My cat has been sick since November of 2002. I brought him to a vet right away, they diagnosed him as having a mega colon. Told me to give him lactulose & they gave him an enema. He was throwing up all his food, & he could not hold down the lactulose either. The doctor also made me feed him this diet food called R/d. His first visit he weighed 20.5 lbs. I had him back & forth to this first vet about 4 times. They would not budge off of their original diagnoses. I kept telling them something else is wrong that the cat always passed large stools with no problem. finally about 3 weeks ago I was insulted by this vet who told me, he cant help me any more becuase I am not following his directions abnout the lactulose. I told him I was that he just throws it up. I brought him to a cat hospital that just takes in cats as patients. They did a few tests , then a sonagram that showed a large mass in his stomach. the Doctor tolds me he has Cancer & that it is progressed. He told me I cna make him comfortable, give him cortizone shots or put him down. He was too sick to survive a surgery. He now weights about 12 pounds. He got his first shots of Cortizone on Friday. Saturday was my Birhday & I thought the cat was dieing on my Birthday. He tried to walk to his bowl and fell down. His back legs got so skinny.
this cat is my best friend in this world. I love him more than anything. It is literlaly tearing my heart to shreds.
Today is Monday, he started walking a little yesterday, & eating a little yesterday. Today he meowed for the first itme inm 4 months, Becuase my Brother was making a turkey sandwidg for work. He gave him a piece. He seems today to be eating much better, but is drinkning a lot of water, & peeing a lot. Yesterday he had his first accident in 9 years I have him, he peeed on himslef. I cleaned him off & he done the rest. He was always such a clean & dignifed cat. Besides following this new Veteranians directions. Is there anything I can do to help him get better.
Thanks for listening.
Spunky is a 9 year old, American short hair silver mackeral tabby. And was healthy for the whole 9 years I have him. He is also nutered at 8 months old.
Cat Diagnosed with Cancer very late in the game
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spunkysfriend
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First, I strongly recommend a consult with a professional feline oncologist, this is the only way you are going to be able to confirm this diagnosis and determine the appropriate treatment approach. Ultrasound is not enough to diagnose what type of cancer this may be, there are several different types, and each treatment approach varies accordingly. The mass may be able to be aspirated using a fine-needle and ultrasound-guided approach, then the sample is sent to a pathologist for confirmation. Without confirmation, your current vet is treating blindly.
If it is inoperable, as your vet suggests, there are various treatment methods you can try. Supportive treatment can include prednisone (to help shrink the tumor, also helps with appetite and is an anti-inflammatory), fluid therapy to combat dehydration, antiemetics to curb vomiting and nausea, special diets to encourage appetite, and even oral pain medications to alleviate pain. Chemo might also be an option, but without a pathology, you don't know what chemo protocol would be appropriate.
Exploratory surgery might be an option to see if this could be removed or not. Unfortunately, kitty must be stabilized prior to a radical surgery such as this. Your vet must first treat palliatively to get kitty in good enough shape to withstand surgery. This is where a consult with a feline oncologist is necessary, they have the tools and diagnostics available in which to discuss your options.
Get a consult NOW, and go from there. If this mass is in an operable area, you don't have time to waste in removing it. Only an oncologist can direct you toward the most effective treatment approach.
Don't give up......
If it is inoperable, as your vet suggests, there are various treatment methods you can try. Supportive treatment can include prednisone (to help shrink the tumor, also helps with appetite and is an anti-inflammatory), fluid therapy to combat dehydration, antiemetics to curb vomiting and nausea, special diets to encourage appetite, and even oral pain medications to alleviate pain. Chemo might also be an option, but without a pathology, you don't know what chemo protocol would be appropriate.
Exploratory surgery might be an option to see if this could be removed or not. Unfortunately, kitty must be stabilized prior to a radical surgery such as this. Your vet must first treat palliatively to get kitty in good enough shape to withstand surgery. This is where a consult with a feline oncologist is necessary, they have the tools and diagnostics available in which to discuss your options.
Get a consult NOW, and go from there. If this mass is in an operable area, you don't have time to waste in removing it. Only an oncologist can direct you toward the most effective treatment approach.
Don't give up......
