Need help. Cat diagnosed with aggressive cancer with no options

I am desperate for any type of help or suggestions. 

My cat Rascal was just diagnosed with a vaccine related Fibrosarcoma between his shoulder blades. I have been to 3 specialists and we have been given very few options.

My vet told us we had no options. Out second opinion highly suggested the aggresive surgery. My boy is 16 years old though and my heart just cant put him through this type of surgery which would require removing muscle and ribs in his back with a very large incision. He isn't in pain right now and this surgery would be very hard on him, in my opinion. 

I looked for another opinion from a holistic vet and she seemed to only want to sell me things from her office. I have done so much research these past few weeks since his diagnosis and was hoping to run options by her. She didnt seem interested to hear anything i researched and instead just was set on selling me hundreds of dollars worth of her herbs. I did end up going with t because I am so desperate but I was really hoping she would give me insight and help on helping me integrate other ides but in a safe manner.

Basically, I am desperate for trying to do whatever possible to slow down this tumor. If it was up to me id try everything i read about, but im worried about overdoing it. His blood results came back great and I dont wanna mess with his health. This holistic vet was my hope in putting that all together but like I said, she was only interested in selling me things. For example, she told me he needs a new diet of canned food, but then couldnt even give me suggestions of even a brand to buy him. She instead offered to sell me her own recipe for $30. 

These are the questions I have for anyone that can help me or give me advice:

1. The vet said my cat needs to be off dry food which i completely agree with. She told me t has to be 50% protein, less than 5% carbs, and the rest in fat. Does anyone have any brands that are good for this? They need to be grain free as well since cancer feeds on sugars. Right now hes eating a brand I found called "Dave's" but i wasnt sure if anyone knew of better brands?

2. Has anyone tried Essiac tea? If so, what company have you gone with and where did you buy it? I am so confused if powder, liquid or capsules is the best way to go. I also have heard information how one of the herbs should contain a root, which seems to be omitted in quite a few of these recipes, therefore isnt a complete replication of what Caisse originally developed years ago. 

3. Has anyone tried turmeric powder? I was told that it could be an option. They said you dont use the same turmeric that you find in the store.

4. Does anyone know if CBD oil is worth it? Is it harmful for cats? 

5. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Right now Rascal is on a multivitamin, life gold, and this mixture the holistic vet came up with. He also has had acupuncture. 

Thank you so much for any help or suggestions. I just cant give up on my sweet boy just yet. I have had him since the day he was born, and this all is tearing me to pieces. 

Christina

I can tell you a few foods that fit that bill because I needed that kind of food for my FLUTD rescue cat, and it has worked very well.   You can google these and check ingredients.   EVO 95% Chicken & Turkey; ABOUND Grain Free Turkey & Giblets Dinner (only available in Kroger family of stores), Luvsome Turkey & Chicken Dinner (also only available through Kroger family of stores) and Hound & Gatos Chicken Formula Canned.   There are others.  Chewy.com carries most of these and has the best prices overall.  They only charge about $5.75 for shipping no matter what the weight, and if you buy over a certain amount, you get free shipping.  There is a food chart available that compares many brands, although it doesn't include the most recent ones since it was created in 2012.  http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf

As for what to do, surgery on this type of tumor is not usually successful long term, and there is some belief that surgery makes it metastasize faster.  I think you are doing the right thing by giving him the best diet possible and using herbals that might help and certainly will not hurt him.  Take it one day at a time and let his comfort be your guide.

If you are interested, there is currently a thread going here written by someone whose cat has oral squamous cell carcinoma, and this owner is now just giving him supportive hospice care.  The vet did not expect him to live this long, but he is still hanging in there and enjoying life, and they are taking it one day at a time, and sharing the experience in hopes it will help others.  Here is a link to the thread if you want to follow it.  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/316100/...ill-loved-one-i-share-with-you-simons-journey

I don't really know anything about holistic treatments like tumeric but I do have to ask about the location of this tumor.  I am assuming the vet gave the vaccines between the shoulder blades which is how it was done many years ago.  I hope the vet is now giving the vaccines in the legs, some have even switched to giving them in the tail.  The tumor that your kitty has is the reason for the switch.  If caught very early sometimes amputation will  stop the spread.

