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Original poster

Kitten with lump on head

55 replies

BehindTheScenesAtTheMumseum · 15/09/2013 22:27

So worried about my lovely little kitten, a lump appeared on his head early last week, which just looked like a little spot at first but it grew quickly and by the end of the week was about the size of a large pea and looked a bit sore. There was also a second growth appearing next to it. We took him in to the vet yesterday - she was flummoxed and said the only way to find out what it is is to do a biopsy, so tomorrow he is going in for a biopsy under ga.Sad I'm so shocked - I fully expected her to just brush it off as nothing, but she mentioned feline tuberculosis and cancer among other possibilities (she was really nice about it but I think she felt she had to mention all the possibilities as she said lumps like this are so unusual.) I've now convinced myself he has something horrible and feel so upset about it. We've only had him for 2 1/2 weeks but we all love him so much already, I can't bear to think of something being seriously wrong with him.

Does anyone have any experience of lumps like this? He is otherwise totally healthy, eating well and very active so hopefully that means it can't be anything too awful? I'm dreading tomorrow. Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
BehindTheScenesAtTheMumseum · 18/09/2013 21:03

Not much to report, they just checked his stitches which seem to be healing well (despite having refused to wear the collar!) so that's good. Just hanging on for the test results now, which may not be until early next week.

I am definitely going to start writing the story of Caspar the Pirate Cat Grin

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cozietoesie · 18/09/2013 21:07

Good luck to him.

Smile
Original poster
BehindTheScenesAtTheMumseum · 18/09/2013 21:26

Thanks cozie

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cozietoesie · 19/09/2013 22:14

Stitches still holding?

Smile
ZebraOwl · 20/09/2013 02:23

I hope Caspar The Pirate Cat enjoyed yesterday's Talk Like A Pirate Day yesterday & that his stitches continue to hold & the wound heals well Smile

Please keep us updated on how the Corsaire Kitten gets on Flowers

ZebraOwl · 20/09/2013 02:24

Too many yesterdays there. Exhaustion does not help with the Words In Order Putting & Making Of Sense. Mnyang.

Original poster
BehindTheScenesAtTheMumseum · 20/09/2013 09:52

Stitches look fine and it seems to be healing well. Feel a bit sick though as I just phoned the vet to see if they had the test results and they said the vet will call me back shortly to go through them. If the results had been all clear wouldn't they have just told me there and then? Am now sitting anxiously by the phone when I have a gazillion jobs to do this morning!

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cozietoesie · 20/09/2013 10:03

In my experience, it's usually the vet herself that will phone back with actual results, good or bad - the vet nurses and receptionists do little more than say 'X will give you a phone' because they don't have the clinical expertise to answer any questions authoritatively.

Wait and see. (I know it's anxiety-making so feel for you.)

Original poster
BehindTheScenesAtTheMumseum · 20/09/2013 10:09

You're right Cozie, thanks - vet just phoned to say that the lab haven't released the results yet but are going to later today. So it was just my fertile imagination convincing me that the receptionist had read something awful on her computer screen and was going to leave into the vet to break the terrible news to me!

So I will let you know when I hear later. Must get on with some jobs now!

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ZebraOwl · 20/09/2013 10:10

Try not to fret lovely: they might have a policy that only clinical staff give results; they might not have had them to hand; they might have been inconclusive; it could still be benign & they want to explain exactly what caused it (or that it was idiopathic); there might be something you need to watch for...

It is v scary when you get that sort of call/information (have only had them about myself, think I'd actually cope worse if it were My Darling Cats!) but the best thing to do is try not to think in the subjunctive about it. I know it's tough, but getting yourself tied up in knots is not going to help any.

Everything crossed it turns out okay Flowers

ZebraOwl · 20/09/2013 10:12

Gah - had to leave off writing so ended up x-posting!

Am v glad it's a case of results not yet back & hope this afternoon brings good news for you & Le Chat Corsaire Smile

Original poster
BehindTheScenesAtTheMumseum · 20/09/2013 13:07

Thanks so much Zebra. Thanks I really appreciate your kind thoughts about it. I know it could be a million, million times worse, that it could be an actual human member of the family with a health scare, which doesn't bear thinking about, and in that context it seems utterly daft getting so worked up about a kitten. It would just be really nice to get this all sorted out. He is such a lovely little chap despite his piratey ways!

I broke and phoned the vet back a little while ago but the results still aren't back yet.