..........Traci
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spunkysfriend
- Posts: 9
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Thanks Traci
Thank you traci for getting back so soon. I left a few things out. At this new vet he was 3 times so far, & each time they did give him IV fluids in the top of his back. Under the skin it looks like he had a big fluidy bubble on his back for a little while until the fluids soaked in I guess. They gave him the cortizone shot to help shrink it , no? They also gave him a shot of Metoclopramide for the wretching, & nausea. So far he has not had 1 episode of nausea, since the shots on Thursday afternoon. I also have pills that have been quartered of the metoclopramide if he starts to get sick again, I will give him that. The past 2 days have been encouraging. Today he is eating like a horse. Drinking a lot of water, & peeing a lot. Is the frequent peeing something to worry about? I have to get back in touch with the vet tomorrow. Surgery is out of the question ,for now anyway. He is just too weak. I wouldnt put him through that torment.
I am far from giving up, & I can't picture even thinking of putting him down, unless I saw signs of sufferring. But from all signs I see on my boy is that he wants to live, he is trying so hard to fight this monster.
I am far from giving up, & I can't picture even thinking of putting him down, unless I saw signs of sufferring. But from all signs I see on my boy is that he wants to live, he is trying so hard to fight this monster.
i am just curius, when he was first diagnosed tieh ::
megacolon, did thy clean him out, ie rectally,,,i am just wondering if he wern't cleaned out via scoop or enema, if the mass could not be a higher up blockage...i havn't read your entire post but i do think, as traci says get an oncologist to look at this lump...they seem too close together......would love to see the x-rays but i suspect that is out....good luck
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Auntie Debbie
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I'm so sorry your kitty isn't well. I do agree with Traci that a specialist would be your best bet right now to determine if it is cancer and what should be doen to treat it.
I have some links on "Cancer", "Oncology" and "Megacolon" under both the Feline and Canine sections of my website listed on the left side of the board just under Favorites (Debbie's Feline Health) that you may be interested in.
I hope there is something that can be done forn Spanky and I will keep him in my prayers. They sure do pull at our hearts, don't they?
Please keep us posted, ok?
I have some links on "Cancer", "Oncology" and "Megacolon" under both the Feline and Canine sections of my website listed on the left side of the board just under Favorites (Debbie's Feline Health) that you may be interested in.
I hope there is something that can be done forn Spanky and I will keep him in my prayers. They sure do pull at our hearts, don't they?
Please keep us posted, ok?
Kitty kisses,
Debbie
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"Those we shelter on earth will be our treasures in Heaven." Victor Hugo, I think
Debbie
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"Those we shelter on earth will be our treasures in Heaven." Victor Hugo, I think
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spunkysfriend
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He was in the first Vet Twice for what I was led to believe Mega colon. The first time they gave him 1 enema, then gave him a Barium enema and took pictures of that. They said that the barium moved through fine, & that there were no blockages. I took him home, gave him the lactulose, that very same night I had him home he got sick form the lactulose but was still eating. they said he was sick form the enema. He was sick on and off then for about a month and a half, they kept telling me to give him more of a dose of the lactulose. Finally I brought him in again they said he needed an enema again. They gave him 2 enemas this time. No fluids mind you, & sent him home that same day, without giving him fluids. Of what I learned now that was not good. Since that last time he had no apetitte at all. They said well he probably has no apettite form the enemas. The next week I called them back & asked them for something to give him for his apettite, they said he is probably blocked up again. I told them he hasnt eaten enough to block up a tooth no less a cat. Finally the doctor there got sick of hearing me call up for help & told me I wasnt following his advice to give him lactulose. So I got desperate and asked him if he thought I should get another opinion. He said yah, I'll send you to a surgical specialist that can operate on his colon. All this time I told them I know my cat it is something else. No its mega colon.
I told him to transfer the files to another doctor but not His doctor he sent me to. I took him to a cat hospital that listened to me of what his symptoms were. they found the cancer right away. Just for the heck of it I had them do and exray to see if he was blocked up. The Doctor in the 2nd vet took and exray and said she see's "No MEGA COLON". She said his colon was empty, that something is wrong with your cat but its not mega colon. I said Thank God you believe me. I am so mad at this first vet. I spent so much money there that I dont have that I could have used to try and save the poor cats life.
I told him to transfer the files to another doctor but not His doctor he sent me to. I took him to a cat hospital that listened to me of what his symptoms were. they found the cancer right away. Just for the heck of it I had them do and exray to see if he was blocked up. The Doctor in the 2nd vet took and exray and said she see's "No MEGA COLON". She said his colon was empty, that something is wrong with your cat but its not mega colon. I said Thank God you believe me. I am so mad at this first vet. I spent so much money there that I dont have that I could have used to try and save the poor cats life.