I'd look into a homecooked diet over canned food. Try something like EZcomplete, which can be used with raw or cooked, but since he's immunocompromised homecooked might be better.

http://www.foodfurlife.com/

I, too, have had cats that have been with me since birth.  That bond is so strong, so sadly I know what you're going through.  And I feel the same way about the benefits vs. the risks of such an invasive surgery, especially on a 16 year old that seems to, otherwise, be doing well.  It's tough

I have no real experience with anything that you've mentioned except acupuncture; and from what I've experienced it can do wonders and be of a huge help.  I do heartily agree with the suggestion of feeding home cooked vs. raw because of the potential of his immune system being compromised.  IME, most cats that like canned food like cooked "real" food just as much, if not more! 

We had a cat that developed a very large, very awful tumor on his neck.  Due to his age and phobias (he panicked in a carrier, panicked in the car...basically panicked no matter what if his routine changed) we opted for no real treatment other than home hospice care.  The thoughts of putting him through surgery at a strange clinic was almost more than we could tolerate.  The tumor was horrible to look at, but he lived several happy, comfortable years and passed on peacefully in his sleep at the ripe age of 21.  I  believe he was about 17 when the tumor first appeared. 

I've been in the pet industry for many years.  I've seen dogs and cats develop cancer and live many happy years afterwards with little to no conventional treatment.  I've seen some who get chemo, radiation, and surgeries and go on to live many happy years after their treatments are through.  I've seen some get all of the above, and it does nothing but prolong their misery while their owners desperately scramble for answers.  I've had my own animals go through home hospice care and live on for a long time, and I've had some hide the symptoms until it was too much for them to bear. 

I'm not sure what his current status on things like vaccines, topical flea prevention, etc is, but I would proceed with caution and discuss any and all fears or concerns with a trusted veterinarian.  While I'm sure you already know all this, it never hurts to mention things that might seem unrelated (things like what house hold cleaners are used, air fresheners, etc).  I loved air fresheners and candles, etc, until I started wondering if they were really harmless.  I have no real proof that they are or that they aren't, but I decided to err on the side of caution. 

I wish I had more advice, or a recommendation for a magic pill or supplement that could make it all better.  Sending many hugs and prayers for you and yours. 

Did you get the opinion of a veterinary oncologist? I know you mentioned a surgery, was chemo or radiation off the table? 

It sounds like right now you're panicking and grasping at whatever straws you can find. It's understandable. Take a step back from the situation and take a deep breath. Take a couple of them. It's in your buddy's best interest for you to be as calm as possible- I'm sure cats can tell when their owners are stressed, and it makes them stressed as well. He doesn't understand what's going on, and you want him to be as happy as possible with however much time he has left. No matter what answers you get, or can't get, just enjoy your time with him. 

How are things going?  We have not heard back from you since your first post and hope you are doing OK

Denice said:

 
I don't really know anything about holistic treatments like tumeric but I do have to ask about the location of this tumor.  I am assuming the vet gave the vaccines between the shoulder blades which is how it was done many years ago.  I hope the vet is now giving the vaccines in the legs, some have even switched to giving them in the tail.  The tumor that your kitty has is the reason for the switch.  If caught very early sometimes amputation will  stop the spread.

Click to expand...

What she said. ^^^

Sadly, some vets still do it that way, usually old-school vets who "have always done it that way".  A common, preferred protocol is to give the vaccines in the limbs( the tail is a new one I haven't seen yet, and seems a bit uneasy to me even though I get the rationale), as low as possible... Rabies to the Right, Leukemia to the Left and FVRCP to the Front Right. Any other vaccine is given in the left front, and every vaccine and its location needs to be marked clearly in the chart. The label from an individual vial needs to be included in the chart. The delivery mode (IM, SQ, Transdermal Gun for FeLV vaccine, Vet Jet...) needs to be documented. It might not be the law, but it is good records-keeping in the case of an adverse reaction later. If a VRS (vaccine related sarcoma) tumor does develop and the protocol is followed, then it's a pretty easy matter to implicate the correct vaccine type that caused the problem.

I also do not have my cats auto-vaccinated every year for everything, though they get exams and general senior wellness blood work every 6 months. I base vaccines on their lifestyle and exposure risk. In general I follow the AAFP and international guidelines and information that's thoroughly discussed in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2013) 15, pages 785–808... the capsule recommendations are listed in Table 2 of the article, page 790. I discuss a risk/benefits assessment with the vet, and we tailor the vaccinations according to their needs. This minimizes the exposure and overall risk, and constitutes an acceptable standard of care.

