Mandibulectomy

[carniasada]

Sorry about your cat! Squamous cell carcinoma? Not really any new developments unfortunately. It's been two and a half months and still not eating/drinking. They said it sometimes takes up to three, but I'm not optimistic. I'd get the surgery ASAP if you're serious about it. We kinda got the run around and by the time they did it the surgeon took as much as he could, but couldn't get clean margins. We got electrochemotherapy done to hopefully take care of the last cancer cells. Otherwise she is feeling good and doesn't seem to be in pain anymore.

Did the electrochemotherapy work? I took my cat to the emergency vet a few days ago in West LA and they basically said it's not worth surgery or treatment and to put her down because of her tumor location. I'm still appalled at that when I clearly said that I'll try anything. I've been trying to find experimental treatment, even, and just today found an article about a cat in the UK that was treated completely with electrochemotherapy. Just wondering how it's going for you.

Cat's Lifesaving Electrochemotherapy Treatment At NDSR

 

[carniasada]

This means that you are feeding her through the feeding tube in the esophagus, right? How would you consider her life quality now? Also where did you get the surgery? I am in Los Angeles and it’s so difficult to find doctors that will even consider doing this. They all say “mandibulectomy does not work” but at the same time I see online many doctors with successful procedures on cats.

OMG YES! I am in Los Angeles, too, and it's crazy that it's so tough to find any vets who want to try to save my cat's life. I've scheduled an appt with a group but they can't even get me in until the 20th in their OC location. The emergency vet told me that there's no use trying to suppress the tumor growth before that appt and keeps trying to convince me to put my cat down. What the heck?!

 

[botolo]

Call Dr. Carey at Access in Culver City. She is an amazing surgeon and the one who performed the radical mandibulectomy on Holly. Holly is doing fine now. Still with the feeding tube but she is eating on her own and we are trying to find the right balance of calories so that we can get rid of the tube.

 

[fionasmom]

C carniasada I am sorry that you are getting this response. Normally, an ER vet is limited in what they are willing to do, partly because they are not specialists. Unless you have a real emergency with your cat (not saying that it could not happen and certainly not saying that this is very serious), try to wait for the specialist. Try others, like the one mentioned above, but you need a specialist to work with. I am not sure that an ER vet would be the one who knows much about the suppression of tumor growth which leads you right back to his usefulness is really determining if an animal is in a critical state.

When you see the vet, make it abundantly clear that putting your cat to sleep is not on the table, you need information about treatment including the one you researched, and you are paying the bill. With the "wrong" doctor, you may encounter a belief that this is a write off diagnosis which is difficult enough to treat as to justify doing nothing except palliative care.

 

[carniasada]

Yes she has an e-tube. Quality of life is good I'd say. She still enjoys life, just would be better qol if she could eat on her own. Our oncologist was against surgery too. Kept pushing radiation even though online radiation alone had mixed results and surgery and surgery/ radiation was best. Her tumor was growing very aggressively and already very big. I dont think radiation alone would have done much for her. Plus it's many treatments and general anesthesia every time. Iowa state small animal hospital did the surgery. Maybe if there is a vet school by you they would be more open to the idea. I am very surprised that in socal the vets are so unwilling. It's true that cats generally don't tolerate the surgery as well as dogs, but my cat is in the minority of cats who won't eat again.

Call Dr. Carey at Access in Culver City. She is an amazing surgeon and the one who performed the radical mandibulectomy on Holly. Holly is doing fine now. Still with the feeding tube but she is eating on her own and we are trying to find the right balance of calories so that we can get rid of the tube.

Thank you so much! Glad Holly is on the up & up.

 

[carniasada]

C carniasada I am sorry that you are getting this response. Normally, an ER vet is limited in what they are willing to do, partly because they are not specialists. Unless you have a real emergency with your cat (not saying that it could not happen and certainly not saying that this is very serious), try to wait for the specialist. Try others, like the one mentioned above, but you need a specialist to work with. I am not sure that an ER vet would be the one who knows much about the suppression of tumor growth which leads you right back to his usefulness is really determining if an animal is in a critical state.

