Dusty has a fibro sarcoma :-(

Dusty is 15, and had a rather fast-growing bump on his shoulder.  Vet removed it last week, and he is recovering pretty well.  Got his appetite back, using the litter box fine, desperately wants out of his "room".  I'm told he needs to stay confined for a minimum of ten days.  It's been seven.

Biopsy came back, of course, not good news.  Aggressive fibro sarcoma, have few options.

1.  Further, more aggressive surgery, where they will have to take a couple of ribs.  Supposedly 11-14% chance of reoccurrence within three years.  This particular vet has never done this; I'm 90 miles from Pittsburgh, PA, where he might have to go.  Cost is probably going to be prohibitive.

2.  Radiation.  Expensive, constant anesthesia for treatments.

3.  Do nothing.  This is the option she wouldn't really go over with me.  I want to know:  how much time would he have before things went completely south?  An educated guess?

I am really upset, and don't know what to do.  The little I've been able to read online gives very few positive outcomes.

Has anyone had experience with this? (I'm sure you have - since these seem to be related to vaccinations, of which I've only ever gotten him rabies-three year)  I don't know if I can put him through further surgery - financially or otherwise.

Are there medications that can help?  Holistic meds? 

He is also hyper-thyroid, and on 10mg of Methimazole.  Don't know if that matters.

Any advice?  Experiences you would like to share?

I am so sorry you are having to go through this with Dusty, my heart goes out to you. I don't have personal experience with it.  If you can at all do it, you might consider getting a consultation with a board certified oncologist to discuss those options, especially the last one and what the quality of life might be for Dusty.  Hugs and prayers for you and Dusty.

Bumping for people who know about Fibro Sarcoma.

My heart goes out to you during this difficult time. My boy Milo succumbed to cancer but a fast moving one where the vet didn't really recommend treatment. Whatever you decide, I hope for the best for Dusty. [emoji]128149[/emoji]

It really ticks me off that vets "know" injections may cause this down the road, and for that reason give shots in the back leg, in the event a sarcoma appears and they can simply remove the leg.  This is craziness!  I don't want my cat losing a leg, either.  What kind of logic is that?  Fix the injections!

I don't know what to do.  Right now he's recovering nicely from the first surgery.  But it's gonna rear it's ugly head, I'm sure.  

threecatowner said:

 

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Based only on the research i have done, the mean survival rate is from 1-3 years using a combo of surgery, radiation and chemo, but some sites suggest radiation is not very effective.  This is usually a soft tissue disease, and while some cats get it from a vaccine related cause, most cases  of fibro sarcoma have other causes.

What isn't clear is why is your vet suggesting bone removal unless the tumor invaded the bone?  Is that what they think happened?

I would get a second opinion if it was me from a board certified oncologist even if that means the 90 mi trip to Pittsburgh.

This disease imo will not be helped holistically, it is as you have discovered, a very dangerous illness, the best prognosis comes from a good and complete removal of the tumor before it has spread.  Links below and i feel for you.

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pe...al-health/fibrosarcoma-and-feline-sarcoid/267

http://www.cat-world.com.au/fibrosarcoma-in-cats

and if there is bone involvement http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/cancer/c_ct_fibrosarcoma_bone

I'm so sorry to hear the news about your Dusty. It's so weird, my whole life I never heard about injections possibly causing this kind of thing until Penelopy got her vax. Then I've heard it so much since then, it's uncanny (even in a book I read!).

It is so hard not to think emotionally. I think a second opinion would help because they can talk with you more about the last option, as was stated previously. I think it ultimately depends on how your cat takes things like frequent trips to the vet, etc. Some cats take treatments and what-not without a huge battle. Others, if not most, get so very stressed out at that kind of thing. There's also his age to consider.

threecatowner said:

 
3.  Do nothing.  This is the option she wouldn't really go over with me.  I want to know:  how much time would he have before things went completely south?  An educated guess?

