Cindy and Chemo - does anyone have any experience with the drug Lomustine?

We met with the oncologist today.  Cindy is still up there at the hospital getting a baseline ultrasound, blood test (CBC panel?) and her stitches removed.  If the tests look good, he may start the chemo today.  The oncologist's recommendation for treatment is Lomustine.  We are going over at 4:30 to talk with our vet - she has a cat who has been through this treatment - just to see what she can tell us about it and the treatment in general.  Meantime, if anyone has any eperience with it, I'd love to hear.

I'm about frazzled. I was okay until the Dr. took Cindy out of the room to get her checked in, then I started 

Poor little sweetie has been through so much these past few months.

I don't know the drug, but found this: http://www.wedgewoodpetrx.com/learn...-monographs/lomustine-for-veterinary-use.html

Looks like it's the first line of treatment in mast cell tumors. :nod:

Aw hun.... !!!!!!

Thanks for the link LDG.  We have a paper we got from the oncologist listing the potential dangers, and we also spoke at length with our primary vet yesterday.  She has a cat who had mast cell who was treated with this drug, and 2+ years later he is doing great.  Her kitty was a whole lot sicker to start with. He was throwing up constantly and they couldn't figure out why.  Finally it got to the point where it was either watch him die or do exploratory surgery. When they went in, they found the a small tumor which turned out to be mast cell. He also nearly died from bleeding after the surgery, and had to have an emergency transfusion.  From her experience, her kitty didn't have any side effects and did great on the drug. 

We have to have bloodwork done for Cindy every week this month, and the 4th week she gets another chemo treatment.  So far last night and today, she seems fine.  Not even freaking out trying to hide.  We do have to give her Pred and and Famotidine every day, and she's not happy about that.

I'm sorry she's not good about being pilled. I assume you've tried pill pockets or butter or something? When I stopped pilling Flowerbelle, I found that if I put down a small piece of treat, she gobbles that up, I put down another one, she gobbles that up, I put down the pill covered in pill pocket stuff (I don't use the whole thing), she gobbles it up - because she knows I'm going to put down another piece of treat. (I did that a few times a day - 4 treats in a row that I knew she'd eat). :dk:

But that's great she seems to be feeling so well after her treatment! And VERY encouraging news about your vet's kitty!!!! :rub:

We don't really have a problem pilling her, but she doesn't like it   I don't imagine any cat does.   She won't eat the pill pockets, with or without pill in them. I have occasionally crushed a pill and put it in her food, but that's hit or miss.  Now Swanie, he's impossible to pill.  He did eat the pill pocket once, but he chewed it and the next time I offered him a pill pocket (without pill) he wouldn't get near it.  I guess he was thinking, the outside is tasty, but that's one nasty center

Cindy's sleeping .. but she's been eating, drinking, and using the litter, and hasn't vomited .. so I'll assume she's okay.