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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / October 2004Tiger has a tumor
I brought Tiger (female, 14 1/2 years old) & Otto (male, 5 years old) to the vet on Friday. I had felt a lump on Tiger's underside recently and wanted to have her checked out. I had been taking her to the same vet for the past 7 years but was never really happy with him, so I decided to go to another place. It's bigger, has more than one vet and nighttime & weekend hours, boarding facilities, etc. Anyway, as soon as the vet felt her, he said that she had a breast tumor. He said that it would have to be removed, and that I should take a day or two to think about it if I needed, but that I should make an appointment within the week. Tiger has also had, throughout her life, what I call persistent ear gunk. Thick, brown waxy goo builds up in her ears and drives her crazy. She spends most of her waking hours scratching at her ears. The top of her head is always covered in scabs and her ears are always bloody from the scratching. She had them cleaned out last year at her old vet's, after several years of me telling him I wanted it done and the vet acting like it wasn't a problem and should be ignored. The new vet also said that Tiger should have her teeth cleaned, as it's been awhile since her last cleaning. Tiger is 14 1/2 years old. The ear problem has plagued her all her life, but other than that she's never had any serious problems. I asked the vet about the tumor, and if once it was removed what the chances are of it coming back. He didn't give me any statistics or numbers (other than an approximate $750 fee) and I've been trying to find info on it. I've already made an appointment for her, on Tuesday. There's no way I could not do it, even though I don't have the money right now and my credit card bill be be pushed right up to the max once it's over. I just wish the vet could give me some reassurance that she should be in the clear once the tumor is removed. Tiger's appetite, litterbox activity and everything else has been completely normal. She's not in any pain and doesn't even mind when I feel the lump on her belly. Oh, and Otto also needs dental work (his teeth are worse than Tiger's) and now it looks like he's starting to get ear gunk in his left ear. It's nowhere near what Tiger has, but I've noticed him scratching it in the past week or so. He's going to have to wait at least a month, though, until Tiger is finished. If anyone has a good link or two for sites in breast tumors in cats, I'd appreciate them. -- Liz Here is a list of sites: http://www.i-love-cats.com/feline/breast-cancer-feline.html I have my fingers crossed for Tiger! It does seem like something could be done for her ears, too. Even if it is an allergy, there should be some sort of medication to help. I'd stay away from steroids though, that's what triggered diabetes in our 10yo cat. Let us know how Tiger is doing! Rhonda > I brought Tiger (female, 14 1/2 years old) & Otto (male, 5 years old) to the > vet on Friday. I had felt a lump on Tiger's underside recently and wanted [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > -- > Liz > Here is a list of sites: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Rhonda A couple of years ago, Tiger was on a prescription non-allergenic food. Can't remember the name of it, though. She was on that for awhile (6-7 months) to see if it would help her ears any, but it didn't so I put her back on her regular food. The vet said that they would make slides and try to find out exactly what is causing the problem. Thanks for the link. -- Liz > I brought Tiger (female, 14 1/2 years old) & Otto (male, 5 years old) to the > vet on Friday. I had felt a lump on Tiger's underside recently and wanted [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > If anyone has a good link or two for sites in breast tumors in cats, I'd > appreciate them. 85-90% of feline mammary tumors are malignant, so I wouldn't advise subjecting the cat to a preliminary biopsy. The whole tumor can be sent to a lab for histopathologic examination after the mastectomy. This strategy spares the cat additional anesthetic risks and discomfort - and you some money. The most important prognostic factor affecting recurrence and survival is the size of the tumor. Cats with a tumor diameter <2 cm have the longest survival rates (> 3 years). You can significantly reduce the chance of recurrence and metastasis by removing of all four glands of the affected chain (radical mastectomy). About 50% of cats with MGT have metastasis to the regional lymph node(s), so, the inguinal lymph node should be removed also. The axillary node shouldn't be removed unless its enlarged. You'll find some good information on my site: http://www.maxshouse.com/Oncology/feline_mammary_tumors.htm and Ohio State's site: http://www.vet.ohio-state.edu/docs/ClinSci/onco/owners/tumors/FelMammary.html Best of luck, Phil > 85-90% of feline mammary tumors are malignant, so I wouldn't advise > subjecting the cat to a preliminary biopsy. > The whole tumor can be sent to a lab for histopathologic examination after > the mastectomy. This strategy spares the cat additional anesthetic risks > and discomfort - and you some money. I think that's what the vet has planned - just going ahead and removing it and checking the whole tumor once it's out. > The most important prognostic factor affecting recurrence and survival is > the size of the tumor. Cats with a tumor diameter <2 cm have the longest > survival rates (> 3 years). The lump doesn't feel too big. Right before I took her to the vet I thought I felt two lumps, but one was just her nipple that her fur had gotten stuck to, and felt a little weird. > You can significantly reduce the chance of recurrence and metastasis by > removing of all four glands of the affected chain (radical mastectomy). [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > and Ohio State's site: http://www.vet.ohio-state.edu/docs/ClinSci/onco/owners/tumors/FelMammary.html > Best of luck, > > Phil Thanks for the links. I'll read them tonight so I can ask the vet exactly what's being planned when I bring her in on Tuesday. -- Liz I just had my cat treated for breast cancer. I wish I'd gone to the oncologist FIRST because I'd have saved about $600! The surgery should be radical, because the tumors are known to reappear. By radical surgery I mean a lateral mastectomy. If necessary, when healed you may have to go back and have the other side done but it is really hard on the cat to have both sides done at once. Then my cat had 4 rounds of chemo. A year later she is fine. The chemo was very easy on her, in fact it gave her more energy. Everything depends on the stage of the tumor, so act quickly. I'd recommend going to a veterinary teaching hospital, as they will be current with all new research. Where are you located? I went to U Penn, and they are just great. >I brought Tiger (female, 14 1/2 years old) & Otto (male, 5 years old) to >the [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] > -- > Liz > I just had my cat treated for breast cancer. I wish I'd gone to the > oncologist FIRST because I'd have saved about $600! The surgery should be [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Then my cat had 4 rounds of chemo. A year later she is fine. The chemo was > very easy on her, in fact it gave her more energy. The vet had said that he wouldn't recommend chemo for Tiger, because of her age (14 1/2). How old is your cat? > Everything depends on the stage of the tumor, so act quickly. > > I'd recommend going to a veterinary teaching hospital, as they will be > current with all new research. Where are you located? I went to U Penn, > and they are just great. I'm in The Bronx (NYC). I also don't drive, so transportation is a big factor for me. The place I'm bringing Tiger to is a bigger practice than the vet she used to see. The vet said that he & another vet would be doing Tiger's procedures, so they wouldn't be using one doctor and one tech, and that made me feel a little better. -- Liz Animal Medical Center on East Side has oconlogists who you could consult with... You can take cat in carrier on subway with you. Might be worth a very quick second opinion ..... >> I just had my cat treated for breast cancer. I wish I'd gone to the >> oncologist FIRST because I'd have saved about $600! The surgery should [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > -- > Liz > I brought Tiger (female, 14 1/2 years old) & Otto (male, 5 years old) to the > vet on Friday. I had felt a lump on Tiger's underside recently and wanted [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > two to think about it if I needed, but that I should make an appointment > within the week. Have it needle aspirated and biopsied. It may be benign and may not be a tumor. Mimi had what we thought was a breast tumor and it was a weird thing going on in her mammary duct - the cells were reacting and producing colostrum but not releasing it properly. It eventually resolved on its own. -L. |
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