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I'm so sorry to hear the news about your Dusty..

Osteasarcoma is very similar to fibro sarcoma..

My cat 18 years old died  just three days ago and he had Osteosarcoma bone tumor and hyperthyroid. The tumor was malignant and  sadly the tumor already spread to lungs.. My cat didn't have any change..It was just matter of months when his quality of life decreased to the lowest.. He lost ability walk with his tumor leg and his second leg started to swelling badly... If u are not planning to do anything he can live just few months with palliative treatment..   Radiation add couple of months more...  Sadly surgery is the best treatment for bone cancer and Cats do well with just 3 legs..Even though my cat was old the vet would have been amputated his leg if it was not metastasis..

I'm very sorry.

I can only tell you that radiation and chemo are very hard to go through. They may add some time but it isn't necessarily "good" time.

My thoughts are with you as you hold your little one close during this difficult time. I'm sitting here surrounded by own pets and it scares me to think that this could happen to any of them.

Thank you guys very much for your responses.

We go back to our vet on Monday to get stitches removed from original bump removal. At that time the vet and I will get into further discussion on where to go from here.

Dusty has recovered from this surgery about as well as can be expected, but he was definitely uncomfortable for a few days, and I really believe a more extensive surgery would be extremely tough for him.

With surgery, they would not remove a leg, but they would remove two ribs, and then have to use a specialized mesh - for repair, I guess? The vet and I were only touching on the high points when she called about the biopsy.

Radiation is the one option that is absolutely out. I won't put him through five anesthesias in a week.

Again - thank you all for your responses, and Abbas, I am so sorry for the loss of your kitty.

I realize I never came back to post how this went. The vet and I agreed to do nothing about further treatment, she wanted to re-check about once a month, and we did.

For about six months things went well, the bump hadn't returned. But, starting in May, he began losing about a pound a month. Also being hyper-thyroid, she retested that and upped his med there, in case that was the cause.

As of his birthday, June 1st, he was still enjoying catnip, ice cream, milk, pepperoni, all his favorite treats. Slowly but steadily over the summer, though, he became less and less active. Near the end of summer he stopped being interested in treats, and would only eat half as much food.

I spent TONS on specialty foods for him, trying to stop the weight loss. He was definitely worth it, but his appetite was less each day.

A week ago he seemed dehydrated, so I took him in. He was, and she gave him fluids, stating that if he didn't pick up eating in two days, I should probably let him go. He had also developed a new bump over the summer.

After that, he barely ate or drank, paced, wanted outside (no way was that happening) and on Friday morning he was found, passed away. (Have thread in Bridge forum).

I write this so if anyone else is dealing with fibro sarcoma, you might get some indication of the progression of the disease, particularly in an older kitty.

threecatowner said:

I realize I never came back to post how this went. The vet and I agreed to do nothing about further treatment, she wanted to re-check about once a month, and we did.

For about six months things went well, the bump hadn't returned. But, starting in May, he began losing about a pound a month. Also being hyper-thyroid, she retested that and upped his med there, in case that was the cause.

As of his birthday, June 1st, he was still enjoying catnip, ice cream, milk, pepperoni, all his favorite treats. Slowly but steadily over the summer, though, he became less and less active. Near the end of summer he stopped being interested in treats, and would only eat half as much food.

I spent TONS on specialty foods for him, trying to stop the weight loss. He was definitely worth it, but his appetite was less each day.

A week ago he seemed dehydrated, so I took him in. He was, and she gave him fluids, stating that if he didn't pick up eating in two days, I should probably let him go. He had also developed a new bump over the summer.

After that, he barely ate or drank, paced, wanted outside (no way was that happening) and on Friday morning he was found, passed away. (Have thread in Bridge forum).

I write this so if anyone else is dealing with fibro sarcoma, you might get some indication of the progression of the disease, particularly in an older kitty.

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Thank you for the follow up post.