Cancer or not? Leukeran symptoms? Has your cat had these symptoms?

Hi.   Our Cat (Dana - 12 yrs old) was diagnosed with kidney issues. The vet has since decided that perhaps her real problem is cancer (since the kidney cre and bun levels were not all that high). The vet is also thinking, though, that the bloodwork numbers that indicate cancer are not that high either.

Our cat's symptoms is weight loss (5 lbs in 2 years). She is quite thin right now and has muscle loss and weak hind legs. She doesn't eat too much unless we do "room service" - then she eats it all up really fast. ("Room Service" is when we bring it to her and she sits up and gobbles it.) She was also getting lethargic, sleeping in different places than usual, anti-social.

Vet has gone with a diagnosis of slow growing "gut disease" (lymphoma) and has prescribed 2 mg of Leukeran 2x a week and 1 1/2 pred daily. She is now really, really lethargic and stares off. Sometimes she gets bursts of energy. She will still eat a good amount - sometimes on her own - sometimes via "room service". We cut her back to 1 pred daily - but she is still out of it.

We're not liking the side effects of the drugs - especially when we're not really sure it is cancer. Has anyone had a similar situation where the numbers aren't really high enough to indicate cancer or kidney disease - yet their cat is having these symptoms?

Also, has anyone else used Leukeran and then had it be successful - with your cat now in remission? Was your cat lethargic the whole time? Our vet indicated that she would be on the drugs the rest of her life and that there are NO side affects. We can't be the first to see this in our cat....

Any thoughts or feedback would be most appreciated.

Have they done an ultrasound, or taken a biopsy? Those are the only ways to be sure it is cancer.

Has your cat's thyroid been checked.  You need  a sure diagnosis

Here is some information on chlorambucil (Leukeran): http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1328&S=2

My question is, why would your vet start your kitty on chemo without knowing for sure it is cancer..?

Hi everyone and thanks for your replies.  Her thyroid has been checked and it is fine.

There have been xrays of her lungs taken but no further tests.  The reason why we chose to not go further in testing  is we lost a cat just about a year ago and put him through so much discomfort going through ultra sound and biopsies and in the end they still weren't sure.  We swore never to do that again.   He ended up dieing and they weren't ever really sure what it was - even after he spent his last months going through tests, etc.

Our vet is a phd and vet and has been doing this a while so she is 95% sure - but she also told us there would be no side effects to the medication and so far we're seeing that isn't completely true.  Dana is very lethargic right now and it seems worse after she has taken the meds. 

Just wondering if anyone else has had similar situations and found out that it was something other than cancer, thryroid or ib.

ydono, one question first, if you don't mind. Why X-rays of the lungs? Any specific reason?

Difficulty breathing, crackling, or any other lung sounds that are not normal, etc? What was the specific reason for these X-rays?

I have to apologize before I go on because you won't like what i have to say any more than I do, but it has to be said.

With severe weight loss, certain tests are necessary. Complete blood work (chemistry profile, CBC), chest X-rays, abdominal X-rays, ultrasound of the chest and abdominal cavity, specific tests for heart disease, specific test for pancreatitis, are the most necessary basics, absolute musts. None of these tests are stressful for cats. They are non-invasive tests that cause no unnecessary stress for cats that absolutely have to have diagnostic tests to find out why they are sick.

Also, are there any other symptoms? Loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, etc? Any very noticeable change in the condition of the coat? Abdominal or other pain?

Any palpable enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen or anywhere else?

Any palpable thickening of the intestines?

Many times vets do things based on experience but still, there have to be definite signs they go by that can be explained. And there have to be test results. What is the basis for your vet's treatment?

Now I come to the point I hate to mention. Leukeran is no cure for (intestinal) cancer. If side effects don't interfere, it can buy some time. But that's about all.

If I were you, I would insist on doing very thorough testing in an effort to find the cause for your baby's weight loss. Some kind of cancer may or may not be the underlying cause. The fact is, you can't afford not to do your best to find out.

There are many treatments for intestinal cancer in cats. None can be, should ever be used without a definitive diagnosis.

Perhaps you should go to an internal medicine specialist for additional testing and advice. 

PS

And one more question. You mention kidney issues. Do you have tests results that show how bad these issues are? What is being done about them? Kidney issues, except cancers and some other very serious, irreversible diseases affecting the kidneys are highly treatable and treating them is worth every effort because treatment can extend life several years. 

thanks for your reply. I am not at all surprised that you said what you did. We just went through an experience like this with our other cat. We went to specialists, they tested him all kinds of ways, and at every juncture, there were still question marks. Our cat died within a month - spent his last month very uncomfortable (even the ultrasound made him very, very sore) and in the end - we don't know what he died of. So, this is why we are being reserved.We just had a second vet (whom we trust very much cause he saved Dana already once - but we do not live by him anymore) looked at her records and he is also stumped. He said her numbers give the impression that she is a very healthy cat. Kidney number is only slightly elevated, whatever number in bloodwork that indicates cancer is also just ever so slightly elevated. Thyroid is fine. He came up with some mostly "undiagnosed" issues but she didn't really fit into any of their profiles.Current vet felt Dana and didn't feel lumps. Actually, I do think I remember her saying she felt a thickening somewhere - can't remember now (I think the gut). She did not say that gut disease (as she calls it) is curable. Just that she could easily live 2-5 years. For a cat that is 12 - that isn't bad. We just don't want her feeling like **** (excuse my french) for that period of time cause the vet seems to think she'll be on the drugs that whole time perhaps. I think vet had concerns that it might be lungs because Dana was breathing heavy when she was there but that turned out to be nerves cause she doesn't do it at home.Now that Dana is on pred she is eating like crazy - well, combination of us bringing to her and her going to the food herself.So it is a mystery and I was hoping maybe someone out there might have experienced a similar set of circumstances.We're due to go back in a few days to weigh Dana and we'll talk wtih the vet. I'll ask her about some of the issues you raised - although I have a feeling she already considered them.I do hear what you're saying and we certainly will consider further investigating if she doesn't begin to gain weight soon.

I forgot to ask - are you saying the Leukeran/Pred is not the proper treatment for intestinal cancer (which I'm thinking is the same as "gut disease" as our vet calls it)?

In answer to your question, prednisone can treat severe intestinal inflammation, cholangiohepatitis, pancreatitis, and it can be helpful in treating intestinal lymphoma. Normally diagnostics leave no doubt as to the cause of the condition having to be treated, even though sometimes lymphoma can be difficult to diagnose.

Leukeran is a specific cancer treatment, prescribed only after a definitive cancer diagnosis has been made either by ultrasound or surgical biopsy.

You'll find some good information in this article

http://vetconfidential.typepad.com/vetconfidential/2009/10/inflammatory-bowel-disease-in-cats-ibd-1.html

I'd just like to add that an abdominal ultrasound does not cause pain or soreness, it's a totally painless, non-invasive, quick exam.

Oh, you might also want to read these case studies for information

http://felinelymphomacaregivers.org/cases.html