Well I just got the news yesterday but my 8 year old cat was diagnosed with intestinal lymphoma. It started with vomiting, no eating or drinking and weight loss and after an endoscopy and biopsy this was the prognosis. Now I'm presented with a difficult decision. The vet seems to think that chemo is the way to go but from what I've researched it will extend his life by maybe 12 to 18 months. He's been home with me since Friday afternoon and he's just not happy or acting like himself. Still not eating and being fed through a PEG tube. I love my cat to death but at the same time I don't want to see him suffer. I haven't made up my mind on the chemo as I really don't want to extend his life only for him to go through this suffering again. Has anyone had any experience with this?
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Intestinal Lymphoma
- Thread starter 1lapilot
- Start Date
I can't say whether or not to give your cat chemo. I did choose to give it to my cat but he had a very aggressive eye cancer so I don't know whether it extended his life or shortened it by possibly damaging his ability to produce blood cells at the end. One thing I did learn, though, that helped me make the decision to try chemo, is that they use much lower dosages for animals than they do humans so they don't have some of the same side effects, like nausea, that humans may experience.
In the month he did have chemo, before the last week when he went into the hospital, he seemed to hate having to leave home to go to the vet's much more than he showed any ill effects from the treatment. Aside from having one less eye, he was pretty much his old self.
I'm sorry your boy is sick. I know how hard it is.
In the month he did have chemo, before the last week when he went into the hospital, he seemed to hate having to leave home to go to the vet's much more than he showed any ill effects from the treatment. Aside from having one less eye, he was pretty much his old self.
I'm sorry your boy is sick. I know how hard it is.
My friend blast off girl is waiting to see if her cat has bladder cancer and she told me she will try chemo if its cancer. My other friends cat had cancer from shots and did chemo and the cat was ok on it but she lost her.
Yes, it's true that Buster was diagnosed with transitional cell carcinoma
Anyway, lymphoma is a different type of cancer. I'm very sorry to hear that your cat was diagnosed with this condition. My roommate's cat, Twitches, was also diagnosed with lymphoma several years ago and she made the decision to euthanize the cat after one week of chemotherapy. The vet said that it would prolong Twitches' life by 4-6 months. She didn't think it was worth it.
I think 12-18 months is a long time for your cat to live. She seems to have a better prognosis than Twitches. Similar to your cat, Twitches didn't eat and was very lethargic.
I would consult with an oncologist to weigh the options. I hope your cat feels better soon.
My Chase passed away from lymphoma.. He was unfortunately in very bad shape when we finally figured out what it was, and we were unable to improve his condition enough that the vet felt it was worthwhile to pursue chemo. Had he been in better shape, I would have found some way to do it. A year is a long time for a kitty, and I would have loved the chance to have that time with him, to see him happy again.
I lost a cat to intestinal lymphoma this year, she was too old and too far advanced to consider anything other than steroids, but I did read some useful sites. At that age, I would consider doing something, but it really is up to you, I am not a fan of chemo in cats, as they can't tell us how it is really making them feel. Good luck
