Kidney Cancer

[nikzam]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can help me or has run into this situation. My 15 year old cat started losing her appetite after being a very good eater. She had bloodwork done and her liver function was not too good but not alarmingly bad. Today an ultrasound showed enlarged kidneys which the vet said is most probably cancer. Her kidney function numbers are good and she is a bit anemic. He gave me prednisone and she is starting to eat a little more. She had been showing a reluctance to chew food, licking gravy off canned food but leaving all the pieces. She is starting to chew a little now and her teeth checked out OK. I want to prolong her life but the vet sounds like it is hopeless. Has anyone had a diagnosis from an ultrasound be incorrect? She is urinating just fine. Not drinking too much though. Sorry this is so long. Thanks for your time.

[davet]

i think it is pretty difficult to make an ultrasound diagnosis of Cancer of the kidneys...mayb just casually mention to him/her that you heard a doctor say he/she did a needle biopsy on a kidney patient and it wasn't cancer..

[Traci]

Lymphoma is a possibility, but it's also possible whoever did the ultrasound may not have been experienced enough to interpret the film. I would get a second opinion immediately, and ask about ruling out lymphoma vs other types of neoplasia. It could also be infection of some sort, or something altogether different. Since the kidney enzymes are normal, would also want to run those again to be accurate--the anemia you describe is concerning, since if kidney disease, anemia might be related to kidney failure and the enzymes would probably be remarkably high. I'd also keep a close check on the liver enzymes.

Infection could also be preventing kitty from eating....has she been vomiting or any other additional signs of illness?

[nikzam]

Hi,

Thanks so much for the posts.

She hasn't been vomiting at all and has started eating a bit since the prednisone. She hasn't had a bowel movement in ages which I assume is because she isn't eating. I know her temp was OK a few weeks ago. I am having a time getting the pills in her today. She fought having her head pulled back and I didn't want to break her neck so dissolved it in tuna water. The main sign of illness is the unwillingness to eat, (will lick gravy, not chew) and weight loss because of it. I was concerned when they said her liver function was off but apparently in the ultrasound it was fine just her kidneys were enlarged.

The vet did mention that they could have done a biopsy but with the added stress to the cat he and the ultrasound doctor thought it wouldn't be worth it. The ultrasound doctor seemed 75% sure it was cancer but I wouldn't mind a second opinion. I live in a small town so don't know how to go about getting one without stepping on toes. I too wonder how accurate they can tell cancer with an ultrasound.
Nikki