Hi everyone,
My 13 year old, 18 pound baby had a lump removed from her side/ribs last Thursday, and the biopsy came back as hemangiosarcoma. My regular vet sent the chart notes to an oncologist, who suggested chemo for Sabrina. I have a consult with the oncologist a week from tomorrow, but everyone I talk to, including the vet techs at work (I work at Embrace Pet Insurance), say its pretty uncommon for a cat to have this diagnosis.
Sabrina is doing really well after her surgery, she is even getting used to The Cone of Shame.
I am looking for anyone with experience in this area. I'm sure the vet will be very straight forward, but I want Sabrina to live forever and have the best quality of life possible. I don't know yet if that means yes to chemo, or no to chemo.
Any thought?
Darcy
Hemangiosarcoma invading my baby
Re: Hemangiosarcoma invading my baby
Hemangiosarcoma is rare in cats, but it does occur, and it's possibly not diagnosed often in some cats because owners don't pursue the testing/surgery, etc needed to properly diagnose.
What were the symptoms Sabrina presented that you knew something was wrong and pursued diagnostics?
Has she lost a significant amount of weight?
Was or is she vomiting?
Is she eating and drinking normally? Eliminating normally?
Do you have the pathology report, and if so, can you post it?
Was the lump subcutaneous (under the skin), or was it attached to muscle, bone or a vital organ?
Were xrays and ultrasound done? (it is imperative they are done!)
If you can answer these questions, I can try to help further, but you have to understand that the majority of feline hemangiosarcomas are malignant if they are found internally. The subcutaneous type usually is curative if surgical excision/removal is done correctly.
That said, it also depends on the type, when it was discovered, if there is any evidence it has spread elsewhere, where it was located, overall health status of the cat, etc.
Depending on the type, chemotherapy, or a combination of chemo and radiation therapy are the mainstays in treatment. Generally, the chemo only is the preferred treatment, and in cats, sometimes only one chemo agent is used (as compared to more than one chemo agent). If the oncologist has recommended chemo, heed his advice, and talk to him in detail so you know what to expect.
Again, it would be helpful if you can answer the above questions.
Here's hoping this is not malignant, that the oncologist has confidence in the chemo therapy - Hang in there and give Sabrina lots of hugs for us.
What were the symptoms Sabrina presented that you knew something was wrong and pursued diagnostics?
Has she lost a significant amount of weight?
Was or is she vomiting?
Is she eating and drinking normally? Eliminating normally?
Do you have the pathology report, and if so, can you post it?
Was the lump subcutaneous (under the skin), or was it attached to muscle, bone or a vital organ?
Were xrays and ultrasound done? (it is imperative they are done!)
If you can answer these questions, I can try to help further, but you have to understand that the majority of feline hemangiosarcomas are malignant if they are found internally. The subcutaneous type usually is curative if surgical excision/removal is done correctly.
That said, it also depends on the type, when it was discovered, if there is any evidence it has spread elsewhere, where it was located, overall health status of the cat, etc.
Depending on the type, chemotherapy, or a combination of chemo and radiation therapy are the mainstays in treatment. Generally, the chemo only is the preferred treatment, and in cats, sometimes only one chemo agent is used (as compared to more than one chemo agent). If the oncologist has recommended chemo, heed his advice, and talk to him in detail so you know what to expect.
Again, it would be helpful if you can answer the above questions.
Here's hoping this is not malignant, that the oncologist has confidence in the chemo therapy - Hang in there and give Sabrina lots of hugs for us.
..........Traci
Re: Hemangiosarcoma invading my baby
I have no experience with this at all but just wanted to post saying that I'm hoping for the best possible outcome for Sabrina.
Re: Hemangiosarcoma invading my baby
Thank you, Traci and Cleo!
Traci, I'm going to get the doctors chart notes and scan them ASAP. In the meantime, here's what I know.
Sabrina had no symptoms, I was squishing her and felt a golf ball sized lump. I squish her often, so I can say confidently that it appeared quickly.
I just called and they said it was malignant but it was all removed. The subcutaneous margin was narrow, and it was attached to muscle.
She is eating, drinking and litter boxing as normal, and did not throw up before or after surgery. The only change in her behavior is that post surgery she is very needy and snugly, always sitting right next to me or on my dads lap, which she didn't used to do.
She went from 22 pounds to 18 pounds over the course of 6 months, but that was on purpose. She has probably lost about a pound since the surgery.
X-rays were done, but not an ultrasound. It did not appear to have spread anywhere else, but because she is a larger kitty, they said it was hard to see for sure.
Her overall health has always been good, but she had anal gland issues for the past few months. The bump was located behind her right armpit, sort of. Like, from above her, if you put your hands around her middle with your hands under her arms, it would have been under your right hand. I think they said it was attached to muscle on her ribs.
The vet said they would email me the chart notes tonight or tomorrow, so I will post them.
Thank you!!
Traci, I'm going to get the doctors chart notes and scan them ASAP. In the meantime, here's what I know.
Sabrina had no symptoms, I was squishing her and felt a golf ball sized lump. I squish her often, so I can say confidently that it appeared quickly.
I just called and they said it was malignant but it was all removed. The subcutaneous margin was narrow, and it was attached to muscle.
She is eating, drinking and litter boxing as normal, and did not throw up before or after surgery. The only change in her behavior is that post surgery she is very needy and snugly, always sitting right next to me or on my dads lap, which she didn't used to do.
She went from 22 pounds to 18 pounds over the course of 6 months, but that was on purpose. She has probably lost about a pound since the surgery.
X-rays were done, but not an ultrasound. It did not appear to have spread anywhere else, but because she is a larger kitty, they said it was hard to see for sure.
