PLEASE READ - At my wits' end - Chemotherapy- Kitty is not eating

It was raw pureed calves liver with milk thistle supplement that I fed to Buddy.  My sister said, I'm not sure if that's good for him....but he hadn't eaten for weeks, was starving and eating it. He wasn't diagnosed with cancer, but hemolitic anemia, blood infection.  His red blood cells were dieing...his hematocrit kept dropping and dropping.  Kitties generally know what is good for them, and what isn't,  As mentioned, he lived another ten years.   

When cancer cells kill themselves....

http://pathwithpaws.com/blog/2011/03/26/artemisinin-when-cancer-cells-kill-themselves/

This thread is almost a year old.  I wonder what the eventual outcome was for EmilyAnn?

This is somthing intersting I found on chemotherapy (kill-em therapy) and an alternative treatment, Antineoplastons, that is being used on humans.  Of course, not without controvery from the FDA.  Cancer is a huge business. 


DMSO has also been used in alternative cancer therapy, athritus, tumor removal.  DMSO is widely used in the veterinary industry on race horses.

Please refer to the forum rules:

No online advice can replace direct veterinary intervention. If you suspect that your cat may be ill, please contact your vet immediately. You are welcome to look for advice in the health forum while waiting for that appointment, but never delay proper veterinary care waiting for Internet advice. Remember that cats, and especially kittens, are very adept in keeping pain to themselves and delaying treatment may cause irreversible damage.

Information given by posters here are not based on your pet’s full history, and are by people who most likely do not have a degree in veterinary medicine. There are many home remedies, as well as approved veterinary treatments for cat health problems that may work for one cat, but be lethal for another cat. Please discuss any potential treatments with your vet first to ensure you are treating the right problem, and not potentially making it worse.

I read this thread and am compelled to answer.

My almost 15 year old Maine Coon was diagnosed with either IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) or intestinal lymphoma based on his symptoms of anorexia, which had been going on for a few months, and loose stools, which had been going on for a few weeks.  His appetite had been off and on for a few months, and the vet thought it was due to the start of CRF (chronic renal failure), and the possibility of acid indegestion from the CRF affecting his appetite.  I started him on .5 mg of famotodine/Pepcid twice a day, and that helped a lot. 

When he started having loose stools I took him in again, and they did an ultrasound of his abdomen.  They didn't find any tumors, but did see a couple of cysts that they weren't too concerned about.  He also had some thickening of his colon / large intestine wall, but because he was so thin neither I nor the doctor wanted to operate for a biopsy.  Instead, we started him on 10 mg of prednisolone every other day, and the vet left it up to me if I wanted to add in the chlorambucil/Leukeran, which is used for both small cell lymphoma and severe IBD.  The prednisolone helped with the loose stool, but after two weeks it was clear he still didn't feel well, so I started him on the chlorambucil every other day, along with the pred every other day, and the Pepcid every day.

The chlorambucil has made a big difference, and although I don't have a young kitty on my hands, it's clear he feels a lot better.  He doesn't eat as much as I would like, but he's gained about half a pound over the last two months, and at least isn't losing anymore.  He has no adverse reaction to the chlorambucil, except he doesn't like to take pills!  I plan on continuing with it for as long as he's around. 

I think people assume that chemo for their pets will be like chemo for people that they may have witnessed or seen on tv.  With people they are trying for a complete cure, but with pets they are trying for an extension of a good quality of life, so the doses are less, and therefore, so are the side effects (usually).  My kitty hasn't thrown up, except an occasional hairball, and hasn't lost any fur or whiskers.

I would definitely use chlorambucil again in the future for any other cat that may need it.  And if I ever need chemo, I may ask for a dose like my kitty is getting - enough to postpone the inevitable, but not enough to make me sick and make my hair fall out.  Anyway, I hope if you are looking into chlorambucil / leukeran for your cat you will consider it.  There's a study they did with cats and 69% had remission of over a year, and some over 700 days.

Thank you Big Boy for your info about this chemo for small cell lymphoma. My kitty (Toby, he is on this site in a thread) is being treated for large cell but the oncologist said if he doesn't show significant response we may try this oral chemo instead. I'm glad to hear how things have gone for your kitty. 

Hi, I am going through this same situation now with the love of my life. May I ask how old was you cat?

Hi, did the chemo help your cat get better & did he seem to have any breathing or swallowing difficulties after the treatment??

I REALY recommend you to go to a good HOLISTIC vet. In this cases holistic treatment really helps,trust me.

nveronique---

My cat would be dead by now if he had not received chemotherapy. He has done really well with it, altho right now he is up and down and we think it is a reaction to his chemo, since he just had a tough treatment. He is not being treated for small cell, he is getting treatment for large cell lymphoma, so that is a different cycle of chemotherapies. But there are lots of cats being treated for small cell and people who can help you with that too, if that is what your kitty has!

I think it is good if you start a new thread asking for opinions about chemotherapy and telling people what kind of cancer your cat is diagnosed with, if you know by now, as well as what options you have been given and what you have done so far :-) Good luck!!

Hi:

Can you please let us know the dose of your Chlorambucil.  My kitty was just diagnosed with GI lymphoma and we started Prednisone starting at 3.5 mg twice a day.  I'm at the point of starting the Chlorambucil but am really torn because i don't want to make her sick.  From reading your post, it seems as though your cat is doing well which is very encouraging.  How long as your cat been on the Chlorambucil?

Thanks so much.

Nov. 26. 2015

My 16 year old cat just had surgery removing oral squamous cell carcinoma. With extensive research I am trying pure liquid DMSO mixed in withI his wet blended food along with Colloidal Silver. Hoping the DMSO will open up the cancer cells  allowing the Colloidal Silver to enter and revert the cancer cells into healthy cells.... Now that I just read your text mentioning another possible remedy using Artimisinin, a natural herb I am very much interested in possibly using this, mixed in with his wet food. What do you think and do you have any more info. for me... Very much appreciated... hoping all is well