Vaccines and Sarcomas:A Concern for Cat Owners

Todays Topic :- Vaccines and Sarcomas:A Concern for Cat Owners


Is this something new?

Sarcomas are not new forms of cancer in cats. But in 1991, veterinarians began to notice a higher than expected number of sarcomas occurring on cats' bodies in places where vaccines are commonly injected. Subsequently, an association between vaccine administration and sarcoma development has been established. Most feline sarcomas are not associated with vaccines in any way—and those that are associated occur infrequently—yet veterinarians are deeply concerned.

I found a lump where my cat was vaccinated. What happens now?

It is quite common for a small, firm, painless swelling to form under the skin at the site where a vaccine was injected. The lump is almost always of no consequence and disappears after several weeks. Rarely, however, the swelling may progress to a sarcoma. To be on the safe side, your veterinarian will suggest that you periodically check the vaccination area for several months after vaccination. If you detect a lump, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. Small samples of the lump will be sent to a laboratory for diagnosis if any of the following are true:
The lump persists for more than three months after vaccination.
It is larger than two centimeters in diameter (about the size of an olive)
It is increasing in size one month after vaccination.
If the lump is found to be a sarcoma, your veterinarian may confer with or refer you to a veterinary oncologist (a cancer specialist) for management.

If vaccines are causing problems, why use them at all?

Disturbing as this issue may be, there is great concern that cat owners, attempting to keep their cats from harm, may forego vaccination entirely. The result? Though well intentioned, these owners may be placing their cats at far greater risk of acquiring a fatal infection than any risk the vaccine poses. And in the case of rabies, human health is at risk as well.