Nasal large cell lymphoma...questions for those of you that have been there

My 15 year old female cat, Maggie, was diagnosed today from a biopsy with Nasal Large Cell Lymphoma.  The vet said she has the preliminary results in but usually the final results (due tomorrow) never differ.  She has an appointment in a WEEK (no other appointment available) with a very good oncologist that my boyfriend had used with his dog.

Maggie has had a full panel work up and besides this awful cancer, all her other values are perfect (to the point the vets are kinda stunned).  Great liver, great kidney function.  

She is currently on a very low dose of prednisolone.  She no longer has eye or nasal discharge though she does have some occasionally noisy breathing.  She is uncomfortable and will not eat on her ow but does tell me that she's hungry so I finger feed her every 4-5 hours and she's actually put on some weight.  Not a long term solution, I know, but keeps her going until her treatments start and we discuss whether to consider a feeding tube or not.

For those of you that have "been there" with this awful diagnos (or something similar), I have some questions:

1) what would you do that you didn't do before, or not do again that you did do

2) did you cat go through chemo, radiation therapy or both?

3) did you try any hollistic medicine?  (see Vitality Science "Advanced Immune Restoration/ Cat Cancer"   https://www.vitalityscience.com/product/advanced-immune-restoration/

4) Would you try something hollistic in the interim before your appointment or would you be scared to alter whatever additional tests were done?

5) For those that have resorted to a feeding tube, what was your experience and would you do it again....or do if if you didn't use one.

Any other information you can provide would be GREATLY appreciated.

Kind regards,

Regina

I'm so sorry you had to receive this diagnosis- my heart goes out to you and your dear sweet Maggie.  I am so very glad you are taking her to an oncologist because that is  exactly what I would have recommended (without reading your post)  An oncologist may be able to suggest treatments that no ordinary vet or even IM would  know about; there may be something that can help slow the cancer or at the very least help your kitty to be the most comfortable, i.e. stop the inflammation/or pain.... That is first and foremost, to me.

I would highly recommend you join the Feline Lymphoma Support Group on Yahoo if you haven't done so already. There are likely people who have experience with this type of lymphoma that could answer some of your questions.

My kitty Tiger did not have the same as yours, but our vet strongly suspected pancreatic cancer. The symptoms came on quite suddenly and took her quickly... I did not have time to even get her 2nd ultrasound done, let alone pursue an oncologist and chemo, but I would have done so in a heartbeat. If if I could go back in time, that is what I wish I had done. That and that I should have pushed for a biopsy after her first Ultrasound. I also had to hand feed her, and  had to find anything I could get her to eat. She was also diabetic and CKD, so it was a little trickier. Her favorite foods were the Weruva Pumpkn Lickin Chicken and Soulistic Triple Harmony, fed from my fingers.  I also had a steady supply of Buprenorphine and watched for any indication of pain, plus she got either Cerenia and Ondansetron every day.  One thing to be aware of, when your kitty isn't eating enough, and yet gaining weight, there is a possibility of fluid build up in the lungs. (Get a baby scale if you don't have one and watch this carefully.)  In our case, this was exactly what happened and at that point, there was nothing else I could do but to let her cross the Rainbow Bridge as comfortably as possible. Don't forget to love and cuddle her and spoil her- and tell her a million times over how much you love her and watch her eyes carefully for a response. I will be praying for the both of you, wishing for peace and comfort.

I'm so sorry for Maggie's diagnosis.  From what I understand, this is pretty rare (to have it in the nasal passage).  I've only heard of just a couple of cats with it here on TCS, so you may not get too may responses. 

Here is ONE thread I could find:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/302494/...ed-with-nasal-lymphoma-needs-treatment-advise

Thank you for the info.!!!  I have used the link you provided and written to one of the people who experienced this with positive results and I am waiting to hear back.  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FINDING THAT INFO.  I had searched the site but found nothing.

If anyone wants to chime in, I can never have too much information.  thank you all for your help.

mphscat said:

 
Thank you for the info.!!!  I have used the link you provided and written to one of the people who experienced this with positive results and I am waiting to hear back.  THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FINDING THAT INFO.  I had searched the site but found nothing.

If anyone wants to chime in, I can never have too much information.  thank you all for your help.

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Please keep us updated.  I hope Maggie is doing well after this latest round of chemo.

I very much appreciated you reaching out on my thread, and your words gave me comfort.  I hope I can do the same for you.  

Please make sure you are taking care of yourself as well.  I know, like I've said before, easier said than done.  But necessary.

Do you have pictures of your sweet girl?

Best to you always.

2Cats4everLoved said:

 
Please keep us updated.  I hope Maggie is doing well after this latest round of chemo.

I very much appreciated you reaching out on my thread, and your words gave me comfort.  I hope I can do the same for you.  

Please make sure you are taking care of yourself as well.  I know, like I've said before, easier said than done.  But necessary.

Do you have pictures of your sweet girl?

Best to you always.

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2Cats...you're a sweetheart.  Maggie is doing well tonight after the chemo.  She'll be a little more lethargic tomorrow but she's come and jumped up on the desk to "help" me work and has had something to eat.  There was a little concern about her red and white blood cells but nothing at this point alarming...the oncologist says she'd rather be proactive than reactive and ran some tests.  

Yes, I know how hard it is to think of ourselves.  When Maggie was unable to eat on her own (yes, we share another common link), I would get up all night long every 4 hours to feed her.  I would gentle open her mouth and swipe food on her inside cheek and she would eat it.  I found a food (Wild Calling) that was a very wet pate' food and we went forward 3 weeks like that before she started the chemo and the swelling went down.  Her left eye won't open as much as the right eye but that in time may improve...or not.  She's comfortable and that's all that matters.  

I had posted her picture on your thread's post....she's a pretty girl.  I bet she and Simon would be smitten with each other.  

All my best, my dear....