Advice About Chemo For Kitty With Lymphoma

I apologize for replying to this after the fact... but i'm seeking advice and it seems some of you know what i am going through.

My cat Rex is 16 (his birthday was sunday, actually).

a few weeks ago he began vomiting. a lot. so i took him in. the vet thought upper GI or Kidney Disease.

We had to wait for the help of an internist so we took that week and found that he was keeping human baby food down. i was being sure to buy the kind that was meat and water as the only ingredients.

his attitude and appetite seem normal. the vomiting stopped.

he drinks a LOT of water. his creatinine was at 2.9 so she was sure it was kidney disease.

yesterday during his ultrasound the internist said no, its lymphoma. his intestines were inflammed, his kidneys showed inflammation and most of all his lymphnodes were VERY enlarged.

She wants to do a biopsy this week to determine the kind of lymphoma.

i'm hesitant to put him through more tests at his age.

i'm also hesitant to consider chemo at his age.

i could really use some advice here...

has anyone experienced chemo with a cat as old as rex? being that he's showing so little signs of change so far i'd hate to make him ill with chemo - i want his final time to good to him. but if chemo will buy him more time and not make him sicker i'm willing to try it....

any thoughts/input is SO appreciated....

THANK YOU.

I am so sorry re your Kitty diagnosis. I apoligize for not reading all the responses so possibly someone has already given you advice re essiac . I do not feel qualified to comment on its efficacy or effectiveness in cats but as a clinical oncologist for humans who also teaches at a med school and does research, I would not rely on it.

It is a herbal product -and while I like many herbal products for my own cats (rescue remedy et al), this one has been tested and rejected by several countries.

No significant peer reviewed studies have revealed it to be anti cancer or engaging the immune system. Sloan Kettering -the highly regarded cancer centre in NYC conducted a study on mice with various types of cancer and none responses to this herbal combination. The National Cancer Assn (USA) studied it on mice with leukemia and they all died..

There are excellent anti neoplastic meds out there for chemotherapy in cats and one writer gave you excellent advice in noting most cats do extremely well with various regimine. Their systems seem to cope better with the drugs -mist of the drugs and most cats -than humans. They may become nauseated but it is not what we think of when we consider chemist. Also, there are some really good anti nausea drugs on the market now and cats respond really well to them too!! They also require less heavy duty opiates for severe pain than we do even when one accounts for kitty's hiding their pain. There are ways of determining pain in a cat. Not as precise as in humans obviously but useful. I sometimes help a local vet friend with her cancer patients and these cats are just amazing!! They react well to treatment and again I have to be cautious and say it depends on the cancer type (cancer ia not one illness -it is about 200 classifications of disease that all have in common abnormal cellular growth usually the result of a mutation that could be generations back, a virus and /or genetics. I too would seek a 2 nd opinion. There are organizations that help pet owners (tho I know no one owns a cat! !) . Best of luck. Ny thoughts and prayers are with you and your Kitty whatever you decide. Only you know your cat!!

Hi latriciastar and welcome to TCS!

What I'm going to suggest is exactly what I would do - if I were in your position.

There is a specialized online group of people with only one focus: managing Lymphoma in their kitties. They've been around for 15 years and have had about 3000 members....so, they have a huge collective experience - and, they're familiar with the latest in treatments and knowledgeable about drug trials, etc. I'd copy and paste my story to them.

You'll find the group here: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/feline_lymphoma/

I'd recommend that you get a separate new Yahoo email addy before joining - it will help you manage the messages there - email is the platform used by the group.

From everything I've read of other peoples' experiences, cats can do really well with chemo - but, you'll get the best info & advice from the group.
 

Keep us posted!

How is his health otherwise? Chemotherapy in animals is quite different than chemo in people: it's managed for quality of life, not length of life. :heart2: Our Lazlo was only 9 when diagnosed with large cell lymphoma. He was given four weeks to live without treatment. We opted to try it, at least to see..... for us, it was a blessing. Lazlo's cancer went into remission. We had our ups and downs during the treatments, but with supporting therapy of steroids, anti-nausea meds, an appetite stimulant, assist-feeding during the first weeks, and then supportive assist-feeding as necessary, he completed the chemo, and his cancer went into remission. The end of this month, we'll be celebrating 14 months of remission, knock wood. Other don't have such happy endings. :heart3:

I would definitely give this a read. It's a blog post by a canine oncologist, addressing the question, "Can a dog be too old for cancer treatments?" Of course, it applies equally well for cats.

http://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedaily...-be-too-old-for-cancer-treatment#.UWS2cFeP4ug

for you and your kitty. :rub:

Hi and I am so sorry that your kitty has been diagnosed with lymphoma.

I think the issue of chemo is a tricky one and it depends on the health of your cat, not its age, the vets advice of what you can expect and whether you are committed to the process. I say this having just been through it.

