Worried about Leukeran side-effects

It really saddens me to hear about other cat owners going through the pain of treating this terrible disease. My Charky has recently been diagnosed with small cell lymphoma of the intestine. It all started about 2 years ago with chronic diarrhea and vomiting. With blood tests and stool checks coming back normal, the vet said it is possible inflammatory bowel syndrome. So we put him on Z/D made by Science Diet after I/D did nothing to improve his situation.Even with this special low allergen food, the vomiting and diarrhea continued-on and off. It was not constant, but at least one to two episodes a week. Enough to mask the real problem and keep us thinking he had IBS. Well, one day I came home to find more than usual vomit everywhere and he looked awful. It was not just the "old cat body" that people are used to(he is 13 years old). He had serious muscle waste, was dehydrated and weak, and no desire for food or water. This condition rapidly went from bad to worse, so of course, I took him in. I agreed to an ultrasound of the abdomen to rule out any obstruction and what we found was a suseption in the small intestine, basically a piece of the intestine folded back over itself and was cutting off blood supply and stool passage. Surgery was a must or he would die. So, I opted to have immediate surgery despite the risks. I certainly was willing to try and make it better for him rather than just let him suffer and pass away. During the surgery, I had the doctor take biopsies of several different areas to diagnose what type of IBS he had,if any. What came back was devastating to hear. I mean, how long has the cancer been inside him? This was never IBS, but without biopsies,you will never be certain what you are dealing with. Since the surgery, my Charky has been through heart and kidney failure, but has recovered with medication and three very special internal medicine veterinarians, but he is getting ready to start the Leukeran, which is why I stumbled on this website. After reading about some of the side effects and cases, I am concerned. He is doing ok right now. I don't want to make him feel worse by doing something I have been told is necessary. I just want him to be happy and comfortable, even if it is only for a little while. I feel as if I owe him that much. He has been with me for so long.

Hi kittykatzrule,

My cat has a somewhat similar situation and Leukeran has helped.  He had constant diarrhea, significant weight loss, and vomiting.  We thought IBS but after treating that for 8 wks saw no improvement.  Did the ultrasound and saw thickening of the intestinal walls.  My vet didn't recommend surgery (she would have if there was anything that looked like a lump), but most likely cancer so treating as such.  He gets leukeran 3 days a week, metronidazole 1x per day (started months ago when thought IBS, now weaning him off) and prednisone 2x per day.  He is much more active, social, and diarrhea is now about once every week or two.  Best of all, he has gained weight!  We also give him a vitamin B shot (can't remember if it is B12 or B6), I wonder if that is making the difference between our experience and the unfortunate ones mentioned here.  My cat is 14 yrs old.  He's been on the Leukeran three months and his blood work looks good (its important to get regular tests b/c of the side effects). 

This is our third pet with cancer.  Each experience is different and there hasn't been a clear treatment path, just 2-3 options to choose from.  The only thing in common is that it is hard as an owner to figure out what is best, so I sympathize with all the experiences on this forum.  Trust yourself and don't hesitate to get a second opinion or switch vets if you have a concern.  Good luck to you all and your kitties.

K

kittykatzrule said:

Since the surgery, my Charky has been through heart and kidney failure, but has recovered with medication and three very special internal medicine veterinarians, but he is getting ready to start the Leukeran, which is why I stumbled on this website.

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Welcome to TCS kittykatzrule. The thread you found is almost two years old. I moved your post to its own thread so you should get more attention and up-to-date information. No one here can give you medical advice, but we're happy to share our personal experiences with you. You may get some ideas about things to discuss with your vet.

Check out our other forums as well. You can introduce yourself and your kitty in New Cats on the Block, and we love to see ix: in Fur Pictures and Videos Only!

Our 15 year old cat has lymphoma also with the same problems as yours. The only thing we are concerned about is her sleeping! Is it because she is feeling and better and can rest? Her appetite is good! Her blood work at four weeks was very good and the bowel issue has almost stopped. This poor girl was going 6-8 times a day out of the box. She is on Leukeran 2 x a week and pred once a day ..1/2 tab. Just trying to keep her happy.....she has always been in good spirits and kept her weight.