Causes of Multiple Myeloma

• In the immune system, the white blood cells include plasma cells that produce antibodies to protect against foreign substances. If the plasma cell divides uncontrollably, a plasma cell tumor develops and causes multiple myeloma.
  
  

Symptoms

• Multiple myeloma symptoms include bleeding from nose or gums, very viscous blood, lethargy, weakness, increased drinking and urination, lameness, altered levels of consciousness or seizures.
  
  

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Diagnosing multiple myeloma includes complete blood count, serum chemistry panel, urinalysis, x-rays, bone marrow aspirate or biopsy.
  
  Treatment options include chemotherapy as a primary treatment. Chemotherapy drugs can be administered orally. Secondary treatment for viscous blood involves removing whole blood and returning red blood cells without the plasma and its antibodies.
  
  

Forms of Lymphoma

• Tumors of lymphoid tissue appear in cats at the average age of five years. The three most common forms of lymphoma include the multicentric form in multiple lymph nodes, and organs, mediastinal form in chest, and alimentary form in the digestive tract and lymph nodes.
  
  

Symptoms

• A cat suffering from lymphoma shows signs of physical illness with symptoms according to the disease's location. Respiratory distress and lung fluid may indicate mediastinal form. Loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and rough coat hair may indicate the alimentary form.
  
  

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Observations and tests will help determine lymphoma in cats: chemistry panel, complete blood count, x-rays, ultrasounds, fine-needle aspirate or biopsies. If a cat tests positive for feline leukemia virus, the chance of developing lymphoma may increase.
  
  Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy for localized disease, and surgery. Oral doses of chemotherapy drugs may include doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone.