As I expected, my cat Bullseye has SCC, a malignant oral tumor.
Initially the only information I received suggested surgery followed by radiation therapy. Due to the location and size of the tumor, he probably wouldn't survive past six months. With only pain management, they're saying maybe two months. Today I did some research on carboplatin, a form of chemo that is given IV. I haven't found any statistics about the median survival time, mainly because I don't think there are any studies out there on this particular treatment. I'm waiting for a call from an oncology vet in Portland tomorrow where this procedure is performed. It's given IV without sedation and takes 10-15 minutes according to the tech I spoke to. They continue to give the treatment every 3 weeks, as long as it continues to shrink the tumor. Very expensive.
Has anyone had any experience with carboplatin treatment? I'm grasping at straws here. I've got him on Metacam now, which seems to be keeping him comfortable and able to eat. They're not worried about keeping him on it despite the long term side effects, because...there is no long term. He couldn't even eat before that...his mouth was so sore.
The growth is on top, and toward the back of his mouth. According to one specialist I spoke to, this is the worst place because they can't get it all surgically. We've already decided that surgery and radiation are not an option.
Also, I don't intend to go with a feeding tube. That's not how I want to go, and not something I would do to a friend.
Initially the only information I received suggested surgery followed by radiation therapy. Due to the location and size of the tumor, he probably wouldn't survive past six months. With only pain management, they're saying maybe two months. Today I did some research on carboplatin, a form of chemo that is given IV. I haven't found any statistics about the median survival time, mainly because I don't think there are any studies out there on this particular treatment. I'm waiting for a call from an oncology vet in Portland tomorrow where this procedure is performed. It's given IV without sedation and takes 10-15 minutes according to the tech I spoke to. They continue to give the treatment every 3 weeks, as long as it continues to shrink the tumor. Very expensive.
Has anyone had any experience with carboplatin treatment? I'm grasping at straws here. I've got him on Metacam now, which seems to be keeping him comfortable and able to eat. They're not worried about keeping him on it despite the long term side effects, because...there is no long term. He couldn't even eat before that...his mouth was so sore.
The growth is on top, and toward the back of his mouth. According to one specialist I spoke to, this is the worst place because they can't get it all surgically. We've already decided that surgery and radiation are not an option.
Also, I don't intend to go with a feeding tube. That's not how I want to go, and not something I would do to a friend.