If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Diagnosed Feline Fibroid Sarcoma
Our (approx.15-16) year old cat was diagnosed a couple of weeks ago with the above at the top of his right hind leg. (or around there) Vet said this is common in older cats. A vet partner more or less confirmed the diagnosis. 6 months ago it didn't appear OR the vet missed it. No biopsy was done but will be done tomorrow. At that previous visit couple of weeks ago - vet said that the leg could be amputated and that cats do fine with 3 legs. Well, at his age and being such a neat, affectionate pet. I couldn't do that to him. If his life will not be much longer, then I don't want to put him through that. My husband took him in because he had been not gaining weight and was limping a little. I hadn't noticed the limping. The limping has gotten more prounounced lately. He is now taking vitamins and I am feeding him things that he really likes to eat and he loves that. Doesn't overeat, however. Anyone else been through this? Why couldn't the fibroid be removed or somehow dealt with instead of amputation as a cure. (?) He doesn't appear to be in pain right now tho I do notice now that he has to find a comfortable way to lie down at times. My husband is taking him back in to the vet tomorrow (unfortunately I am going out of town). I think the vet should definitely do the biopsy! Any help or info would really be appreciated. I love this dear cat and just looking for any remedy\possible answer that 'might' help. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"berry" wrote in message
... Anyone else been through this? Why couldn't the fibroid be removed or somehow dealt with instead of amputation as a cure. (?) Yes, I've been through it. It's a locally aggressive cancer, which means it's very fast to grow but doesn't typically metastasize to other organs. It also means that when removing the tumor, you must cut away a relatively large margin around the tumor. Different diagnoses and different vets will use different margins, but let's say 2-3 cm all around the tumor as an average goal to shoot for. That means that for at tumor that's, say, already 4 cm across, you've got to cut out a mass of tissue that's 6-7 cm all around to have a good chance at the cancer not returning. The top of the leg/the hip is really tricky in this regard because the tumor sometimes involves bone or parts of major organs in the torso, or the margin required overlaps these things. Even if the surgery removes the recommended margin, there still might be a relatively high rate for return of the cancer. If I recall correctly, my vet told me that even if he could get the recommended margin around my cat's tumor--and that was doubtful--the likelihood the cancer would return was something like 50-80%. I would've amputated my cat's leg, but the tumor was so involved that it would have meant cutting out a significant part of her pelvic bone and part of her liver. And even then the likelihood of return was high. My cat died from the tumor, which grew from walnut size to peach size in under three weeks. Once it was that size, it stopped growing larger--at least where it was visible to me, on the outside of her body. She went from limping to totally not using that leg. I think it was three months from the time of diagnosis to when she started having seizures and I euthanized her. I say all this not to scare you, but to give you information. If your vet says an amputation is the only way she can survive cancer-free, and that at her age she could handle it, you have to think very carefully about how to lovingly provide the best care for your kitty. I wish you much luck, and I suggest you ask questions about this on alt.med.veterinary. Cate |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
"berry" wrote in message
... Anyone else been through this? Why couldn't the fibroid be removed or somehow dealt with instead of amputation as a cure. (?) Yes, I've been through it. It's a locally aggressive cancer, which means it's very fast to grow but doesn't typically metastasize to other organs. It also means that when removing the tumor, you must cut away a relatively large margin around the tumor. Different diagnoses and different vets will use different margins, but let's say 2-3 cm all around the tumor as an average goal to shoot for. That means that for at tumor that's, say, already 4 cm across, you've got to cut out a mass of tissue that's 6-7 cm all around to have a good chance at the cancer not returning. The top of the leg/the hip is really tricky in this regard because the tumor sometimes involves bone or parts of major organs in the torso, or the margin required overlaps these things. Even if the surgery removes the recommended margin, there still might be a relatively high rate for return of the cancer. If I recall correctly, my vet told me that even if he could get the recommended margin around my cat's tumor--and that was doubtful--the likelihood the cancer would return was something like 50-80%. I would've amputated my cat's leg, but the tumor was so involved that it would have meant cutting out a significant part of her pelvic bone and part of her liver. And even then the likelihood of return was high. My cat died from the tumor, which grew from walnut size to peach size in under three weeks. Once it was that size, it stopped growing larger--at least where it was visible to me, on the outside of her body. She went from limping to totally not using that leg. I think it was three months from the time of diagnosis to when she started having seizures and I euthanized her. I say all this not to scare you, but to give you information. If your vet says an amputation is the only way she can survive cancer-free, and that at her age she could handle it, you have to think very carefully about how to lovingly provide the best care for your kitty. I wish you much luck, and I suggest you ask questions about this on alt.med.veterinary. Cate |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Feline 12 days of Christmas | Stormin Mormon | Cat anecdotes | 18 | October 19th 04 07:54 PM |
The benefit of speaking feline | wafflyDIRTYcatLITTERhcsBOX | Cat anecdotes | 6 | September 9th 03 06:08 AM |