When you see the vet, make it abundantly clear that putting your cat to sleep is not on the table, you need information about treatment including the one you researched, and you are paying the bill. With the "wrong" doctor, you may encounter a belief that this is a write off diagnosis which is difficult enough to treat as to justify doing nothing except palliative care.

Thank you so much!! It's been such an emotional Rollercoaster. I bought this hemp oil with turmeric that seemed to immediately sooth Cleocatra's mouth. Hoping that the colloidal silver will help even more until we get in front of an expert. Appreciate the education and support.

 

[IndyJones]

Can they not just do reconstructive surgery/grafts following this procedure? They do this for people so why would it not work on cats or dogs?

 

[botolo]

They have done this.

Reconstruction of a mandibular segmental defect with a customized 3-dimensional-printed titanium prosthesis in a cat with a mandibular osteosarcoma - PubMed

I contacted the surgeon who did this, but it is still pretty pretty rare. UC Davis is one of the very few (maybe the only one) center that does this. I submitted all the documentations for my cat, but they did not even think she was a candidate for surgery (which she was...typing this while Holly is sleeping on my lap).

 

[carniasada]

Does anyone know what facilities do electrochemotherapy in the Southern California region? It doesn't sound like the Veterinarian Cancer Group does this and neither does Access.

 

[botolo]

Here you go. Keep us posted!

Electrochemotherapy

 

[carniasada]

I should mention Cleo isn't a candidate for the mandibulectomy because her tumor is in part of her maxilla, which I was told is one of the worst case scenarios. I was hoping to use electrochemotherapy to shrink it down and just prolong her life and comfort. I'm not in denial that this might be end of life for her but I won't stop until I've exhausted all other options. She hasn't lived many years off the streets so I'm determined to give her the good life for as long as possible.

 

[carniasada]

Here you go. Keep us posted!

Electrochemotherapy

Wow thank you so much! I totally ruled out VCA since it was one of their ER vets that told me there's no hope. I didn't even think they would offer this type of treatment. THANK YOU THANK YOU!

 

[botolo]

You are absolutely the best! Keep fighting for your beautiful Cleo. A couple of additional resources I would check, if you have not done so already:

- Dr. Adam Strom at MASH in Los Angeles. He is known to be one of the best surgeons. If it can be done, he is the one;

- Dr. Bommarito at Veterinary Cancer Group. As far as I know, he is the only doctor in Southern California with double certification in oncology and radiation oncology;

- Dr. Sarah Boston. She is the author of one of the most recent papers on mandibulectomy on cats with squamous cells carcinoma. She does consulting (paid) online. Surgical Oncological Consulting - Dr. Sarah Boston

 

[botolo]

Also, in my experience many doctors are kind enough to give you feedback via email if you send them a nice email with medical records. VCA doctors have their email as [email protected]. I contacted tons of them and many responded and were very kind and gave me some more ideas.

 

[carniasada]

Call Dr. Carey at Access in Culver City. She is an amazing surgeon and the one who performed the radical mandibulectomy on Holly. Holly is doing fine now. Still with the feeding tube but she is eating on her own and we are trying to find the right balance of calories so that we can get rid of the tube.

I went nuts on the NHV site last night and found some awesome supplements that are supposed to help with blood detox and cleansing of the lymphatic system (specific for cats undergoing cancer treatments). Thought it might be of interest to help with Holly's recovery. Ended up buying 6 total supplements. Three I bought in a bundle because after pricing it out it saved a few bucks. Basically anything I could save with coupons I applied towards expedited shipping lol. Will keep the group posted on how the supplements help with Cleo's condition. I figure the BK Detox would help even pre-treatment to clear out whatever her little body is fighting on it's own.