I've seen VRFS tumors in the shoulder region, as well as in the hip... two different case types. In the hip tumors, we did amputations and the cats lived for varying lengths of time. One was caught while it was still rather small, but the vet removed the entire leg because of the aggressive nature of that particular case. She also received chemo as a precaution. The cat was 10, relatively healthy otherwise, and she lived an additional 4 years or so. She developed age-related kidney disease and the client elected to treat that conservatively. Still a favorable outcome as to the sarcoma, despite the amputation. Another case that took a different turn was an 8 year old with a far more advanced VRFS on the right hip. Neither cat's vet split the vaccines by type as described earlier and administered vaccine with no distinct protocol other than going for the back hip. The second cat with the higher grade sarcoma had metastatic cancer from the VRFS and was euthanized following a short but ineffective course of chemotherapy. One cat had a shoulder VRFS that was very small on discovery. The vet thought that he might be able to excise it with a wide enough margin, but the tumor recurred and spread aggressively. She was euthanized within 6-8 months.

Appropriate vaccinations do save lives and keep cats and people healthy by preventing diseases but they aren't without risk. This is an important issue to discuss with your vet, to tailor a vaccine schedule that fits YOUR cat's needs and lifestyle, fulfills applicable laws, and is safe and effective. "Robo-vaccination" is not the answer.

~Mackie 

Posted on Mon, Apr 29, 2013 : 6 a.m.

Veterinarian seeks to have clinical trial established on medical marijuana for pets

