Cat chemotherapy

[KleineDracheKokosnuss]

My small furry troublemaker has been diagnosed with lymphoma and we have the options of chemo, palliative care, or pts.

I'm trying to work out if the chemo would be worth it or whether it would just be a strain he doesn't need.

Has anyone opted for it? Does it actually work?

[SlinkyVagabond]

I'm so sorry for you and your boy. ive just been through the same. What is your vets opinion? A good vet should give you an objective opinion based on the cats health.(not trying to get as much money out of younaspossible) Is it aggressive? How advanced is it? My poor boy presented with symptoms one week, was still eating and ok, but suddenly got very ill and we had no option. Personally, if he's not in pain, is eating and is mobile then let him live his last bit of his life being loved and cared for. I don't think a cat could understand the suffering of chemo.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I have had some patients who have done really well ( up to three years extra life currently and still going strong) and equally I have had other patients who don't do well. The stage of the lymphoma and primary site does make a big difference. If it is intestinal lymphoma again whether it is small or large cell makes a massive difference.
Lymphoma is a bit of a globally term in cats and there are several different types.
I have had good success with small cell intestinal lymphoma and lymphoma of the temporomandibular joint. Mediastinal lymphoma I have had no success at all with.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Oh yes the chemo protocols in cats are very different to humans and tend not to have terrible side effects. Small cell intestinal lymphoma is a regular tablet cats rarely get side effects.

[werekitty]

My cat had intestinal lymphoma, I tried chemotherapy and she went into remission for three years. It eventually returned and I had to have her pts but she had good quality of life during most of this period. I would try it and see how your cat responds to the treatment.

[KleineDracheKokosnuss]

The lump they found was near his kidney. He's still active and able to jump etc, though doesn't go out so much and has definitely 'slowed down' quite a lot,but that may be in part because he's 11 or possibly 12. He's also wanting less fuss, but I suppose that's normal when you're feeling ill. His eating is fairly poor at present and he throws up a lot (hence the trip to the vets),and he's been eating sand of all things (probably a cause of the vomiting). Not sure on cell size -I had to send Dh to collect due to timing so will have to see if they said it to him when I get back.

Its hard to know what to do for the best. He's a lovely boy, even if he does try to trip me up continuously

[Lonecatwithkitten]

To differentiate small and large cell intestinal lymphoma you do need gut biopsies are needed for this. Without gut biopsies prognosis for intestinal lymphoma it is impossible to give an accurate prognosis due to the differences.

[KleineDracheKokosnuss]

Apparently they don't know if it's large or small cell (is that B or T?) and doing a biopsy would be hard due to location. Also, DH says they said his bloodwork is terrible,such that if it is one kind then chemo won't help at all. For the other, the vey said is could help but no guarantees. He's short on most nutrients, and has lost 400g (10% of body weight) in the past two months (would have been more but we've been actively trying to get his weight up).

I think that we're probably not going to do the chemo option, but instead do steroids to help him feel better and then pts once we've prepared Dd (he's her favourite of the two we have, cos the other is grumpy and doesn't like people).

[bluetongue]

I tried chemo with my girl for suspected lymphoma. Medicating her wasn't stressful. Just three tablets a week. I did have wear gloves for giving the tablets and emptying her litter tray.

Sadly she has now developed pancratitis (which she's had before) so the vet was worried about the effect of chemo on other organs and has taken her off it.

I don't regret giving it a go as it was easy to give and I knew from my internet research that some cats go into remission and have another couple of years with good quality of life.