my cat may have a vaccine-associated sarcoma (VAS)

A few weeks ago I had my female cat Moonbat in for an annual at the vet and they suggested a  feline leukemia virus vaccine which for some reason I decided to go ahead and have them do.

I just took her in for the booster and dropped her off, 5 minutes later they called my cell and said there is a "small lump" on her leg where they gave her the initial injection a few weeks ago, probably nothing but -- yada, yada, then at some point the words "POSSIBLE AMPUTATION" were uttered and that was all that I heard.

Followed by more assurances, that I should watch it and see if it goes away on it's own, which may be the case, if it doesn't then...

At this point I am KICKING myself for agreeing to have her vacinated for something she would probably NEVER have contracted and which in turn may kill her or cause her to lose a leg (oh, the bitter irony).

Has anybody else had this happen? Reaction, lump, etc. from a FLV vaccine? Did it go away on it's own? The vet says it happens fairly often and usually resolves itself without issue. But something about the tone of her voice when she called...

Reassurance appreciated :\

Awww hun, I am so sorry you are going through this!
Is this the vet that first recommended you giving the vaccine? And is this an inside cat?
For the record, inside cats should not be given FeLV vaccines..... nor FIV - but especially FeLV, exactly because of this risk. It is one of the vaccines (aside from Rabies) that carries the highest risk of sarcoma. Now, note: It is rare.
I would do a Biopsy ASAP of this lump and if the sarcoma is confirmed I would go ahead and amputate the leg. However, if this is a new vet, I would be inclined to go to another one...... I have my reservations about vets who recommends FeLV vaccines to inside cats..... That should never, ever be done IMHO.

I absolutely agree with carolina, and should never be given unless for some rare reason the cat is at some great risk of contracting it, even an indoor/outdoor cat should not be given it.

But, what's done is done, can't take it back. It will likely fade away on it's own, at this point, and just my personal opinion, but I would simply keep a watchful eye on it, if the size of it decreases within a week or 2 then it's probably going to go away. I would NOT wait more than 2 weeks, if it has not gotten any smaller then I would def. head to A DIFFERENT vet (sorry but wth??) and get it biopsied.

Worse case scenario is a leg amputation, it will be harder for you to handle than your kitty, they actually do just fine on 3.

Hopefully it will decrease on it's own.

Sending positive vipes  

She is inside 75%, outside 25%. The outside is limited to a quarter acre fenced yard with an Invisible Fence system. There are other cats in the area, ferals, sometimes they come around. I have never seen one of them actually jusmp the fence and get into my yard and mix with my cats. But the possibility is there. This is what I told the vet back when they brought the idea of the vaccine up. I will give them credit for asking these questions, I just wish they had helped me a little with the risk information. Especially with the high risk associated with the FLV.

I was just talking to a friend here at work, she has several dogs, she says they commonly get lumps around vaccine injection sites that persist weeks after the injection so I am hoping that is what it is.

I love that cat a LOT (she is the only one of my three that sleeps with me). The main thing is her quality of life. If she is going to be happy an content with three legs, then fine. Hopefully it won't come to me having to make a decision like that (radical surgery). I just want her around. Just wish her daddy could have been a little more informed. I will pray for her tonight

SalsaNChips said:

She is inside 75%, outside 25%. The outside is limited to a quarter acre fenced yard with an Invisible Fence system. There are other cats in the area, ferals, sometimes they come around. I have never seen one of them actually jusmp the fence and get into my yard and mix with my cats. But the possibility is there. This is what I told the vet back when they brought the idea of the vaccine up. I will give them credit for asking these questions, I just wish they had helped me a little with the risk information. Especially with the high risk associated with the FLV.

I was just talking to a friend here at work, she has several dogs, she says they commonly get lumps around vaccine injection sites that persist weeks after the injection so I am hoping that is what it is.

I love that cat a LOT (she is the only one of my three that sleeps with me). The main thing is her quality of life. If she is going to be happy an content with three legs, then fine. Hopefully it won't come to me having to make a decision like that (radical surgery). I just want her around. Just wish her daddy could have been a little more informed. I will pray for her tonight

Click to expand...

