- Joined
- Nov 15, 2013
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I am new to this site so a big hello to fellow cat lovers.
My cat's name is Rocket; he's around 9 years old, indoor, long-hair, and neutered. My wife and I are non-smokers.
Two weeks ago I took Rocket to a vet because he was limping, the vet noticed that Rocket has abdominal breathing and suggested that there's more going on. X-ray was done and found that there's no damage with his legs and paws but...allow me to quote from the report.
"There is a heterogenous irregularly-shaped mineral mass within the mid dorsal portion of the 6th and 7th right rib. Normal rib cortex is obscured within this region." "Aggressive osseous lesion within right 6th and 7th ribs likely represent metastasis. Primary osseous neoplasia or less likely prior trauma and callous formation cannot be ruled out."
"The left kidney is mildly small and undulating in contour. The right kidney is moderately misshapen secondary to approx. 4cm in diameter soft tissue mass within cranial pole."
With that, we decided to to ultrasound, along with full bloodwork and urin test, to further investigate. Allow me to quote the report.
"The right kidney presented a 2.0+ cmsignificantly vascular mass that was deriving from the cranial cortex. This destroyed the cortcomedullary junction. The left kidney presented capsular expansion and nodular mass that was deriving from the cranial pole.The left kidney mass measured 1.42 cm. The left kidney itself measured 3.98 cm. Pericapsular inflammatory pattern was noted around both kidneys. This suggestive for an aggssive, expansive process." "No abnormal lymphatic activity was noted in gastrointestinal tract and the abdomen was free of masses and pathological fluid."
Rocket is negative for FIV and FeLV. He has some crystals in his pee and we have since changed his diet.
The vet concluded that Rocket does indeed have lymphoma and suggested that chemo was the only way to buy time. I even went to another vet for a second opinion but unfortunately, the second vet told me the same thing with an even grimmer picture.
Rocket spends all day in the walk-in closet that we have in our apartment barely moving except to stretch or change position. He barely eats but drinks a bit because of the new food. When he ventures does out of the closet, he walks slowly and somtimes almost seems cautiously to avoid falling over, unlike his former rocket-like speed. Rocket doesn't jump onto cat trees anymore and he doesn't jump onto our bed to sleep with us anymore. He still shows affection and purrs (not always) when we brush/ pet him though.
I am going back to talk to the vet on Sunday morning to talk about some form of treatment. I don't think my wife and I can afford the $4000~$5000 chemotherapy. The vet told me the other day that we can at least give Rocket some prednisone and possibly pain-killers. Let me clarify, I do have some savings that can cover the $5000 plus but we are having a baby next March so I am torn between saving Rocket or buying further baby supplies. I have been worried sick about Rocket for the past 2 weeks and been crying for the last 3 day because I feel so helpless.
I need suggestions please.
Steven
sorry for the long post
My cat's name is Rocket; he's around 9 years old, indoor, long-hair, and neutered. My wife and I are non-smokers.
Two weeks ago I took Rocket to a vet because he was limping, the vet noticed that Rocket has abdominal breathing and suggested that there's more going on. X-ray was done and found that there's no damage with his legs and paws but...allow me to quote from the report.
"There is a heterogenous irregularly-shaped mineral mass within the mid dorsal portion of the 6th and 7th right rib. Normal rib cortex is obscured within this region." "Aggressive osseous lesion within right 6th and 7th ribs likely represent metastasis. Primary osseous neoplasia or less likely prior trauma and callous formation cannot be ruled out."
"The left kidney is mildly small and undulating in contour. The right kidney is moderately misshapen secondary to approx. 4cm in diameter soft tissue mass within cranial pole."
With that, we decided to to ultrasound, along with full bloodwork and urin test, to further investigate. Allow me to quote the report.
"The right kidney presented a 2.0+ cmsignificantly vascular mass that was deriving from the cranial cortex. This destroyed the cortcomedullary junction. The left kidney presented capsular expansion and nodular mass that was deriving from the cranial pole.The left kidney mass measured 1.42 cm. The left kidney itself measured 3.98 cm. Pericapsular inflammatory pattern was noted around both kidneys. This suggestive for an aggssive, expansive process." "No abnormal lymphatic activity was noted in gastrointestinal tract and the abdomen was free of masses and pathological fluid."
Rocket is negative for FIV and FeLV. He has some crystals in his pee and we have since changed his diet.
The vet concluded that Rocket does indeed have lymphoma and suggested that chemo was the only way to buy time. I even went to another vet for a second opinion but unfortunately, the second vet told me the same thing with an even grimmer picture.
Rocket spends all day in the walk-in closet that we have in our apartment barely moving except to stretch or change position. He barely eats but drinks a bit because of the new food. When he ventures does out of the closet, he walks slowly and somtimes almost seems cautiously to avoid falling over, unlike his former rocket-like speed. Rocket doesn't jump onto cat trees anymore and he doesn't jump onto our bed to sleep with us anymore. He still shows affection and purrs (not always) when we brush/ pet him though.
I am going back to talk to the vet on Sunday morning to talk about some form of treatment. I don't think my wife and I can afford the $4000~$5000 chemotherapy. The vet told me the other day that we can at least give Rocket some prednisone and possibly pain-killers. Let me clarify, I do have some savings that can cover the $5000 plus but we are having a baby next March so I am torn between saving Rocket or buying further baby supplies. I have been worried sick about Rocket for the past 2 weeks and been crying for the last 3 day because I feel so helpless.
I need suggestions please.
Steven
sorry for the long post