By Lorrie Shaw, Ann Arbor News

~~~

In 2011, I wrote about an entrepreneur in Washington state who wanted to market a cannabis patch for veterinary use.

The safety and efficacy of the patch immediately came to mind when I first heard about the product. Because it's transdermal, an area of the pet's body would need to be shaved in order for the patch to adhere to the skin. Further, pets have a tendency to lick or gnaw at anything foreign on their body. (Just how effective is the patch, then?)

I also wondered about the possibility of another pet — or even a child — having contact with the patch and it causing a reaction.

Doug Kramer, DVM  concurs and expands further.

"From a veterinary standpoint, the recently reported 'pot patch' is an obvious safety hazard and the perfect example of what happens when professionals fail to address a clear, unmet need in their field."

Click to expand...

My argument to this is that we have been using Fentanyl patches on pets and people for years with a pretty good track record of safety. Many of those pets and people are in homes with small children. There is even a fentanyl "lollipop". If the safety of the drug in patch form is the actual concern, then the same concern needs to go to the fentanyl lollipops. Apparently those lollipops taste really good and have a value on the street. I'd be more worried about that than some cannabis patch. It's too cheap and easy to get a bag of weed, or even other extracts of weed (not talking that K2 or "spice" garbage) to bother with the patch for getting one's jollies.

Dr. Kramer seems to recognize the unmet need-- the article continues:

 The area of pain management is in dire need of more research, and Kramer notes that there are some pet owners who are seeking alternatives in helping their pets be more comfortable, and they're experimenting with the use of marijuana in an effort to do that.
"People are using it, and if we as vets don't step in and fill that need, they're going to fill the void because we're not addressing the issue," adds Kramer.

"My ultimate goal is to have a pain medication somewhere between aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) without knocking your dog out."

Click to expand...

 Past testing on dogs for human clinical trials revealed that canines have the same cannabinoid receptors as humans.
One cannabis-like drug, Marinol — a synthetic form of delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) — is used in veterinary oncology as an appetite stimulant.

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Marinol is used in humans who have things like AIDS or cancer and have a loss of appetite. This is one potential area that cannabinoids could address

Cats also have CBD receptors... a scholarly but interesting article here for anyone who wants a little light reading...  ha ha!

 
Am J Physiol.  1999 Jun;276(6 Pt 2):H2085-93.

Cannabinoid CB1 receptor of cat cerebral arterial muscle functions to inhibit L-type Ca2+ channel current.

Gebremedhin D1, Lange AR, Campbell WB, Hillard CJ, Harder DR.

Author information

Abstract

The CB1 subtype of the cannabinoid receptor is present on neurons in the brain and mediates the perceptual effects of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol and other cannabinoids. We found that cat cerebral arterial smooth muscle cells (VSMC) contain the protein for the CB1 receptor and express a cDNA that has >98% amino acid homology to the CB1 cDNA expressed in rat and human neurons. Activation of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor has been shown to decrease the opening of N-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in neurons through a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that activation of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor in cerebral VSMC inhibits voltage-gated Ca2+ channels and results in cerebral vasodilation. The predominant Ca2+ current identified in cat cerebral VSMC is a voltage-gated, dihydropyridine-sensitive, L-type Ca2+ current. The cannabimimetic drug WIN-55,212-2 (10-100 nM) induced concentration-dependent inhibition of peak L-type Ca2+ current, which reached a maximum of 82 +/- 4% at 100 nM (n = 14). This effect was mimicked by the putative endogenous CB1-receptor agonist anandamide, which produced a concentration-related reduction of peak L-type Ca2+ current with a maximum inhibition (at 300 nM) of 39 +/- 4% (n = 12). The inhibitory effects of both ligands on peak L-type Ca2+ currents were abolished by pertussis toxin pretreatment and application of the CB1-receptor antagonist SR-141716A (100 nM, n = 5). Both WIN-55,212-2 and anandamide produced concentration-dependent relaxation of preconstricted cerebral arterial segments that was abolished by SR-141716A. These results indicate that the CB1 receptor is expressed in cat cerebral VSMC and that the cerebral vasculature is one of the targets for endogenous cannabinoids. These findings suggest that the CB1 receptor and its endogenous ligand may play a fundamental role in the regulation of cerebral arterial tone and reactivity by modulating the influx of Ca2+ through L-type Ca2+ channels.

PMID:

10362691

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Full text available at NCBI PubMed . gov

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TL/DR: The gist of this is that cats do have CBD receptors and should elicit a response to the CBD oil. The unfortunate part is the fact that CBD oil is a gray area in many states and still illegal in others. As a result, legal research (at least within the United States) is rather scarce... but things can be found from decades ago, including this bit on CBD and seizure control in cats... from 1975

 
Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol.  2014 Mar;306(6):G535-45. doi: 10.1152/ajpgi.00397.2013. Epub 2014 Jan 9.

Inhibitory signaling by CB1 receptors in smooth muscle mediated by GRK5/β-arrestin activation of ERK1/2 and Src kinase.

Mahavadi S1, Sriwai W, Huang J, Grider JR, Murthy KS.

Author information

Abstract

We examined whether CB1 receptors in smooth muscle conform to the signaling pattern observed with other Gi-coupled receptors that stimulate contraction via two Gβγ-dependent pathways (PLC-β3 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/integrin-linked kinase). Here we show that the anticipated Gβγ-dependent signaling was abrogated. Except for inhibition of adenylyl cyclase via Gαi, signaling resulted from Gβγ-independent phosphorylation of CB1 receptors by GRK5, recruitment of β-arrestin1/2, and activation of ERK1/2 and Src kinase. Neither uncoupling of CB1 receptors from Gi by pertussis toxin (PTx) or Gi minigene nor expression of a Gβγ-scavenging peptide had any effect on ERK1/2 activity. The latter was abolished in muscle cells expressing β-arrestin1/2 siRNA. CB1 receptor internalization and both ERK1/2 and Src kinase activities were abolished in cells expressing kinase-deficient GRK5(K215R). Activation of ERK1/2 and Src kinase endowed CB1 receptors with the ability to inhibit concurrent contractile activity. We identified a consensus sequence (102KSPSKLSP109) for phosphorylation of RGS4 by ERK1/2 and showed that expression of a RGS4 mutant lacking Ser103/Ser108 blocked the ability of anandamide to inhibit acetylcholine-mediated phosphoinositide hydrolysis or enhance Gαq:RGS4 association and inactivation of Gαq. Activation of Src kinase by anandamide enhanced both myosin phosphatase RhoA-interacting protein (M-RIP):RhoA and M-RIP:MYPT1 association and inhibited Rho kinase activity, leading to increase of myosin light chain (MLC) phosphatase activity and inhibition of sustained muscle contraction. Thus, unlike other Gi-coupled receptors in smooth muscle, CB1 receptors did not engage Gβγ but signaled via GRK5/β-arrestin activation of ERK1/2 and Src kinase: ERK1/2 accelerated inactivation of Gαq by RGS4, and Src kinase enhanced MLC phosphatase activity, leading to inhibition of ACh-stimulated contraction.

KEYWORDS:

CB1 receptors; ERK1/2; GRK5; Src kinase; beta arrestin

PMID:

24407588

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 

PMCID:

PMC3949025
Free PMC Article

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From this, it would seem that the cannabinoids, including CBD oil may have a place in veterinary oncology and pain management. Further research, which would certainly occur at the time that the FDA removes cannabis and its analogues from Schedule I classification. But for now it does pose an interesting topic for discussion with your vet-- on a "research and academic level", of course.   

~Mackie

Hi. I also have a cat with cancer. She has a tumor wrapped around her spine (near her back end). Her prognosis is poor / terminal.

I will not give her turmeric because the golden paste recipe calls for black pepper which is a must for the turmeric to be properly absorbed.

I considered medical cannabis, but the dosages are not yet perfected for cats and I'm concerned as to what effect this could have on her. I'm not in a legal state so that adds to why I don't think it's an option.

I give her Frankincense essential oil & Chinese skull caps. We just started with these new supplements a day ago. 2 vet techs highly recommended these holistic options to me. My vet gave me the go ahead to try it out.

She is on .5 mg of prednesolone for every 8 hours. She wears a fentanyl patch on her hind paws. It's changed every 5 days and we alternate her paws. It's not cheap. It costs me $85 for a box of 5 patches, but it is effectively managing her pain.

She takes glucosamine chondroitin two times a day.

Dave's is a great brand. I wish I lived in MA still so I could get it. My cat lost a lot of weight so now I just give her an endless supply of fancy feast gravy lovers. She's gained back 2 pounds.

I'm sorry to hear about Rascal. Please keep us updated. Also if you hear of anything more, I'd love to know how you managing Rascal's cancer. I understand the desperation.

I considered medical cannabis, but the dosages are not yet perfected for cats and I'm concerned as to what effect this could have on her. I'm not in a legal state so that adds to why I don't think it's an option.

Click to expand...

This is precisely why more research is needed, and why cannabis (CB) needs to be taken off of Schedule I. There seems to be a call for medications in this class beyond simply Marinol.

CB shows some promise and potential in teh treatment of glaucoma. This has gone about for years, but more recent research is looking into the development of a more effective CB-based topical ophthalmic solution (drops)

 
Br J Ophthalmol. 2004 May; 88(5): 708–713.

doi:  10.1136/bjo.2003.032250

PMCID: PMC1772142

Cannabinoids and glaucoma

I Tomida,1  R G Pertwee,2  and A Azuara-Blanco

Abstract

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. In spite of the diverse therapeutic possibilities, new and better treatments for glaucoma are highly desirable. Cannabinoids effectively lower the intraocular pressure (IOP) and have neuroprotective actions. Thus, they could potentially be useful in the treatment of glaucoma. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with an overview of the latest achievements in research into the potential use of cannabinoids for glaucoma.

...

Future Directions

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1772142/#__sec6title

