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- Apr 21, 2016
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Hello all,
Our sweet, loving cat Bob was diagnosed with a primary lung tumor this week. We had taken him into the emergency vet for what turned out to be an unrelated case of pancreatitis (he was vomiting and refusing food). During the X-rays, they just happened to notice a mass in his lung. The specialist vet said she was 95 percent sure it is a cancerous tumor, though it is too deep in his chest for an ultrasound or biopsy. The only way to find out for sure would be surgery.
She said that if we proceed with surgery, if it's an aggressive cancer median survival range for it would be about 3 to 5 months. For a less aggressive cancer, he could live another one or two years. She said if we don't treat, he could throw a clot, have it metastasize to his feet, develop fluid around his lungs--a lot of really ugly possibilities.
The surgery could cost over $4000. She said the odds of him surviving the surgery are excellent.
Here are the other factors: Bob is a very timid cat. He was just in the hospital for an extended stay for radioactive iodine therapy a couple months ago for hyperthroidism, and even the vet said he seemed miserable there. When I brought him home from hospitalization today, this vet commented on how overwhelmed he'd seemed.So in other words, sending him back there for another two-day stay plus surgery seems not ideal.
I am also, frankly, going broke. Between the radioactive iodine treatment and this most recent hospitalization, I've spent close to $3000 on his vet bills this year so far. I also have two other cats with ongoing, expensive health issues. If I knew that the surgery would have the best possible outcome--many months or years more with him having good quality of life--then I would not hesitate to do it. But there are so many unknowns here.
Bob is about 11 years old. We adopted him a few years ago from a cat shelter, after he'd been found wandering the streets as an emaciated stray. He's been through so much in his life. He's never been anything less than completely sweet and trusting and willing to love no matter what. I just want for him to be as comfortable as possible for as long as possible.
This has turned my life upside down since getting this diagnosis. We thought we would have many more happy years with Bob. I don't know what's right--it seems like there are no good choices. I was just wondering if anyone has been through lung cancer or a similar diagnosis with their cat, and what you decided.
Thank you.
Our sweet, loving cat Bob was diagnosed with a primary lung tumor this week. We had taken him into the emergency vet for what turned out to be an unrelated case of pancreatitis (he was vomiting and refusing food). During the X-rays, they just happened to notice a mass in his lung. The specialist vet said she was 95 percent sure it is a cancerous tumor, though it is too deep in his chest for an ultrasound or biopsy. The only way to find out for sure would be surgery.
She said that if we proceed with surgery, if it's an aggressive cancer median survival range for it would be about 3 to 5 months. For a less aggressive cancer, he could live another one or two years. She said if we don't treat, he could throw a clot, have it metastasize to his feet, develop fluid around his lungs--a lot of really ugly possibilities.
The surgery could cost over $4000. She said the odds of him surviving the surgery are excellent.
Here are the other factors: Bob is a very timid cat. He was just in the hospital for an extended stay for radioactive iodine therapy a couple months ago for hyperthroidism, and even the vet said he seemed miserable there. When I brought him home from hospitalization today, this vet commented on how overwhelmed he'd seemed.So in other words, sending him back there for another two-day stay plus surgery seems not ideal.
I am also, frankly, going broke. Between the radioactive iodine treatment and this most recent hospitalization, I've spent close to $3000 on his vet bills this year so far. I also have two other cats with ongoing, expensive health issues. If I knew that the surgery would have the best possible outcome--many months or years more with him having good quality of life--then I would not hesitate to do it. But there are so many unknowns here.
Bob is about 11 years old. We adopted him a few years ago from a cat shelter, after he'd been found wandering the streets as an emaciated stray. He's been through so much in his life. He's never been anything less than completely sweet and trusting and willing to love no matter what. I just want for him to be as comfortable as possible for as long as possible.
This has turned my life upside down since getting this diagnosis. We thought we would have many more happy years with Bob. I don't know what's right--it seems like there are no good choices. I was just wondering if anyone has been through lung cancer or a similar diagnosis with their cat, and what you decided.
Thank you.