It's pretty tough. There *can* be indicators, but not always. I had to let
my Grant go due to advanced stomach cancer, but I didn't have a clue. Even
when he first became sick (two weeks before the end) his blood levels did
not really indicate it. I think it really depends on the type of cancer. All
you can do is love them and take the best care you can.

Mike, you might want to try asking this in alt.med.veterinary. I wonder
if there is a good answer for this, though. I imagine a yearly ultrasound
might be helpful, but then there are types of cancer that ultrasound
does not catch. Sorry you lost your kitties. Let us know what you
find out.

Check with the closest veterinary university hospital, ask them if they do
P.E.T. scans (no pun).  A P.E.T. scans detects cancer in the very early
stages.  The P.E.T. operates on the principal that cancer cells grow and
multiply very rapidly- more rapidly than any other cells in the body- and
need more glucose than any other cells in the body to multiply.  The P.E.T.
detects cancer by detecting cells that are using a lot of glucose.  A P.E.T.
scan isn't cheap but its the most accurate test for detecting cancer in the
very early stages.

Phil.

Mike,

I think that is a tough one.

I found a tiny lump on a rabbit, and it grew larger (to the size of a
mosquito bite.) The vet removed it, the rabbit had lymphoma, and it was
already all through his blood. He had no symptoms, I just happened to
feel a small bump.

We lost a cat to cancer, and they could not find the problem until he
was too weak and sick to recover.

I was told by the oncologist vet that most people get a slow-growing
form of cancer, and most animals get a fast-growing type. She said most
often what she does is just try to slow it down and buy some more time.

Rhonda