Is this the beginning of the end for Bobber

Last week I had spoken with a customer who lost a cat last month to lung cancer. It was sudden and he described what she went though in last few days.

Bobber's tumor is getting larger, she continues to limp from leg-mass pressing on nerve? She stresses so much when she has gone to the vet so we are reluctant to take her him though we could if needed have one come here as one lives a few miles down the road.

She has started to cough and just a few minutes ago when she was coughing some bloody fluid was at the opening of her mouth-a small amount as when I went to get a towel she had stopped.

If anyone has had a cat with later stage cancer ever experienced this?
I'm not sure on what to do.

Sweetie, I have no experience with this, but wanted to send vibes and hugs. I'm so sorry you and Bobber are having to face this!

I've never had any experience with having a cat with cancer either, but it sounds like a terrible experience. Sending many vibes to you and Bobber.

Wow I'm so sorry to read this. I'm sorry that Bobber is going through all this. I don't know if this means it's coming to the end for Bobber, sometimes things get worse before they get better. Maybe this is something like that? I hope so.

Gosh I'm so sorry to hear this! I hope it's nothing and that she'll be fine for a while yet. Wish I had an answer for you!

First of all to you!!

I lost my Bob Marley last year to cancer. It started as lung cancer and spread to his bones. Although he coughed for about 7 months from the lung cancer, he was OK until it spread to his bones and the pain from that cancer became unbearable for him. I brought him back for a second set of xrays when he started limping, which is when we saw it in his bones. Since it was in both of his front legs, I had to make a decision for him when he could no longer use one of them at all, and could only hobble on the other. And through all of this he continued to cough, but that became secondary to the pain of the bone cancer. Bob told me when he had enough.

If you were to take Bobber to the vet, I would suggest a full body xray to see if the cancer has spread and if so, to what parts of her body. Some cancers are more painful than others, and if your goal is to keep her comfortable, then it is good to know what to look for.

I'll be sending your way to keep Bobber stress free and pain free for as long as possible.

I have dealt with a few different types of cancer in cats. As much as it stresses her out, I really think she needs to go to the vet now, as coughing up bloody fluid isn't good, but it could also be something that could be managed to buy her more time.

What kind of cancer does she have, how long ago was she diagnosed and is she on any treatment?

Sending lots of for Bobber and a for you

I am keeping Bobber in my prayers.

Originally Posted by booktigger

I have dealt with a few different types of cancer in cats. As much as it stresses her out, I really think she needs to go to the vet now, as coughing up bloody fluid isn't good, but it could also be something that could be managed to buy her more time.

What kind of cancer does she have, how long ago was she diagnosed and is she on any treatment?

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She has breast cancer over 3 years now with three surgeries to remove tumors. The last surgery was sept 2009. When we took her back in last June for X-rays/follow-up the cancer had started to infiltrate her lungs.
I have faxed all her info to my sis who had human oncologists and pathologists review (for free!) her info. They agreed with our vets advice that she will probably die of lung cancer as that is where it metasizes in cats. Right know from our vets prognosis she has lived longer that what they thought.
We will know when the right time is to PTS. Its hard when she doesn't exhibit any pain but it must be there. She has been more affectionate that past few weeks-maybe she knows....

Originally Posted by GailC

she will probably die of lung cancer as that is where it metasizes in cats. Right know from our vets prognosis she has lived longer that what they thought.
We will know when the right time is to PTS.

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I'm so sorry.

I am sorry to hear it has spread despite surgery, I have dealt with breast cancer, but we didn't put Blackie through surgery (She was practically feral and lived in a cardboard box in the bathroom, aftercare would have been too hard, plus she had breathing issues that were made worse just going to the vet - the sad part was though despite being 14, her organs were fine).

I Think if you know it has spread to her lungs, you need to at least talk to the vet about the coughing even if you don't take her, in case they can give somethign like steroids to help slow things down - I know in some cancers Metacam is also recommended as it is a COX inhibitor. While I agree you will know when it is time, I would be tempted to let a cat with lung cancer go sooner rather than later - I lost a cat to oral cancer last year and his tumour bled quite a lot the day I made the decision (I came home and the window looked like a scene from CSI), and he wasn't acting that much different from his usual self, he was still demanding food (although couldnt eat that much in one go), still his usual affectionate, playful self.