Cannabinoids have the potential of becoming a useful treatment for glaucoma, as they seem to have neuroprotective properties and effectively reduce intraocular pressure. However, several challenges need to be overcome, including the problems associated with unwanted systemic side effects (psychotropic, reduction in systemic blood pressure), possible tolerance, and the difficulty in formulating a stable and effective topical preparation. Some cannabinoids such as HU-211 and cannabidiol do not have psycotropic effects, while maintaining their IOP lowering action, so that further research on these compounds would be desirable. Tolerance may develop after repeated use of cannabinoids.30  However, tolerance might be beneficial if it develops only or preferentially to unwanted side effects. There has been recent progress in the use of microemulsions and cyclodextrins to overcome the barriers in ocular penetration of topically applied cannabinoids.

Other possible applications of cannabinoids in ophthalmology could be explored. Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the United Kingdom. Perhaps the potent antioxidant properties of the cannabinoids may be beneficial in AMD, offering a possible alternative to established antioxidant supplements.68  Cannabinoids have been shown to inhibit angiogenesis, leading to a decrease in the expression of proangiogenic factors such as VEGF.69  Evidence suggests that VEGF plays a major part in the development of choroidal neovascularisation in AMD, and clinical trials using anti-VEGF therapies are being conducted.70  The CB2  receptors are also under intense investigation for their possible immunomodulatory effects.71  The anti-inflammatory properties of CB2  receptor agonists might also prove to be of therapeutic relevance in different forms of inflammatory eye disease.

Entire article here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1772142/

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As posted earlier, seizure control is another potential use for CB in animals... pain control... neurological issues... appetite... so many potential uses that must be explored.

Yes, a protocol certainly needs to be developed. EVERY medication has a risk. MANY medications can be abused. Yet they have protocols for use. ETOH (booze) isn't a controlled substance yet plenty of people abuse the h*ll out of it, many die, some kill others. TYLENOL (acetaminophen or paracetamol) causes liver damage in high doses that could easily be reached because it's in everything. It's legal.

Okay, I had better slip back behind the sofa before I rant... 

Thank you for all of your responses.

Rascal's tumor is located between the shoulder blades. The tumor has been getting larger, which has been breaking my heart. I have been doing everything i can possibly do, researching all i can research. I have seen 3 vets for opinions and I have another vet I am going to see on Friday. He does acupuncture and said he was willing to help me trying to figure out a treatment plan for rascal. I started him on Artemisinin but i would feel comfortable if i had a professional helping me. I had to leave the holistic vet I was seeing because she refused to help me with the Artmesinin and I felt she was more concerned about $$ than actually helping me.

I have found giving cats medication is next to impossible. My goal was to get him on Life Gold,  vitamins A, C COQ10, DHA and EPA in the morning and evening to build up his immune system, but Rascal is just too smart and caught on to the meds in his food. He refused to eat for a while so I tried putting his medicine in the sardine liquid thing I bought at this pet store. I wasnt mixing all the meds together but it was enough for him to catch on and refuse everything. So right now I just am mixing life gold with his food, he doesnt seem to mind that really anymore.

We reached out to the vaccine manufacture so they are aware their vaccine caused cancer in my cat. That whole situation makes me so angry, but I guess I cant take back the fact i vaccinated him and caused this awful, fast growing tumor.

We saw a vet oncologist. They recommended surgery, and lets forget the fact the surgery was going to cost $10,000, it also was not something I was willing to put a 16 year old cat through, no matter how much i love him, i have to put his needs above mine. Trust me its so painful to pretty much have no hope, since surgery really is the only hope for cats with VAS. I have put almost $2,000 into holistic treatments, vet appointments, etc. This cat means the world to me and I want to say i at least tried everything possible to help him.

So basically where we are right now is trying medication, Biotron light therapy twice a day, Assissi loop, and acupuncture. 

I did also purchased CBD oil, though I havent been giving it to him on a consistent basis. He realllyyy hates the taste of it, so im trying to pick my battles right now for meds im giving him. 

I am going to look into all of the research that was provided in these links. Any suggestions too are always appreciated. Right now my biggest struggle is trying to find the best supplements that are appropriate for cats. I have already messed up so much giving him the incorrect fish oil (i bought 40 dollar vitamins, not realizing after the fact they were plant based and not fish based which are bad for cats), plus i was giving him COQ10 i thought was good, but after looking through the ingredients realized they also contained ingredients bad for cats. I really wish my holistic vet was willing to help me. It has truely made everything so much harder not having her help and support.  She really just wanted to sell me things, and wouldnt help me with supplements that she didnt have. 

1 bruce 1 said:

 
I, too, have had cats that have been with me since birth.  That bond is so strong, so sadly I know what you're going through.  And I feel the same way about the benefits vs. the risks of such an invasive surgery, especially on a 16 year old that seems to, otherwise, be doing well.  It's tough