Her overall health has always been good, but she had anal gland issues for the past few months. The bump was located behind her right armpit, sort of. Like, from above her, if you put your hands around her middle with your hands under her arms, it would have been under your right hand. I think they said it was attached to muscle on her ribs.
The vet said they would email me the chart notes tonight or tomorrow, so I will post them.
Thank you!!
Re: Hemangiosarcoma invading my baby
It might be good news if it was more subcutaneous, and that no muscle had to be removed.
The ultrasound is imperative because it can detect much of what an xray can't - I would definitely bring that up with your oncologist at your appointment. The ultrasound will pay close attention to the spleen, heart, lungs, and other internal organs.
I don't want to give false hope, but again, if this were more the subcutaneous form, it would give a better outcome. Chemo is the first and best choice to nip this in the bud whenever possible.
Keep us posted. I'm hoping for the very best for Sabrina, she's sure been through a lot over the years, give her lots of hugs for us!
The ultrasound is imperative because it can detect much of what an xray can't - I would definitely bring that up with your oncologist at your appointment. The ultrasound will pay close attention to the spleen, heart, lungs, and other internal organs.
I don't want to give false hope, but again, if this were more the subcutaneous form, it would give a better outcome. Chemo is the first and best choice to nip this in the bud whenever possible.
Keep us posted. I'm hoping for the very best for Sabrina, she's sure been through a lot over the years, give her lots of hugs for us!
..........Traci
Re: Hemangiosarcoma invading my baby
Is it possible that she is just fine? The vet didn't seem concerned and when I asked if Sabrina is going to die, she said it was very unlikely. And apart from being clingy, she seems fine. Is it possible they got it all and the chemo is just to be sure? The vet also said it metasisised (I have no idea how to spell that) really slowly in cats and is unlikely to spread-although they do want a weekly appointment to check her. Are they being overly kind, or is it possible that she will be fine? Obviously I have a ton of questions for the oncologist. Ugh. I wasn't too worried before because I assumed it would be nothing, but now I'm kind of freaking.
Re: Hemangiosarcoma invading my baby
I would more than likely put my trust into the oncologist moreso than the vet right now. If you have any doubt about your vet's comments, her ability, or her experience, then by all means, question her. But, you'll have better luck speaking to the oncologist because he/she is much more experienced and has advanced knowledge in these cases to tell you what to expect.
Without knowing what the pathology report stated/indicated, it is nearly impossible to say. There are a few different types of hemangiosarcoma, the subcutaneous type carries the best prognosis because it does not tend to metastasize internally. That's not to say it can't come back in another subcutaneous form, but the initial surgical removal of the subcutaneous tumor is usually curative, if done correctly (as wide and clean a margin as possible). Now, because it was attached to muscle, I'm not sure how surgery addressed that exactly. Chemo is oftentimes advised in any case, to ensure that any cells that might still remain, are destroyed before they have a chance to spread (or because the pathologist recommends it based on his/her findings on the biopsy or tumor tissue sample).
When you get a copy of the pathology report, and can post it, I can try to help you understand it, but ideally, you should talk with the oncologist.
If your primary vet didn't express concern or give a poor prognosis, perhaps this is a subcutaneous form that is relatively curative with surgical removal (followed by chemo as an adjunct therapy). Ask her if she's had experience with the exact type noted in the report, and is this in fact, the type that is curative with surgical removal and followed with chemo. I would also ask her if she removed any part of the muscle and if that factors in.
Without knowing what the pathology report stated/indicated, it is nearly impossible to say. There are a few different types of hemangiosarcoma, the subcutaneous type carries the best prognosis because it does not tend to metastasize internally. That's not to say it can't come back in another subcutaneous form, but the initial surgical removal of the subcutaneous tumor is usually curative, if done correctly (as wide and clean a margin as possible). Now, because it was attached to muscle, I'm not sure how surgery addressed that exactly. Chemo is oftentimes advised in any case, to ensure that any cells that might still remain, are destroyed before they have a chance to spread (or because the pathologist recommends it based on his/her findings on the biopsy or tumor tissue sample).
When you get a copy of the pathology report, and can post it, I can try to help you understand it, but ideally, you should talk with the oncologist.
If your primary vet didn't express concern or give a poor prognosis, perhaps this is a subcutaneous form that is relatively curative with surgical removal (followed by chemo as an adjunct therapy). Ask her if she's had experience with the exact type noted in the report, and is this in fact, the type that is curative with surgical removal and followed with chemo. I would also ask her if she removed any part of the muscle and if that factors in.
..........Traci
-
Tina B and crew
- Posts: 2536
- Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 9:48 am
- Location: Virginia
Re: Hemangiosarcoma invading my baby
Darcy...my thoghts are with you and Sabrina. I cannnot post extensuvely right thjs moment but I just got a diagnosis of visceral hemangiosarcoma with my boy Doc. I will be happy to walk this path with you! Doc had his first round of chemo just last week. Hang in there!
Tina B and "what a crew!"
How we behave towards cats here below determines our status in heaven ~Robert A. Heinlein
How we behave towards cats here below determines our status in heaven ~Robert A. Heinlein
Re: Hemangiosarcoma invading my baby
Ok, just had a quick talk with the vet-I'm getting her records and histology report tonight. Her bump is "subcuteous" and the person who did the biopsy said "observe for local reoccurrence and metastsis". Does that mean anything?
Re: Hemangiosarcoma invading my baby
That only means it could reoccur in another subcutaneous area, or if it does reoccur, it might have a potential to spread. If it is ONLY subcutaneous, and the vet excised it properly, and the pathologist did not see tumor behavior that indicated aggressive tendency to spread, this could be good news.
..........Traci