Introduction
There are many different types of skin tumors that can occur in cats. Once a tumor has been diagnosed, the treatment options will depend on the type of tumor the cat has and how aggressive the tumor is. There are three basic treatment options for skin tumors: waiting and watching, surgically removing the tumor, or freezing the tumor through cryotherapy. In cases where the skin tumor has spread, chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be included in the treatment program.
Treating Skin Tumors
Wait and see
Taking a ‘wait and see’ approach to skin tumors in cats should only be considered under veterinarian recommendation. There are some types of skin tumors, such as histiocytic mast cell tumors, that are benign or which may go away on their own. However this type of treatment option is not often considered as many types of skin tumors in cats are aggressive and require immediate treatment.
Surgery
Surgical removal of skin tumors is generally recommended in most cases. Some skin tumors, such as basal cell carcinomas, can be easily removed through surgery because they do not spread outside their margins. Other aggressive skin tumors, such as fibrosarcomas, may require lengthy surgeries which include the removal of healthy surrounding tissue.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is recommended in cases where the tumors have not spread and when the tumors are located on the surface of the skin or mouth area. Basal cell carcinoma is one type of skin tumor that can be treated through cryotherapy. This type of procedure is normally performed under sedation in cats.
Chemotherapy and radiation
In cases where skin tumors have been particularly aggressive, or it is not possible to remove the entire tumor through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be the best treatment option. While chemotherapy and radiation may not always eliminate the cancer, these therapies may help to extend the cat’s life.