metastasis in grace

i have a 16 year old cat, that was diagnosed with breast cancer. two months ago the tumors were surgically removed but they appeared again and in a greater area. i can't think of loosing her, Grace is the love of my life. I have been there for her all these years and she was there for me. I want to do the best for her and if anyone has been in my  situation, please let me know if she should have a second surgeury (her lungs or other organs have not been affected yet) of if there is any other treatment. thank you

I am so sorry that you and Grace are going through this. Here is a pretty recent thread discussing similar situations. I hope it helps you some.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/254947/mammary-cancer-im-so-distraught-right-now

Hi gracegrace and welcome to TCS !

There's an online space where you'll get the very best information, advice and support.....it's a space where almost 4000 people and their cats have gathered since 1999.....a place where everyone has only one focus: managing their cancer-kitties' health. I know that it is where I would be, if I were dealing with this.

You'll find it here: Feline Cancer - for People Whose Cats (may) Have Cancer

    Just click on the blue button Join This Group ....you will need a Yahoo account to participate fully

......and, keep us posted!

I am so sorry you and Grace are going thru this.    After her surgery, did Grace go thru chemo?  What does your Vet say about her having another surgery so soon after the first one?  Does he think it will return again, did he give you any prognosis either way?  How did she recouperate after the first surgery?.

These are all questions that need answering before you can make an informed decision, IMO. 

thank you so much for the immediate reply. Well, the doctor was amazed that the tumors reappeared so soon and suggested removal because as she said that no matter what the outcome will be, if the tumors are not removed they will burst out of grace's skin, creating wounds, bleeding and infection. The doctor also said that chemotherapy is not an option for cats and after reading all these posts and info on internet it makes me wonder about her skills...

meanwhile, Grace has no symptoms of illness and as i look at her i can not believe that she is going through this. it drives me crazy that i dont know what to do to make things right and even more the thought that things will never be right again. i am so much in pain now that she is ok and i dont know how i will deal with it when the time comes when she will not be herself any more, when there will be nothing i can do for her to make her feel better.  i have cared for her all these years and now there is nothing i can do.

Well...I'm wondering if perhaps you need to see another Vet, not necessarily for a 2nd opinion on the cancer diagnoses, but because as you have probably read if you read the above link, because chemo IS given to cats, and usually they tolerate it very well.  Now, it could be that for her particular cancer, your Vet felt chemo would do no good, but were you at least referred to a feline oncologist?  I would think they would be the ones to make that determination.  If nothing else, I would certainly talk to my existing Vet and ask WHY Chemo is not being discussed.

So, she did not have an issue with recovery after her surgery two months ago?  I thought it was normally a pretty invasive surgery with quite a long recovery period. 

Yes, i consulted a feline oncologist who instructed immediate removal and operated on Grace along with my vet. the  biggest tumor had a diameter of 6 cm( carcinoma 1st degree malignant neoplasm that could give metastasis on lungs and lemphoangleia). The ongologist was cautious about the prognosis. The vet told me that because of graces age she does not suggest chemotherapy but antibiotics. Next week l will probably have a second surguery scheduled for grace, but what troubles me is the ordeal i will put her through.

The first time she responded fast, as in 3 weeks she had practically recovered while stitches were removed the second week.   She had no problem with her appetite exept for the first 3 days. yet, there was a small part between the stitches that took some time to heal and  she suffered wearing the collar around her neck for the hours that i was gone to work...

l need to know if it is worth making her go through this again even for a few months of life and if she will be comfortable and have a better quality of life, or else what? i cannot sit around and just watch her cancer killing her day by day... i am so desperate

Gosh, I'm sure this is such a tough decision. The fact that she did really well recovering from the first surgery is good. The fact that the tumors came back so fast is not. Chemo is an option, but generally it's used when surgery is not an option although there are certainly cases where both are used in conjunction.

It's so hard to say what the right thing to do is in these situations. It's so individual and so very personal. I do think that quality of life is more important than quantity of life. Whatever you decide, there's a lot of support here for you. and .

Well, as Vball says, this is really a decision only you can make, based on your gut feeling, discussions with a Vet your trust, and based on Grace herself.  What do you think SHE would want.  Does she have that "will to live"?  I know my cats, and one of them is the happiest little guy I've EVER seen.  And another one is actually kind of mopey .  Always has been.  So if something like this happened to the "mopey" one, I'm not sure if he would have the will to survive two surgeries to close together.  But my other one definitely would. 

Now, as to wearing the cone, could she possibly wear a baby onesy (sp?) instead?  Not sure if that would rub against the wound or not, but might be an option.  Or some sort of a stretchy tube sock sort of thing.  When one of cats (long time ago) had a feeding tube installed directly into his tummy, he wore something like that so he couldn't mess with the tube and it worked very well..  But I'm actually thinking a onesy would be best since there would be no way she could work it up over the wound because of the snaps at the bottom. 

See, like this (see a picture on post #36 of this thread)  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/256930/scared-to-spay-delilah/30

Well, it turns out that l have no options any longer because the tumor has ulcerated Grace's skin and the vet simply imformed me that there is nothing l can do.

l really want to thank you all for the support and the feeling that l am not alone in this. 

l hope l could turn back the time and help her when there was a better chance. i dont know whether i should be glad she is so strong because she will have to suffer through this and what is to follow. but l am really glad l have  her in my life for 17 years, through my ups and downs,the good times and the bad times. for following me around from one room to the other, for sitting in my lap and purring for hours as l worked on my pc, for sleeping with me curled around my neck - (my precious scarf...)on cold winter nights, for all the time we spent together, l love you Grace...

Gosh, I never dreamed those tumors were already that close to ulcerating when you said that was the option if they weren't removed.  Are they operating today?