Cat cancer treatment advice

[Kittycathelp]

I'm hoping someone can offer me some advice for our lovely 18 year old boy.

He had a lump removed last week from his side, I only noticed it a week before it was removed and the vet thinks maybe it grew quite fast. It was sent for analysis and our vet has now told us it's a type of cancer called fibrosarcoma. We are obviously all gutted.

Our vet has been amazing and is going to ask an oncologist for advice on where to go from here. She's mentioned possible radiotherapy as an option as this type of cancer often doesn't spread to other parts of the body, but she doesn't yet know if it's an option for him. She has told us there's a 70% chance of it regrowing in the same place. She has basically said to let her look into it, speak to experts and she'll get back to us in the next few days.

Our cat is in pretty good health, he does have some kidney issues and has renal food. His blood tests show his kidneys are now doing better than a year ago though. They have said his heart is strong and looking at him they would never have guessed he's 18.

So, what do we do ? If radiotherapy is an option, has anyone chose this before ? And in a cat this age ? What other options are there ? I've googled but I think I'm struggling to take it all in as I just feel so upset.

We absolutely do not want him to suffer and want to make the best decisions for him. He coped really well with staying overnight at the vets, the operation, follow up visits. He just seems so well really, so to just not do anything and let it probably grow back doesn't seem right.

Sorry it's so long. We just don't know what to do. We don't really know what's an option yet but I am just hoping someone knows more about this and can help.

Option 3 does sound like the right one. I hope he stays happy for a while yet. And that you enjoy spoiling him with all his favourite treats.

I don't know without seeing him -is it worth giving radiotherapy a go?
I wouldn't do any more surgery at this point.

Someone holds him in the car =an hour each way isn't too long. That would probably give him a best long term prognosis. Yes for 6 weeks , twice a week, it will be rough. But it's not like humans, much lower doses are uses -and cats normally get over the discomfort very quickly.

Followed by option 3 -if needed.

My cat had oral cancer, only found 3 months ago but had probably been there longer. He was a beautiful rescue cat. We had a very sad day yesterday as he “fell asleep” on my bed, cuddled up in my dressing gown. We could have tried radiotherapy but this does not seem to cure and can make the cats apparently feel quite ill. We chose not to but gave him palliative care at home, it wasn’t easy as he had lots of meds and was always a worry to me as I noticed every change in habit... however he was not put through anything unnecessary and passed away at home where as humans we would want the same. If there was a high success rate for radiotherapy I may have thought there was more to gain. I’m so sorry you are going through this, they are our best friends.

Option 3 is the best thing to do. You can't put him through 2 hour journeys for that length of time.

And he's 18.

I agree with Toddler. Putting an 18 year old cat through trips to the vet and then invasive treatment seems cruel to me.

I'm sorry you're having to go through this. Keep him comfortable and enjoy him

A friend was a vet and one of the reasons she left practicing was as she felt clients were being coerced into treating their pets when they shouldn't be.
When I read your post it reminded me when she said that that she had never had a client who came back after giving cancer treatment to a pet who felt it was a good thing in hindsight. That animals are different to us and don't need to hang on to life as they live for the moment not the future or past. Also that it's humans who put their feelings onto their pets and it's not fair. Funnily enough she said the reason she originally became a vet not a doctor was that vets are able to stop suffering whereas doctors aren't. ( that's a simplified version of what she said obviously)
Its stuck in my mind though. She left main stream practice as the big well known vet chain she worked for made her push unwanted treatment on clients.
I know the pain of loosing a much loved pet though. We lost one of ours a few months ago and I still feel numb and broken but I know I did right by him in the end.
( I'm crying again )
I hope it all works out for you.