If you are concerned about multiple myeloma, your cat may have recently been diagnosed with this rare disease. If so, we are very sorry to hear that, but we understand that you want to know everything about the disease and what to expect in the future.
Multiple myeloma is a cancerous disease caused by the uncontrollable proliferation of your cat’s own cells. When these cells multiply, they harm your cat’s vital body systems.
What is multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma is a rare cancer that begins in a type of white blood cell in the bone marrow. A healthy cat’s bone marrow contains stem cells that regenerate and mature into blood cells such as platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells. White blood cells fight infection, platelets help blood clot and red blood cells are carrier cells that carry oxygen throughout the body.
Plasma cells, a type of white blood cell, are responsible for producing antibodies. When this cell line becomes cancerous within the bone marrow, it causes multiple myeloma. However, when plasma cells cause cancer outside the bone marrow, it is called plasmacytoma. However, multiple myeloma can spread from the bone marrow to other organs.
Uncontrolled production of plasma cells leads to excessive amounts of antibodies in the blood. The cancer cells and the resulting antibodies can cause problems throughout the body. Cancer can start in any bone, but most often starts in the spine.
What are the signs of multiple myeloma?
Multiple myeloma usually affects cats over the age of 7 and appears to occur equally in male and female cats. Signs of multiple myeloma may be generalized at first and worsen over time. Specific signs may be related to the organ that the cancer is affecting. Generally, the first non-specific signs of this problem include:
Signs:
- Apathy
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Limp
- pain
However, multiple myeloma has several complications that can cause more severe symptoms.
These complications include:
- Hyperviscosity syndrome: Too many antibodies in the blood cause the blood to physically thicken. Signs of hyperviscosity syndrome can be neurological or related to blood clotting and heart failure. In cats, seizures, blindness and difficulty breathing are common signs of the syndrome.
- Pathologic fractures: Tumor-involved bones can lose calcium and undergo bone resorption, weakening the bone. Weakened bones may be more susceptible to fracture. This is called a pathologic fracture and can occur without the trauma normally required to break a bone.
- High Blood Calcium: This is a common condition in cats with multiple myeloma due to bone resorption and inhibition of parathyroid function by the cancer, which can lead to kidney damage and weakness.
- Kidney disease: Besides excess calcium, abnormal antibody protein levels can damage the kidneys. Cats with kidney problems will drink more water and urinate more to compensate, but in more severe cases, they may exhibit symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and loss of appetite.
- Blood clotting disorders: Platelets may also be affected by the cancer, reducing their ability to clot. Signs include bleeding into the eye, abnormal bruising, or visible bleeding. Blood may accumulate in the digestive tract, resulting in black, tarry stools.
- Transference: Cancer cells can spread from the bone marrow to other organs and affect the function of organs such as the kidneys, liver, or spleen. This is called metastasis.
- Weak immune system: The immune system is weakened because cancer cells do not function properly, and the cancer may put pressure on areas needed for normal white blood cell production. Cats with multiple myeloma are prone to infections.
- anemia: In some cases, insufficient red blood cells can be produced, leading to anemia.
- Spinal Cord Compression: If a tumor or weakened bone puts pressure on the spinal cord, symptoms may include weakness, unsteadiness, poor reflexes, or even paralysis.
What causes multiple myeloma?
There is no conclusive evidence as to the cause of feline multiple myeloma. However, According to a research report The occurrence of this rare condition in siblings suggests a possible genetic predisposition, a theory that requires further investigation. Discovery in mice and human.
Unlike other white blood cell cancers, viruses such as feline leukemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, and feline infectious peritonitis do not appear to be associated with multiple myeloma.
Finally, the environment is important: exposure to carcinogens such as exhaust fumes and other chemicals increases the risk of cancer. According to a study People in certain occupations were at higher risk of multiple myeloma.
Diagnosis of Feline Multiple Myeloma
If your cat is showing signs of being unwell, the first step is a veterinary appointment and examination. Your veterinarian will take your cat’s medical history and symptoms into account when deciding on the next steps.
Because multiple myeloma is so rare and the early symptoms are so common, this potential diagnosis might not be first on your vet’s list. There’s a saying in medicine: “When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.” This means that certain diseases are more common than others.
