Early detection takes the bite out of mouth cancer

  If oral cancer is not detected until very late in the course of the disease, a cure may not be possi

Squamous cell carcinoma is the No. 1 oral cancer affecting cats. It seems that being neat is their downfall -- cats may be particularly prone to mouth cancer because they are so meticulous.

"Grooming may expose the cat’s tongue and mouth to carcinogens from the air," says Dr. Pamela Jones, oncology resident at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. "Environmental carcinogens can land on the cat’s coat and get into its oral tissues when it grooms." Carcinogens bombard the squamous cells -- the flattened epithelial cells that line the oral cavity -- causing a few to start dividing uncontrollably. When that happens, a tumor may result.

That doesn’t mean you should try to prevent your cat from grooming. But since most cats are not particularly fond of having someone poke around in their mouth, a tumor there may go unnoticed by owners until clinical signs show up. "That’s the hard part with oral tumors," says Dr. Jones. "They are hard to spot if you don’t look in the mouth all the time."

Taking your cat to a veterinarian at least once a year for a physical and oral exam is the best way to catch this disease early. With early detection, this cancer can possibly be completely eliminated.

The cancer may look like a raised, reddened, ulcerated mass. When the signs of drooling and lack of appetite appear, the lesion has likely been there for several months.

If a lump is found in your cat’s mouth, the next step is a biopsy. The veterinarian will try to determine the extent of the tumor in order to determine your pet’s prognosis and formulate a plan for treatment. The earlier the tumor is caught, the better the cat’s chances for a full recovery.

Though this cancer is not one to quickly metastasize, or spread to other areas of the body, tumors can be large and invasive. "This type of cancer is a local problem -- it usually stays in the mouth area without spreading to other areas of the body until very late in the course of the disease. We can attempt to successfully remove the tumor with surgery. But, when a tumor isn’t noticed for several months or more, it may have a chance to get fairly large. That makes removing all of it very difficult. Squamous cell carcinoma usually comes back if it isn’t completely removed," says Dr. Jones.

If oral cancer is not detected until very late in the course of the disease, a cure may not be possible. In that case, palliative treatment may include a feeding tube and supportive pain management.

"Owners of an older cat should be on the alert if tabby suddenly stops eating or drools excessively," says Dr. Jones. "To spot this cancer early on, a yearly or bi-yearly checkup, including a dental examination, is very important, especially for middle-aged to lder cats."

So if you have not already taken your feline companion to the veterinarian this year, make an appointment today. For more information about squamous cell carcinoma, contact your local veterinarian.

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