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**buglady[_2_]** · October 24th 13, 02:15 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav

On 10/21/2013 11:56 AM, wrote:
My white cat's nose had a small dark spot on it for a couple of months.

.............White cats are prone to melanomas. It's not quite the same
as human melanoma as it does not metastasize beyond the area it occurs in.

...........I have a neighbor that had a white cat with cancer on the ear
tips, nose and around one eye. She had the ear tips excised, which was
curative. The vet did not want to do the nose and nothing could really
be done about the eye surgerywise as they probably would have had to
remove it and cut the eyelids off. She did not consult with an
oncologist so I have no idea what they would have suggested.

............She would NOT keep her cat indoors. It is crucial to keep a
white cat inside. Apparently they can also get enough harmful UV rays
through a regular window to affect them. You can get a clear shade to
take care of that issue if the cat hangs out at the window. Also if she
had done something when the spot was very small on the nose, perhaps
that would have taken care of it.

..........The nose cancer on her cat progressed until almost the whole
nose was eaten. She called me over to look at him to assess his
"quality of life" and I almost tossed my cookies. All that was left of
his nose was a small part on one side. He was constantly leaking fluid
from the nose and all you could see was the holes at the back of the nose.

............Supposedly this cat also had FIV, but there never was a PCR
done and I do not believe the ELISA test can distinguish between
infection and inoculation.

..........I don't know if I would bother with a biopsy, but find a vet
confident enough to remove the area from the nose. Or see an
oncologist. I don't know about chemo or radiation, but surgery can be
curative for this issue. On spots like the nose it is crucial it is
done when small.

buglady
take out the dog before replying