Daisy
Mammary Adenocarcinoma
Daisy, a sweet 8-year-old cat, was referred to WVRC’s Oncology Service to discuss diagnostic and treatment recommendations for a mammary adenocarcinoma. Her family veterinarian recently removed a mass that testing identified a basaloid mammary gland adenocarcinoma.
Mammary gland tumors are common in older, female cats who have been spayed as adults (after the first heat cycle). Tumor size is one of the most important prognostic factors, luckily Daisy's tumor was 0.75 cm when it was removed and there was no evidence that her tumor had spread to other locations, such as the lymph nodes or lungs.
The treatment of choice for mammary adenocarcinoma in cats is surgery followed by chemotherapy, because this is a disease that can be both locally invasive and highly metastatic. Dr. Reed successfully performed a left radial mastectomy and although Daisy’s histopath showed no residual cancer cells, some precancerous changes were apparent and she was started on chemotherapy protocol after she recovered from surgery. Daisy encountered a few common side effects during chemotherapy – picky appetite, more sleepy – but has now finished her protocol and has officially Kicked Cancer’s Tail! Way to go Daisy!!