, and your oncologist will want to know if you do have concerns with how Trixie is feeling on the meds, as they may tweak the dose based on how Trixie's responding. I have seen a few animals go into remission, but I would defer to the oncologist on the actual numbers, as they see far more cases than we do in general practice! Hope this helps. Hugs to you and Trixie.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Trixie. I am sorry to hear about her recent diagnosis. Unfortunately, gastrointestinal lymphoma can be a longterm consequence of inflammatory bowel disease in cats. I am glad that will consult with an oncologist. There are actually a variety of treatment protocols, some of which can be oral tablets given at home. Cats tend to tolerate chemotherapy really well. They do not usually lose hair like human cancer patients will. There can be some nausea, but this is generally mild and there are good medications to control it. The main side effects tend to be white blood cell suppression. For this reason, her blood work will be monitored carefully. I hope this information helps!

Is there a reason you want to stop the prednisone? I would recommend not stopping it and if you feel it is better to stop the prednisone then I would recommend weaning off of the prednisone. I would discuss how to wean the prednisone with your veterinarian. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center.

Hello sorry to hear about Trixie. If her small cell lymphoma is in her intestines, it’s likely that her IBD has become the lymphoma. There’s a few studies describing this process. However, given that she is being treated with pred, this will often also suppress any flare ups of IBD. Often as pets begin to respond to treatment they may regain their normal appetite, and occasionally we can make use of appetite stimulants to achieve this sooner. Given that she has been on a novel protein diet, it is likely best to continue this same food, but if she is not eating anything other than fancy feast this may also be acceptable for now. I would recommend speaking with your veterinarian about Trixies diet to determine if you need to worry about feeding her something other than fancy feast or if she needs appetite stimulants to go back to eating her regular diet. Hope this helps and best of luck.