You are a responsible cat owner, and always look after your cat's health. You take your cat to the vet once a year for a checkup and his annual vaccines. Suddenly one day, you feel a small lump on your cat's shoulder. You are not sure what it is, so you keep a watch on it, feeling it every day until you realize that it is not going away in fact, it seems to be growing at an alarming rate. You take your cat to the vet for an examination. You are shocked to find out that your cat has cancer somehow caused by the very vaccinations that you ordered regularly to protect his health. Your cat has Vaccine-Associated Sarcoma, something you have never even heard of!

Vaccine-Associated Sarcoma, or VAS, is a cancerous, malignant tumor induced by a vaccination. These sarcomas occur in as many as 1 in 1000 cats vaccinated (and probably more because VAS is under-reported). The tumor develops as a consequence of an overzealous inflammatory or immune system reaction to the vaccine. The VAS tumors develop and grow quickly, are often not responsive to treatment, and result in serious illness and ultimately death of the cat. Recurrence of such tumors is common after surgical removal. The feline leukemia vaccine and the rabies vaccine are most frequently suspected in pets that develop VAS; however, other kinds of vaccinations may also trigger VAS.

What to watch for: A firm, painless swelling under the skin, in the region of the body in which the cat was vaccinated. Run your hand over your cat's shoulders, back, and rear legs periodically to monitor for development of vaccine-associated sarcomas. If you notice anything, especially 3 months or more after the vaccination, see your veterinarian immediately.

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