After your cat vet's opinion, I'd have to agree, not megacolon. However, Davet does have a point about a possible obstruction that might have gone undetected and that should be ruled out.
Your first vet is nuts. Cortisone shots aren't the answer. Instead, oral prednisone could have been prescribed, this would be a common approach with cancer anyway. I'd ask your cat vet about that, but again, ideally you need to see a feline oncologist. A good vet can refer you to one in your area, but I would suggest at least get a phone consult from Colorado State U, or U of Wisconsin, or Washington State U, or Gulf Coast Vet Specialists in Houston, TX... these are the leading pet cancer specialists in the nation. Your cat vet or any other qualified vet in your area who's evaluated kitty can consult on your behalf, I'd get on that right away.
Your first vet is nuts. Cortisone shots aren't the answer. Instead, oral prednisone could have been prescribed, this would be a common approach with cancer anyway. I'd ask your cat vet about that, but again, ideally you need to see a feline oncologist. A good vet can refer you to one in your area, but I would suggest at least get a phone consult from Colorado State U, or U of Wisconsin, or Washington State U, or Gulf Coast Vet Specialists in Houston, TX... these are the leading pet cancer specialists in the nation. Your cat vet or any other qualified vet in your area who's evaluated kitty can consult on your behalf, I'd get on that right away.
..........Traci
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spunkysfriend
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- Joined: Sat May 10, 2003 9:35 am
They said after numerous xrays at the first vet that there were no physcial obstructions. Unless they out in out lied to me.
I'm confused here, about the cortizone. Have I been mislead twice in 2 different vets? They never mentioned Prednisone. I'm going to ask why.
Are there any links to any of the universities you mentioned. I did a search for the university of colorada state and came up with a website that sells shirts. My head is spinnin here, I dont think I had a good nights sleep in a month, & I'm running out of time & money.
I'm confused here, about the cortizone. Have I been mislead twice in 2 different vets? They never mentioned Prednisone. I'm going to ask why.
Are there any links to any of the universities you mentioned. I did a search for the university of colorada state and came up with a website that sells shirts. My head is spinnin here, I dont think I had a good nights sleep in a month, & I'm running out of time & money.
just a though about cortisone and prednisone::
either or is given to releave any inflamation around the tumore or the gut..it really does nothing to cure the situation but is often given as aholding process to make the cat feel better...i don't think it is contraindicated bere but at the same time i don't think it is harmfull...it may reduce the size of the tumor and may make it easier for surgery it that is to come.....obviouslyt all i am saying is speculative so Good luck on whatever developes..
I think your first vet used injections to help kitty feel better, whether it was for inflammation or for pain, I don't know what his thinking approach was. The problem with frequent injections of cortisone is that it's not a long-term solution, it can give immediate benefit, but for how long. It also stresses the muscles and can cause severe muscle pain at the site of the injection over long term. Supportive care, or for those options where owners choose no chemo or surgery, often includes oral prednisone. It has a variety of medical uses and is also commonly used in combination with chemo. Whenever a mass or tumor are diagnosed and confirmed, and given the option of surgery, prednisone can help to shrink a tumor, making for easier and wider margins during excision. As stated before, it also stimulates appetite, decreases inflammation that can cause pain, and can even help bring up platelets during cases of anemia.
I only have the Gulf Coast Vet Spec's on hand: Gulf Coast Vet Spec's, Kevin Hahn, DVM, and the others are available, but it has to be your primary vet who does the consult, he/she has the resources to talk with any of these universities. I suggest speaking to your vet, asking him/her to fax kitty's current health records, including x-rays, ultrasound film, and present treatment approach, set up a phone consult and take it from there. A consult can even form a treatment plan or protocol for your vet.
I only have the Gulf Coast Vet Spec's on hand: Gulf Coast Vet Spec's, Kevin Hahn, DVM, and the others are available, but it has to be your primary vet who does the consult, he/she has the resources to talk with any of these universities. I suggest speaking to your vet, asking him/her to fax kitty's current health records, including x-rays, ultrasound film, and present treatment approach, set up a phone consult and take it from there. A consult can even form a treatment plan or protocol for your vet.
..........Traci