Whilst my girl passed away from lymphoma only 4 days ago, I am not anti-chemo. It didn't work for her but I don't think that is indicative as I know it has been a great outcome for LDG.

Ask lots of questions, do lots of research and whatever you decide know its what you think is best for your kitty.

Good luck and let us know how you go xo

Hello,

I'm so sorry to hear about your kitty.  All I can offer is my experience with my Jill - she does not have lymphoma, so the chemo might be a different type, and she is not 16, she is 8.  Jill has osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and her leg was amputated one month prior to starting chemo, so I was hesitant to do it, because I figured she had been through so much already.  She is actually having her last round of chemo today!  She has been on a combo of carboplatin and doxorubicin and has handled it AMAZINGLY.  We've had to postpone chemo twice because her white blood cells were too low, but there were no visible side effects from that.  Other than that, shes had no side effects at all.

Please let me know if you have any questions that I can personally answer for you.

Erica

I'm very sorry to hear this. It is a rough thing to find out. First of all I would go to the community that was recommended above. What I am about to say doesn't even really matter but I feel it is something you should hear.

I'm not here to give you any advice I just want to tell you something that I do know about chemo treatments that you should think about. Just like humans some cats respond well to chemo and some do not. When they don't respond well it is an absolutely horrid thing to experience. Instead of just losing your good friend you get to watch them slowly crumble and it is an extremely heartbreaking thing you  and Rex both get to experience. After you get advice from the people at that community you need to sit down and think about what is really the best choice for Rex, not the best choice for you.

thanks for all of the advice guys...

Here's where we stand:

Rex had his lymph nodes aspirated today. that will tell us if its small cell or large cell lymphoma. then we can pursue treatments.

to answer a few questions:

He's 16, but VERY perky. Even today after the procedure he was jumping around and loving on the doctor. he plays well, he eats farely well - mostly baby food for the past couple of weeks because it seems to be what he doesnt vomit up easily. drinks a LOT of water. a little more lethargic than usual, and his coat is losing luster. he has lost about half a pound total in the past 6 weeks or so.

that said: though he's older i feel like there is so much potential for him to have some time here with us still because he's not acting like hes really sick yet...

and no fear, Docsicnarf - i am honest with myself about his age and the potential risks of his treatment options. i have been doing a LOT of research and have 4 vets all working with him to make sure its a team decision and not my selfishness speaking. i'll let him go when i need to - however i want to know i tried all i could to help him. but its about quality of life not quantity...

so tomorrow we find out the type of lymphoma and go from there... I have 4 other cats so i'll be introducing myself and them in the new cats area and i look forward to chatting more with you all...

thanks again.

latriciastar said:

....he eats farely well - mostly baby food for the past couple of weeks...a little more lethargic than usual, and his coat is losing luster. he has lost about half a pound total in the past 6 weeks or so............

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Re: the bolded portion above.........personally, I would see that as the result of a diminished/degraded food intake......yes, I know the babyfood was initially all that he could "keep down', but...babyfood, while a lifesaver at times, is no substitute for long-term maintenance - and, I know that you know this, so, what I'm saying is more of a 'heads-up/reminder' kind of thing. I think I'd be considering adding in, gradually, something like Hill's a/d (pure fat & protein). BUT, I'd first be asking folks with actual current experience about this  - folks like those in that specialized group.

He's 16, but VERY perky. Even today after the procedure he was jumping around and loving on the doctor. he plays well...

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THAT is what I think you can support, maintain and promote with a more robust food regimen.

Latric,

Good to hear he is going well with the vet visits. The food issue is a huge problem and one to get under control ASAP. I know with my girl I thought her lack of appetite and missing meals would be okay in the overall scheme but so quickly their weight will decline nd along with it, their energy and spirit.

We needed to get the high calorie food and syringe feed a lot just to keep her energy levels up.

I hope you take this in the spirit in which it is given, it is not meant to be negative but a realistic view of my experiences. We took every day as it came and each day monitored her sleep, food intake, energy, bathroom habits and adjusted our schedule of care accordingly.

Try to get your baby's strength up before the chemo starts and give him hug hugs!

Lots of love.

Hello all. Wanted to give an update. We are feeding Rex anything he will want at this point. His weight has decreased a little but he seems hungry often. They have started steroid therapy and it seems to have increased his eating. We aren't just doin baby food - though it's what he could keep down only at the beginning, over the past week he has had interest in dry kibble, canned food an even begged for dinner from the table. So we have a schedule where we are providing kibble all day and the other options about every 3 hours.

The steroids seem to give him some increased energy and hunger. The past few nights he has "hunted" for toy mice so it seems a good sign.

We go in this mornin for blood work to be sure his levels are good and his kidneys are staying where they were. Crossing our fingers for good results

That's great news! So glad to hear he is eating again. Savour every moment of being with him xo

Rex has crossed the Bridge.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/259761/rex-and-i-thank-you-guys