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ZebraOwl · 20/09/2013 16:07

It's not in the least bit daft to worry about the kitten: he is family & important & loved Smile

I hope you hear soon!

DidoTheDodo · 20/09/2013 16:21

Hoping you hear soon. the waiting is so awful, isn't it?

Love your description of Caspar after the GA as being like an overtired toddler....my Hattie was exactly like this after hers this week and I'd expected her to be sleepy so it was a bit of a surprise! Great description.

Original poster
BehindTheScenesAtTheMumseum · 23/09/2013 16:58

Just to update you all, I finally got the results from the vet today and it is an extremely rare sort of tumour, called a histiocytic mast cell tumour. The vet is having further tests done but she thinks it is the benign type. - apparently if not benign then it is very serious ConfusedSad.

So it feels like an answer but not a complete answer and the vet proposed that we just keep an eye on it for the next few months.

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fackinell · 23/09/2013 17:17

FX for him!! That's good that the vet thinks its benign though. Keep us posted please.

cozietoesie · 23/09/2013 17:26

So - sort of mixed news. How long will these 'further tests' take?

How is the pirate today?

Original poster
BehindTheScenesAtTheMumseum · 23/09/2013 17:59

Well I'm due back at the vets with him on Thurs anyway, to have his stitches removed (although most seem to have fallen out already!) so I'm planning to have a more in-depth chat to the vet about it then. I was at the school gate when she phoned and I was a bit conscious of sounding like a crazed neurotic pet owner over the phone! She said that the further tests were being done because this sort of thing is so extremely rare, especially in young kittens (and she had obviously never come across it before). I guess the real answer will be when/if anything develops further.

Caspar meanwhile is utterly wonderful and we are all in love with him. His stitches have mostly dropped out now but it all looks as though it has healed well. There is still some lump there and part on his ear which they didn't remove (as they'd have had to take part of his ear) so I really hope he won't need to go through more surgery.

He seems so happy with us and wants to be involved in whatever is going on in the house. He has really made himself a part of our family. I think that even if this develops further we have been very lucky to find him, he is so the perfect pet for this family. I want to give him a really happy life and just hope against hope that it is a long and healthy one.

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cozietoesie · 23/09/2013 18:07

Of course.

Fill us in after the next appointment?

ZebraOwl · 23/09/2013 21:45

All the best people have ridiculous rare medical problems...

I very much hope it turns out to be a benign tumour & that he gets to have a life that is long&healthy as well as being as happy as he evidently is now.

Will keep my fingers crossed your appointment on Thursday brings good news. I know it's hard, but try not to let your mind run away with the What Ifs - and for the love of all that is good & holy don't be Googling anything as it will only upset you. (Says she who cried for an entire night after seeing what the internet had to say about "informal" neck!MRI findings of "several narrowings at C6 & C7". I still haven't had the actual report much less seen appropriate specialist & Trying Not To Think About It is sanity-saving.)

Original poster
BehindTheScenesAtTheMumseum · 23/09/2013 22:35

Thanks Zebra and the advice not to google is very wise (though a bit too late!) But I am going to follow your advice and try very hard not to think about the What Ifs any more.

It sounds like you are undergoing a very difficult time with your own health and I really wish you well Thanks

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Original poster
BehindTheScenesAtTheMumseum · 23/09/2013 22:41

Ps cozie I will definitely keep you posted.

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ZebraOwl · 23/09/2013 22:44

You're welcome... I know how tough it is not to get sucked in to What Might Happen but it's def worth the effort.

Aww, thank you. Am chronically broken with not-splendid but not-truly-awful prognosis but my body's thrown some interesting new things into the mix lately & it is a wee bit overwhelming ifwhen I give it headspace so mostly I'm trying not to. Have to say my cats help lots with the whole Coping Thing Smile

Original poster
BehindTheScenesAtTheMumseum · 26/09/2013 19:19

Pirate cat update! We went back to the vet today to have his (last remaining) stitches taken out. While we were there I had a good chat with a vet we hadn't seen previously, who went over his test results with me from scratch and made me feel a bit better about it all. She said that 90% of this sort of tumours do not spread, are isolated incidents and often even resolve themselves. They will review him in a month but in the meantime we are to keep an eye out for any more growths or any sign of illness. Overall it is a positive outcome I think.

Hooray for Caspar, the scourge of the high seas! And thank you all for being so supportive through a stressy experience.

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cozietoesie · 26/09/2013 19:29

Fingers crossed for the bold lad.

Smile