Biopsy today

maryjane20

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So i've posted about my kitty's problems. The lump can't be removed since its too attached to her tongue. She saw the main vet yesterday. The lady vet she saw 1st didn't look in her mouth good enough. So she's having a bioposy today. Thats as long as her blood work comes backl ok. He said it could be just a mass and that responds to steriod treatment. I forget what big medical term he used for the mass.I really think its a tumor. I don't know if just a mass gives of the same symptoms. I did read its gets mistaken for a tumor sometimes. It takes 2-3 days to get the biopsy back. All i can do it wait and and hope for the best. Its been really hard. My husband and i are really attached to this cat. We don't have any kids together so she's been our baby. She's one of a kind. I opted for the chest xray that way we can see if it spread. If it has then thats cancer. Have our answer right away. Praying for my maryjane.
 

otto

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I went back to read your other thread. I'm glad your husband is home at this difficult time. All paws crossed for your beloved little MaryJane.

Please keep us posted.

MaryJane

PS IS her name MaryJane? I was calling her that but rereading your posts I don't see anywhere where you said that's her name, that could be your name, for all I know.
 
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maryjane20

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Thanks.. I'll post updates. They said to call around 2:30 to see when she can come home.
 
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maryjane20

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She's home. Her bloodwork and chest xray were good. It hasn't spread. I hope its the granuloma(just a mass). He was able to pull her tongue out and thats a good thing. She's still able to eat. So she's not too bad off yet. He gave us some pain meds to give her. Thanks for the support.
 
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maryjane20

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He mentioned needing an oncologist if its cancer. Is is a doctor that treats humans too or 1 for animals?
 

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Great news that IF it's cancer, it hasn't spread! I'm so sorry it turned out to be inoperable.
But here's hoping it's a granuloma!

If it does turn out to be cancer, your vet is suggesting you take her to see a small animal oncologist.
I mentioned in your other thread that our Lazlo has lymphoma - a mass in his stomach that hadn't spread. Our vet referred us to a specialist oncologist, and he has been just wonderful. Many vets do treat cancer, but specialists are able to do it better, as that's all they do. Lazlo's oncologist works off a basic protocol for each cancer, but individualizes it for each animal. The chemotherapy (medicine) being used is rotated, amounts adjusted based on how Lazlo reacts to them.
Some people have had horrible experience with chemotherapy and their cats, and it does happen.
But it can also be that the right amount wasn't used, or a different treatment could have been tried. No point in my sharing information about Lymphoma unless that's what it is. But the oncologist will be able to give you very good information about what they'll do, how they'll do it, how much it will cost, what period of time it can take, and what the prognosis is if the cancer goes into remission.
The one thing I do know that is true for all chemotherapy for cats is that cats tolerate it far better than people do, because relative to their body size they don't need as much as people do, so toxicity (what makes most people so sick from the treatment) is not usually a problem for cats (about 15% of cats do not tolerate chemo) - you just have to work with the specialist to find the right course and amounts.
Lazlo had lost a lot of weight, wasn't grooming or eating - he was throwing up all the time, and clearly felt horrible. We've completed two months of chemo, and his weight is back up to normal, and he clearly feels great - like himself! He's playing, eating, grooming.... his tumor is down 40%. He is on an anti-nausea med, an appetite stimulant, and prednisone. All of these are standard with chemo treatment (and clearly help him to feel SO much better!). We're about to start round 3 (our oncologist gives him a treatment each week for four weeks. He has no treatment the 5th week. We get an ultrasound done then to see how things are going).

But let's hope it's just a granuloma!!!!!
 
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maryjane20

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I really hope so too. I know chemo is very expensive. I doubt we could afford all that which i feel bad about. What are your costs like for your cat?
 
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