I have no real experience with anything that you've mentioned except acupuncture; and from what I've experienced it can do wonders and be of a huge help.  I do heartily agree with the suggestion of feeding home cooked vs. raw because of the potential of his immune system being compromised.  IME, most cats that like canned food like cooked "real" food just as much, if not more! 

We had a cat that developed a very large, very awful tumor on his neck.  Due to his age and phobias (he panicked in a carrier, panicked in the car...basically panicked no matter what if his routine changed) we opted for no real treatment other than home hospice care.  The thoughts of putting him through surgery at a strange clinic was almost more than we could tolerate.  The tumor was horrible to look at, but he lived several happy, comfortable years and passed on peacefully in his sleep at the ripe age of 21.  I  believe he was about 17 when the tumor first appeared. 

I've been in the pet industry for many years.  I've seen dogs and cats develop cancer and live many happy years afterwards with little to no conventional treatment.  I've seen some who get chemo, radiation, and surgeries and go on to live many happy years after their treatments are through.  I've seen some get all of the above, and it does nothing but prolong their misery while their owners desperately scramble for answers.  I've had my own animals go through home hospice care and live on for a long time, and I've had some hide the symptoms until it was too much for them to bear. 

I'm not sure what his current status on things like vaccines, topical flea prevention, etc is, but I would proceed with caution and discuss any and all fears or concerns with a trusted veterinarian.  While I'm sure you already know all this, it never hurts to mention things that might seem unrelated (things like what house hold cleaners are used, air fresheners, etc).  I loved air fresheners and candles, etc, until I started wondering if they were really harmless.  I have no real proof that they are or that they aren't, but I decided to err on the side of caution. 

I wish I had more advice, or a recommendation for a magic pill or supplement that could make it all better.  Sending many hugs and prayers for you and yours. 

Click to expand...

Thank you for your kind words. I am not going to vaccinate him or flea treat him anymore. His vaccine is up in June and based on his prognosis it doesnt make sense to put him through more shots. 

missmimz said:

 
I'd look into a homecooked diet over canned food. Try something like EZcomplete, which can be used with raw or cooked, but since he's immunocompromised homecooked might be better.

http://www.foodfurlife.com/

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Thank you! I am going to look into this diet!

MackieMac said:

 
My argument to this is that we have been using Fentanyl patches on pets and people for years with a pretty good track record of safety. Many of those pets and people are in homes with small children. There is even a fentanyl "lollipop". If the safety of the drug in patch form is the actual concern, then the same concern needs to go to the fentanyl lollipops. Apparently those lollipops taste really good and have a value on the street. I'd be more worried about that than some cannabis patch. It's too cheap and easy to get a bag of weed, or even other extracts of weed (not talking that K2 or "spice" garbage) to bother with the patch for getting one's jollies.

Dr. Kramer seems to recognize the unmet need-- the article continues:

Marinol is used in humans who have things like AIDS or cancer and have a loss of appetite. This is one potential area that cannabinoids could address

Cats also have CBD receptors... a scholarly but interesting article here for anyone who wants a little light reading...  ha ha!

TL/DR: The gist of this is that cats do have CBD receptors and should elicit a response to the CBD oil. The unfortunate part is the fact that CBD oil is a gray area in many states and still illegal in others. As a result, legal research (at least within the United States) is rather scarce... but things can be found from decades ago, including this bit on CBD and seizure control in cats... from 1975

From this, it would seem that the cannabinoids, including CBD oil may have a place in veterinary oncology and pain management. Further research, which would certainly occur at the time that the FDA removes cannabis and its analogues from Schedule I classification. But for now it does pose an interesting topic for discussion with your vet-- on a "research and academic level", of course. 

 

~Mackie

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Thanks!

the tough part about CBD oil is that there is very little research especially on pets. I have no idea how much i should be giving him, not that he enjoys taking it, but i dont want to give him too much. Also, the THC that actually can kill cancer is not legal in my state so I havent been able to give him that. I purchased just the hemp oil that was legal for me to get. 

I want to do whatever possible without stressing him out too much and causing more harm to him than the tumor already has. 

Inanna said:

Hi. I also have a cat with cancer. She has a tumor wrapped around her spine (near her back end). Her prognosis is poor / terminal.

I will not give her turmeric because the golden paste recipe calls for black pepper which is a must for the turmeric to be properly absorbed.

I considered medical cannabis, but the dosages are not yet perfected for cats and I'm concerned as to what effect this could have on her. I'm not in a legal state so that adds to why I don't think it's an option.