Multiple myeloma is diagnosed when two things are found:
- X-rays show worm-eaten bone lesions
- A bone marrow biopsy reveals cancer cells or an abnormally high percentage of plasma cells
- Certain proteins associated with antibodies in the urine (Bence Jones proteinuria)
- High levels of certain antibody-related proteins in the blood (dysproteinemia)
- Cancerous plasma cells in organs
Reaching this definitive diagnosis requires extensive testing. Initial tests performed by your general veterinarian may include:
- Hematology: This test checks the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Multiple myeloma can cause anemia, low platelet counts, and low white blood cell counts.
- Serum biochemistry: This test measures blood protein and calcium levels, which tend to be elevated in cats with multiple myeloma, and can also assess kidney function, helping to rule out other health problems.
- Urine testing: Basic urine tests can be used to rule out secondary urinary tract infections and to assess hydration and renal function. More specific urine tests are sent to the laboratory to check for Bence Jones urinary syndrome.
- X-ray inspection: To detect bone lesions, detailed images of the entire body are required.
- Ultrasound: It helps detect areas of enlargement in organs that may indicate possible metastasis.
- Bone marrow biopsy: This is usually done on areas of bone disease. In almost all cases of multiple myeloma, this test finds abnormal plasma cells.
- Serum protein electrophoresis: This is a laboratory test designed for paraproteinemia.
The test results will not only help determine your cat’s diagnosis, but also help your veterinarian determine a prognosis. According to a study Of the nine cats, the following were associated with a poor prognosis in cats with multiple myeloma:
- Low Blood Calcium
- Pathologic fracture
- anemia
- Bence Jones proteinuria
- Kidney problems
How to care for a cat with multiple myeloma
Cats with multiple myeloma require veterinary treatment and excellent nursing care at home. Your vet may need to put your cat on intravenous fluids to support the kidneys and keep them hydrated. Hydration also helps treat hyperviscosity syndrome. Once a diagnosis is made, your vet will start your cat on a long-term course of antibiotics to keep them safe from infection, and will also treat symptoms on a case-by-case basis. Many cats will require pain medication, but some may require more specialized medication.
You also have the option to have your cat undergo treatment for advanced cancer. It’s OK to not do this based on your circumstances or beliefs. But it could potentially extend your cat’s life and improve their quality of life. Without it, euthanasia may be necessary sooner.
Treatment for advanced cancer is typically prescribed by a veterinary oncologist. In some cases, surgery may be recommended to limit the damage. These professionals can develop a plan for surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and extensive follow-up care to help your cat. Your veterinarian will want to monitor any side effects associated with the treatment, as well as your cat’s response to it. For example, a decrease in blood protein after treatment is a good sign.
Proper nursing care at home is essential, and while not all cats with multiple myeloma require all of these interventions, it is advisable to discuss the following with your veterinarian:
- Keeping your cat clean will reduce the risk of infection. Cleaning up urine and excrement, keeping your cat’s environment hygienic and avoiding raw food can help, and you should also look after dental hygiene as bacteria can build up in the mouth.
- Optimize nutrition and hydration: Choosing a nutritious wet food will help your cat maintain weight and stay hydrated. To encourage your cat to drink water, offer it water several times a day. Ask your vet if there are any suitable water additives to improve your cat’s hydration.
- Keep your cat resting during initial treatment: This can reduce the risk of pathological fractures and improve comfort for painful bone injuries.
- Helping your cat urinate: If you can’t urinate on your own, you may need help.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long can a cat with multiple myeloma live?
According to a study Of eight cats treated with chemotherapy for multiple myeloma, four had a complete response and one had a partial response. Responding cats lived for 4 to 24 months. The median survival time with treatment ranged from approximately 42 to 281 days. Cats that did not receive advanced treatment or did not respond to treatment had a shortened life span.
Is bone marrow cancer painful in cats?
Bone marrow cancers such as multiple myeloma can be painful, especially if the bone is eroded or pathological fractures occur. These cats often require one or more pain medications to stay comfortable. Don’t hesitate to consult your veterinarian if your cat is in pain. In addition to pain, these cancers can cause changes in your cat that can make them feel generally lethargic or nauseous.
Conclusion
Multiple myeloma is a rare form of bone cancer in cats. Cats with multiple myeloma will eventually succumb to the disease, although some may go into remission. Unfortunately, some cats do not respond despite the best treatment, and many cats have an extremely aggressive form of multiple myeloma. Your veterinarian can look for signs that may indicate a poor prognosis in your cat:
If your cat has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, the most important thing is your cat’s comfort and quality of life, so you need to pamper your cat with multiple myeloma, monitor him for signs of pain or discomfort, and follow your veterinarian’s advice.
Featured image credit: Kginger, Shutterstock
