Not sure if this is where this should go but I wanted to start a thread on Kinko's two month progress as well as have any one else with a cancer kitty to chime in. I have found this site to be very helpful but have never found enough threads. The more information the better I figure and I would love to know how everyone is doing and what challenges they have come up against and what the resolutions have been.
Kinko, 12 years old, small cell GI lymphoma.
Diagnosed during a hairball blockage removal (biopsies taken). Had to have a second hairball surgery the day after his first surgery's stitches were removed.
His first two weeks were rough. Vomitting and a disinterest in food. We started him on Mirtazapine and Dolasetron in his SubQ fluids. I should mention he was also put on daily SubQs (100ml). Also became constipated so Buprenorphine prescribed to help ease the pain he was in.
Around that time he also caught a bacterial infection that caused him to cough (not sneeze and no discharge) and completely lose his voice. A week of Clavamox didn't work but another week of Azythromycin helped. Within two days the cough was gone and his voice was back. Around this time we also noticed fluid retention, but it self regulated in a few days.
Otherwise from July to mid September he has had a very healthy appetite and gained weight steadily. He is now completely shaved so as not to get another hairball. But two weeks ago I noticed him increasing his water intake from 4oz to 8-12oz daily. He seemed completely happy and this appetite was up.
Took him to a new oncologist on Monday and he had elevated BUN and Creatine levels. Also had bacteria in the urine but it couldn't be cultivated. Stayed overnight to get fluids and antibiotics. While in the ER he once again retained fluid. Poor little guy has come home with a large belly and seems unhappy though willing to eat and cuddle. Had an ultrasound done of his kidneys and urinary tract to make sure there was no blockage, signs of lymphoma, or infection. Negative on all three - kidneys were just slightly larger than usual.
Since today his routine had been:
Day 1 AM:
Prednisolone (2.5mg)
Mirtazapine (3.75mg)
Pepcid (2.5mg)
Probiotics (1/8tsp)
Miralax (1/8tsp)
Aluminum Hydroxide (2ml)
Day 1 PM:
Prednisolone (2.5mg)
Pepcid (2.5mg)
Miralax (1/8tsp)
Aluminum Hydroxide (2ml)
Day 2 AM:
Prednisolone (2.5mg)
Cerenia (8mg)
Pepcid (2.5mg)
Probiotics (1/8tsp)
Miralax (1/8tsp)
Aluminum Hydroxide (2ml)
Day 2 PM:
Prednisolone (2.5mg)
Pepcid (2.5mg)
Miralax (1/8tsp)
Leukeran (unsure of dose right now)
Aluminum Hydroxide (2ml)
Day 3 AM:
Prednisolone (2.5mg)
Buprenorphine (.2ml)
Pepcid (2.5mg)
Probiotics (1/8tsp)
Miralax (1/8tsp)
Aluminum Hydroxide (2ml)
Day 3 PM:
Prednisolone (2.5mg)
Pepcid (2.5mg)
Miralax (1/8tsp)
Aluminum Hydroxide (2ml)
The vet is concerned that the Prednisolone is causing his kidneys to be enlarged as well as the increased thirst and fluid retention. She has asked me to take him off everything but the Pepcid, Miralax, Leukeran (every third day), and now Budesonide (1mg/ml) daily.
So how are all your kitties responding to the chemo? Have you found anything that helps?
Kinko, 12 years old, small cell GI lymphoma.
Diagnosed during a hairball blockage removal (biopsies taken). Had to have a second hairball surgery the day after his first surgery's stitches were removed.
His first two weeks were rough. Vomitting and a disinterest in food. We started him on Mirtazapine and Dolasetron in his SubQ fluids. I should mention he was also put on daily SubQs (100ml). Also became constipated so Buprenorphine prescribed to help ease the pain he was in.
Around that time he also caught a bacterial infection that caused him to cough (not sneeze and no discharge) and completely lose his voice. A week of Clavamox didn't work but another week of Azythromycin helped. Within two days the cough was gone and his voice was back. Around this time we also noticed fluid retention, but it self regulated in a few days.
Otherwise from July to mid September he has had a very healthy appetite and gained weight steadily. He is now completely shaved so as not to get another hairball. But two weeks ago I noticed him increasing his water intake from 4oz to 8-12oz daily. He seemed completely happy and this appetite was up.
Took him to a new oncologist on Monday and he had elevated BUN and Creatine levels. Also had bacteria in the urine but it couldn't be cultivated. Stayed overnight to get fluids and antibiotics. While in the ER he once again retained fluid. Poor little guy has come home with a large belly and seems unhappy though willing to eat and cuddle. Had an ultrasound done of his kidneys and urinary tract to make sure there was no blockage, signs of lymphoma, or infection. Negative on all three - kidneys were just slightly larger than usual.
Since today his routine had been:
Day 1 AM:
Prednisolone (2.5mg)
Mirtazapine (3.75mg)
Pepcid (2.5mg)
Probiotics (1/8tsp)
Miralax (1/8tsp)
Aluminum Hydroxide (2ml)
Day 1 PM:
Prednisolone (2.5mg)
Pepcid (2.5mg)
Miralax (1/8tsp)
Aluminum Hydroxide (2ml)
Day 2 AM:
Prednisolone (2.5mg)
Cerenia (8mg)
Pepcid (2.5mg)
Probiotics (1/8tsp)
Miralax (1/8tsp)
Aluminum Hydroxide (2ml)
Day 2 PM:
Prednisolone (2.5mg)
Pepcid (2.5mg)
Miralax (1/8tsp)
Leukeran (unsure of dose right now)
Aluminum Hydroxide (2ml)
Day 3 AM:
Prednisolone (2.5mg)
Buprenorphine (.2ml)
Pepcid (2.5mg)
Probiotics (1/8tsp)
Miralax (1/8tsp)
Aluminum Hydroxide (2ml)
Day 3 PM:
Prednisolone (2.5mg)
Pepcid (2.5mg)
Miralax (1/8tsp)
Aluminum Hydroxide (2ml)
The vet is concerned that the Prednisolone is causing his kidneys to be enlarged as well as the increased thirst and fluid retention. She has asked me to take him off everything but the Pepcid, Miralax, Leukeran (every third day), and now Budesonide (1mg/ml) daily.
So how are all your kitties responding to the chemo? Have you found anything that helps?