I give her Frankincense essential oil & Chinese skull caps. We just started with these new supplements a day ago. 2 vet techs highly recommended these holistic options to me. My vet gave me the go ahead to try it out.

She is on .5 mg of prednesolone for every 8 hours. She wears a fentanyl patch on her hind paws. It's changed every 5 days and we alternate her paws. It's not cheap. It costs me $85 for a box of 5 patches, but it is effectively managing her pain.

She takes glucosamine chondroitin two times a day.

Dave's is a great brand. I wish I lived in MA still so I could get it. My cat lost a lot of weight so now I just give her an endless supply of fancy feast gravy lovers. She's gained back 2 pounds.

I'm sorry to hear about Rascal. Please keep us updated. Also if you hear of anything more, I'd love to know how you managing Rascal's cancer. I understand the desperation.

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Can i ask what the problem is with black pepper? I havent made the turmeric paste thankfully, but I am curious why it would be a problem with cats? Its crazy how many things are OK for dogs, but not for cats.

Be very careful with essential oils. I spoke with several vets who told me they are highly toxic to cats. I was going to purchase some for rascal; i read a mixture that was supposed to help cancer, but my holistic vet said it wasnt a good idea. 

Can i ask why your cat is on prednisone? I am curious if Rascal should be as well. Someone is a VAS group told me that it was recommended for these cats to be on anti inflammatories, so now Im thinking I should talk to the vet about it on Friday and get a prescription for him. Will it do hard to him?

One of my daughter's beloved cats, a 5 1/2 pound 16-year-old, is facing a potential cancer diagnosis (lab results of needle biopsy on Monday).  For animals who are given no options, there is still one very well-tolerated and highly effective immune system booster that many in the U.S. don't know about.  It's called AHCC.  It is a proprietary blend of three mushrooms and is the #1 supplement in Japan.  I recommend this from personal experience.  I am a Stage IV breast cancer survivor who developed new, metastatic tumors in the other breast and lymph nodes.  I had discovered AHCC by the time the new tumors appeared, and I immediately began taking the recommended 3 grams per day (6 of the 500 mg. capsules).  The new tumors were found on August 8 and on October 8 I had my final, definitive test, a PET scan.  The tumors were completely gone. Since that time, I have recommended this supplement to numerous friends and family members who were cancer patients.  I use ImmPower, by American BioSciences.  This company also makes a pet version of AHCC called NK-9, for dogs and cats.  There are several threads on this site about AHCC use in FIV kitties and cancer kitties. http://www.thecatsite.com/t/263045/fiv-and-ahcc has lots of good information.  AHCC boosts the immune system so much that my body was able to rid itself completely of the two new good-sized tumors.  I did run a fever every afternoon, but that was the sign of an immune system hard at work.  I have remained completely cancer free for 11 years.  





If your baby has an untreatable form of cancer, I highly recommend using AHCC or the pet version, NK-9.  I don't believe there is any difference in the human and pet formulations.  The human version comes in 500 mg capsules of powder, the NK-9 pet version comes in 250 mg capsules for the same price.  It can be mixed with his food or given in a little liquid, such as water from tuna or chicken broth, syringed into the side of his mouth.  Dosage for any cat or dog under 30 pounds is 250 mg/daily. Another supplement that I highly recommend is Vitamin D3.  You need a formula that is in oil, such as Healthy Origins D3 in olive oil or Vital Choice Vitamin D3 in wild sockeye salmon oil.  You should talk to your vet about Vitamin D3 supplementation for your baby; my 10-pound cat was put on 400 i.u. every other day.  D3 is also an incredible immune system booster.  Since I began supplementing with D3, I have been able to get off every prescription my oncologist had me on and I never even catch a cold anymore since my D3 blood levels were boosted.   All products that I have mentioned in this post are available online. The NK-9 is available at Only Natural Pet.  When I hear of anyone having to face conventional cancer treatments, my first thought is AHCC.  Even if chemo is given, the AHCC helps immensely, making chemo much easier to bear.  I cannot rave about it enough, and it is extremely gentle and easy to digest.  I so hope this helps you and others who may read this post.  I had an extra bottle of ImmPower AHCC that my daughter just picked up.  She is starting her little Lexi on it tonight. I am mom to four cats myself, and should any of them need immune system help, AHCC will be first thing I turn to.  I wish you and your precious baby many blessings and a swift recovery.  

I just am seeing this now. Thank you for this suggestion!

My 13 year old cat has just been diagnosed with lymphoma/feluk that may have spread into the organs. I'm trying hard to find palliative care that will get us through this. So far (for 2 weeks) its been transdermal bupe/plo (the synthetic opiod) which seems to work really well for pain management. However I fear I won't be able to get enough refills for the duration due to it being so controlled. So I'm going to try a hemp product (legal in all 50 states - no thc) that I hear is being used more and more for end of life pain management.  Now that more vets are involved and even the UofCO/Denver vet school is researching cannabidiol. If people are interested I'll report back.