Yes hun, she will do just fine - she won't even notice!
But here is the thing - once it is confirmed that it is sarcoma, do it quickly - do not dwell about it, do not think twice. It is one of the most aggressive types of cancers in a cat.... early detection and amputation is a must - after that, she will will do great. If I were you, if your vet suspects that this is sarcoma, I would immediately do a biopsy.... Get this kitty inside so she doesn't need a booster either.....

You know I re-read the first posting you wrote, and caught the "a few weeks ago" part, if it's been 3 weeks since getting the vaccine, then I take back the waiting up to 2 weeks to watch it comment, and agree again with carolina, it should be biopsied asap.

It will also either give you relief from worrying, or know to jump into action, as it is an aggressive type.

Let's hope it's not, but if it is, no need to worry about her quality of life, it takes just a couple/a few weeks for kitty to return to normal, like nothing changed. Amazing but true how adapting they are.

omg I'm so glad I read this post! My vet has been telling me to give Fuzzy the Leukemia vaccine because he escaped once from our new house and he could escape again.  I have an appointment to have Fuzzy vaccinated for Leukemia on April 21, but after reading this I won't do it. 

I'm so sorry your kitty is going through that  but is not your fault, you didnt know.  I didn't know about that risk either.

I think my kitties are all immune to Leukemia anyway.  Fuzzy,nena Lucas and Flaqui were all in contact with Baddy and Princess when they got Leukemia, I separated them once I had the diagnosis.  Sadly, Baddy and Princess died,  but my other four kitties, they are all negative.  I don't think they need the vaccine.  Fuzzy and Lucas for example have been tested twice, and both times, negative.

I will pray for your kitty.

UPDATE:

I picked her up at the vet yesterday and had a nice chat with the DVM. The DVM had discussed it with the other DVM at that clinic and they were both in agreement that I should wait for a few weeks and see what happens with the lump on her left front leg (at the initial injection site). That is, see if it gets any bigger, smaller, etc. She assured me that it was not the first time she had seen a cat with a lump 3 weeks after a FLV injection and in most cases, it goes away without issue. That made me feel a little better, BUT a few things she said bothered me. Like "it's not bothering her when I squeeze or push on it...", well, what difference does that make? Also when I asked about getting a biopsy now, she said something about the location of the injection (below the elbow) presenting a "risk of getting into a nerve if we biopsy it". I mentioned that if in fact it is a sarcoma, waiting that would be death sentence for my cat, at which point she said "ok, if you really want us to do it we will but...", etc. So, didn't make me feel real confident.

At this point I am trying to STOP the psycho-babble going on in my head and think rationally. I am thinking of taking Moonbat to another clinic today for a second opinion and possibly have it biopsied, depending on what they say.

Last night, I had this overwhelming feeling of sick remorsefullness for not making the right decisions regarding my cat. It needs to stop, I can't allow myself to get dragged into guilt. Funny thing is -- Moonbat doesn't care, she came and got in bed with me last night like always, very content. We do the best we can for our animals and that is all we can do

Stop tormenting yourself. You said it in the last line of your last posting and are just worried.

At least the vet DID give the injection in the proper place, this is done so that in the rare cases of actual sarcoma developing the limb can easily be amputated.

At this point my opinion is-give it 1 week. If it stays exactly the same size, then I would likely get the biopsy, if it shrinks AT ALL, then it's likely NOT sarcoma and will continue to shrink until it's gone.

If in the week it actually grows ANY bigger, then hit the vet as soon as you notice, and get it done.

It will likely shrink, even a small amount tells that it's going to be fine.

I have to agree, a few of the comments made by the vet would haunt me too, I think sometimes a vet speaks from a clinical approach and forgets their speaking about a parent's child so to speak

I certainly know a few like this!

that it shrinks!  But, God forbid that it doesn't, please don't blame yourself.  How could you possibly know?  This is something many of us grabble with...should we or shouldn't we?  What are the risks if we do, or if we don't?  If only we had a crystal ball, but we don't.