I have an 8-year-old DSH who, up until recently, was the picture of good health. About 2 years ago, she started regurgitating food. Maybe once every 4-5 weeks - nothing too concerning. Tried a couple different food and diet options, but stayed pretty consistent (mostly dry, undigested food less than once a month). Slowly, the frequency seemed to increase. Less than once a month became once every 2-3 weeks. Fast forward to May 2018 and it had increased to 2-3 times a week. Brought it up with the vet each time who constantly said she was healthy and to try different foods, anti-nausea meds, etc. Everything else with her is normal (consistent weight, regular bowel movements of healthy consistency, normal appetite, normal disposition - maybe a little more sleepy than usual).
Fast forward again to August 31 when she suddenly vomits 3-4 times in a row in 3 separate episodes over the course of 24 hours - and then proceeds to vomit at least twice (usually back to back) every 24-48 hours thereafter. Get into the vet on Sept. 4 where they palpitate her abdomen (again) and do her bloodwork (again). All seems to be normal. Move forward with an ultrasound on Sept. 10 which finds her lymph nodes to be enlarged and so we aspirate.
Results come back "consistent with mast cell neoplasia." Get referred to an oncologist who orders a whole bunch more tests (x-rays, more ultrasound, aspirates of spleen and liver, CBC, etc.). And the results are...inconclusive. Lungs and heart are clear, additional aspirates are not consistent with mast cell, and generally no primary tumor can be identified. Vet cannot confirm diagnosis of mast cell - but also can't rule it out. We do a round of anti-parasitic meds just to be on the safe side.
So here's where I'm at now: oncologist recommends exploratory abdominal surgery to biopsy a lymph node, check the intestines for a tumor that the ultrasound couldn't see as the most aggressive way to move forward and the only way to confirm location/stage of cancer (if it's even actually cancer). OR we can try chemo first and recheck lymph nodes via ultrasound - but potentially miss a tumor in the intestines. OR try steroids and see how long she'd have with that route.
I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has heard of something like this (mast cells in the lymph nodes but not able to find a primary tumor - or the lymph nodes WERE the primary tumor) - or a cat who had a bizarre reaction to something else that caused mast cell buildup in the lymph nodes? I'm feeling kind of lost after so many tests and each producing more questions than answers. I'm already $3k in on this with just the tests, and I honestly don't know if I can afford another $5k-15k in both surgery and chemo costs. If it is GI lymphoma, the info I'm finding doesn't give much of a positive outlook for long-term survival. Any ideas, experiences, etc. are welcome. I don't have many friends who've been in this kind of situation.
Fast forward again to August 31 when she suddenly vomits 3-4 times in a row in 3 separate episodes over the course of 24 hours - and then proceeds to vomit at least twice (usually back to back) every 24-48 hours thereafter. Get into the vet on Sept. 4 where they palpitate her abdomen (again) and do her bloodwork (again). All seems to be normal. Move forward with an ultrasound on Sept. 10 which finds her lymph nodes to be enlarged and so we aspirate.
Results come back "consistent with mast cell neoplasia." Get referred to an oncologist who orders a whole bunch more tests (x-rays, more ultrasound, aspirates of spleen and liver, CBC, etc.). And the results are...inconclusive. Lungs and heart are clear, additional aspirates are not consistent with mast cell, and generally no primary tumor can be identified. Vet cannot confirm diagnosis of mast cell - but also can't rule it out. We do a round of anti-parasitic meds just to be on the safe side.
So here's where I'm at now: oncologist recommends exploratory abdominal surgery to biopsy a lymph node, check the intestines for a tumor that the ultrasound couldn't see as the most aggressive way to move forward and the only way to confirm location/stage of cancer (if it's even actually cancer). OR we can try chemo first and recheck lymph nodes via ultrasound - but potentially miss a tumor in the intestines. OR try steroids and see how long she'd have with that route.
I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has heard of something like this (mast cells in the lymph nodes but not able to find a primary tumor - or the lymph nodes WERE the primary tumor) - or a cat who had a bizarre reaction to something else that caused mast cell buildup in the lymph nodes? I'm feeling kind of lost after so many tests and each producing more questions than answers. I'm already $3k in on this with just the tests, and I honestly don't know if I can afford another $5k-15k in both surgery and chemo costs. If it is GI lymphoma, the info I'm finding doesn't give much of a positive outlook for long-term survival. Any ideas, experiences, etc. are welcome. I don't have many friends who've been in this kind of situation.
