Seeking advice/stories on treating lymphoma

I've posted before about my cat's congestion issues. After a biopsy procedure today, it is very likely that the real issue is lymphoma. We are awaiting the full biopsy results to know for sure and to know the type of lymphoma. I have already ruled out possible radiation. The other options would be intravenous chemotherapy (unless oral drugs are possible, but the oncologist said that would be unlikely due to the location of the lymphoma), or oral steroids.

I'm obviously going to wait for the biopsy results before I decide but I did want to seek stories/advice from those who have dealt with this in their cats.

My guy is about 11 years old. He is currently eating and drinking and seems OK, aside from a lot of head shaking and scratching. His eyes are wonky from the tumor but he appears to still have sight. He has lost weight recently but he has also been on a diet because he is overweight.

Greysalt said:

 
I've posted before about my cat's congestion issues. After a biopsy procedure today, it is very likely that the real issue is lymphoma. We are awaiting the full biopsy results to know for sure and to know the type of lymphoma. I have already ruled out possible radiation. The other options would be intravenous chemotherapy (unless oral drugs are possible, but the oncologist said that would be unlikely due to the location of the lymphoma), or oral steroids.

I'm obviously going to wait for the biopsy results before I decide but I did want to seek stories/advice from those who have dealt with this in their cats.

My guy is about 11 years old. He is currently eating and drinking and seems OK, aside from a lot of head shaking and scratching. His eyes are wonky from the tumor but he appears to still have sight. He has lost weight recently but he has also been on a diet because he is overweight.

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I'm so sorry for your news.  If its large cell lymphoma then my understanding is that the prognosis is poor regardless of treatments.  Steroids are probably the most tolerated treatment, but the focus may need to be on keep your cat comfortable for as long as possible.

I'm so sorry Greysalt.  My 15 year old cat was also just diagnosed with large cell lymphoma.  It is absolutely heartbreaking.

In my case, I am in the process of deciding about chemo vs steroid treatment.  The vet's steer is that he is quite elderly and has some comorbidities and that chemo won't buy him extra time sufficient to be worth the brutal effect on his little body.  At present, I am thinking that steroids are a kinder and gentler way through this.

I just don't want him to be in pain or to suffer.  He has been the best cat ever to me.  

Greysalt said:

 
I did want to seek stories/advice from those who have dealt with this in their cats.

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Hi Greysalt !

There is a specialized online community of people who are and who have been dealing with Feline Lymphoma for years and years - since 1998 -  (and there are such specialized groups for almost every other chronic feline disease/condition)......from my own personal experience these groups tend to be the best source of accurate and up-to-date treatment information.....more to the point, if I were in your shoes, I'd be putting my questions to those people.

That group of people can be found here: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/feline_lymphoma/info

This is their website: http://felinelymphoma.org/cms/index.php

Many people equate side effects of cancer treatment in humans with those in cats.....but, everything I have read suggests that cats "weather" treatment very differently from humans - much easier. But, again, I'd be guided by experienced caregivers.

Thank you all for the kind words.

StephenQ, we are still waiting to see if it is large or small cell lymphoma. He's on his second day of prednisolone and seems OK. I think his eye is improving a little bit (he has a droopy left eyelid). His appetite is certainly good.

Shovetheholly, I meant to comment on your post. We seem to unfortunately be in similar situations. I know how you feel about your guy. I am still waiting for the lab results before deciding on chemo vs. steroids. I hope to have some information soon.

Whiteshadow, thank you for the link to the website. I will join the Yahoo group.The oncologist did confirm that feline chemo treatment is not as harsh as human chemo treatment. I will certainly keep that in mind as a positive when I make my decision.

The vet confirmed that he has large-cell lymphoma. On the other hand, his blood work was good and the vet said he was otherwise in good health. I must admit that I am leaning towards at least trying chemotherapy because he is currently in decent shape and that can contribute to the potential outcome. Additionally, I only have to pay per treatment, which would be a big help. With radiation, I'd have to leave a 60% deposit (on a total cost of $6,000) prior to starting treatment. The vet also confirmed that one generally gets a sense of how well chemo will work within a few treatments so I could always stop if it didn't seem to be helping.

Greysalt, I completely understand what you're going thru.  Tippy, my 18 year old was diagnosed last September optical sarcoma.  I and my vet decided that quality of life took precedence over quantity of life.  He's already gone past  the life expectancy of this horrible disease.   At this time, he is on prednsone with a pepcid ac chaser,  gabapentin for pain and a couple of medications for his eye affected by the tumor behind it.  But he's eating, drinking, pooping, peeing, playing and singing to his pink fuzzy ball.  I know it's hard but you have to be the human in this situation and make the right decision for him. 

Greysalt said:

The vet confirmed that he has large-cell lymphoma. On the other hand, his blood work was good and the vet said he was otherwise in good health. I must admit that I am leaning towards at least trying chemotherapy because he is currently in decent shape and that can contribute to the potential outcome. Additionally, I only have to pay per treatment, which would be a big help. With radiation, I'd have to leave a 60% deposit (on a total cost of $6,000) prior to starting treatment. The vet also confirmed that one generally gets a sense of how well chemo will work within a few treatments so I could always stop if it didn't seem to be helping.

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Well the good news it is large cell, not squamous cell. And that's exactly what we did. We consulted an oncologist and opted to start treatment. We figured we could always stop, but if we didn't try we'd never know. Thankfully, our Lazlo responded very well to treatment, and with the supporting therapy (pred, cerenia for nausea, and mirtazipine for appetite, though some kitties do better with cypro), he just got better and better, basically. It was hard on my husband and I, taking him every week, as the oncologist was 1.5 hours away (one-way, no traffic :lol3: ). But it was all worth it for us. On January 30, we will celebrate 3 years in remission. :cross:

Lazlo had a mass in his stomach. If the location of your kitty's mass is the same CHOP treatment, the last chemotherapy drug of the cycle is the hardest on them, but even that just meant 2 or 3 days of clearly feeling a bit off. As the cycles are four treatments once a week, a week off, and that's for two months, and then they move to every-other-week, that meant a few days of definitely feeling off once a month for two months, then once every two months for four months.

The reason kitties usually tolerate chemo well is because they are given less per body weight than people are. And if you work with an oncologist as opposed to your local vet, they will tailor the treatment to your cat, the bloodwork, and how kitty feels. Doses were adjusted, if he was a bit anemic, we'd skip a treatment that week.... it is all very tailored and the focus is very much on the comfort of your cat.