Devastated. Cat diagnosed with lymphoma. Poor prognosis.

[MiniMum97]

My beautiful 5 yr old pert Maine Coon has just been diagnosed with fast growing lymphoma. He was fine a few weeks ago and has not long had his check up. I am in shock it has moved so fast..
Really didn't think this would be the outcome when I took him to the vets today.

The vet got me to feel the tumours. One was massive. The rumours are in his abdomen. One is on his kidney I think.

He has been getting poorly for a few weeks. Lost weight, coat not right, bit lethargic, sleeping and in more than usual. We thought it maybe worms initially as we were late giving him his tablet so gave him that. Then we thought it might be the new cat that has been hanging around who is very friendly but freaks my sensitive cats out by strolling about all over my cats' garden with no regard for territory. My cats have a history of not eating when upset so thought this might be the issue.

Anyway vet gave option of chemo. But we were told that if it's spread to his lungs this won't be an option. And his breathing was laboured today so this seems likely. I said no to chemo in the appt but gave since read it's not like human chemo and their tend to be fewer side effects. It would still mean a biopsy, scan, blood tests to even check he is a candidate and then presumably tablets and going to the vet regularly for follow on appts. Out DCat hates the basket and the vet and finds every visit traumatic. Having said that he was less panicky today as he is obviously feeling fatigued.

Vet also offered palliative care of painkillers, anti sickness tabs etc. But we are concerned that he could die horribly. What if it spreads to his throat or something and he chokes to death? Is that a possibility?

Vet was keen to PTS today in the appt. i was on my own and it was all very unexpected so asked to take him home for a few days so we could say goodbye. I don't think I'd have been able to drive home if it had happened today. It was all such a shock. Vet said it should be done sooner rather than later.

Now he is home we are rethinking everything and wondering if chemo is worth a shot. He is so lovely and affectionate and sweet natured. We don't want to lose him.

Not sure what to do. Would welcome hearing from others who have been through the same.

Thank you.

No advice to offer, only big hugs.. I'm so sorry you have to go through such a heartbreak

I had a lymphoma day are with one of mine a couple of years ago. It turned out to be pancreatitis caused by a necrotic lymph node in the end. The vet told me that some cats do tolerate chemo ok but some don't.
Tbh Your boy sounds quite unwell. And I think I'd have to PTS. I know you don't want to loose him, but it would be a much kinder and more peaceful end. My other cat was PTS last August and it was very very sad, but she went with peace and dignity.

*Lymphoma scare

You also have to consider how practical it is, if he hates the basket and beets etc. It would be very traumatic for him.

My dog had lymphoma, we took him home for the weekend hoping for the best, had to take him back to the vets Monday where he was put to sleep. He was so restless all weekend I hope we didn’t cause him more pain. We wanted to give him a chance but it probably caused him more suffering, I will always regret this

My cat was on Chemo and in partial remission for lymphoma for 5 years...

All the scans and the biopsy were done in one appointment, but yes it does mean a lot of follow up appointments, they were once a fortnight for about 2 months, then check ups and blood tests monthly at my vets, then after a while it was 3 monthly at my vets.

Tbh, I’d go see the oncologist if I were you... even if you want to treat it pallatively - they’re much more specialised and up to date with what drugs will help than general vets are.

I agree with the previous post - if possible it is worth speaking with an oncologist for advice.

I’ve had a cat on chemo before who seemed to suffer no obvious side effects. It gave us an extra 15 months with him.

Good luck - I remember how horrible it felt when I first found out my cat had cancer.

I've had a conversation with a friend who was a vet and she left practising as she felt putting animals on chemo was cruel and unkind. I think if it's a small tumour there could be a point that it may help but when he has many tumours I think it sounds so aggressive I wonder how successful it might be.
I worry now that we are being forced to accept treatment for our animals so practices make money even though the out come would be poor. Obviously your vet isn't suggesting this.
The PP obviously had success with it so maybe talking to an oncologist is a good idea.
My beautiful boy got hit by a car last year and clung on for two days before they decided it wouldn't be worth doing surgery. When I look back to the pain he was in and how confused he was, for his sake I wish I'd made the call to PTS immediately. But then again I suppose I think I maybe have wondered ' what if' forever.
Sorry I'm not much help but I hope you get to spend some lovely pain free time with him now whatever the outcome x

So sorry to hear, what awful news when he is so young and it has happened so fast.

I read recently read something along the lines of even though we may have the option to extend our pet's life thanks to the advances in veterinary medicine, doesn't mean we necessarily should. Animals don't have a concept of the future the way we do and I feel for the most part any extra time we manage to give them through treatments is for us, not for them. And if that time is full of stressful treatments and the cat feeling unwell, is it quality time... Difficult decision regardless - I would be guided by your vet.

How sad. An old cat I would go straight for palliative care.
It sounds like this has come on very quickly. I would have another conversation with your vet just to go over everything now you've had the chance to think. You could see what the oncologist says too; there are some excellent specialist vets around. That said I do think you have to be led by your cat and what is best for him. Sorry you are in this position.

Really sorry about your cat OP. I think in this instance I would be led by your vet who sounds to he behaving very responsibly in recommending that you pts rather than put your cat through a barrage of invasive tests. As others have said - just because you may be able to extend your cat's life, doesn't always make it the right thing to do.

Heartbroken for you. I lost a young cat a couple of years ago and I still haven't come to terms with it. But I think you should follow the advice of the vet too. His illness sounds advanced and chemo may only prolong his suffering.

“I would be led by your vet who sounds to he behaving very responsibly in recommending that you pts rather than put your cat through a barrage of invasive tests.”

Hmm, see your barrage of invasive tests is just one vet’s visit though.

Like I said, I’d go to the oncologists whatever I was thinking about treatment, because I have a great relationship with my vet and I absolutely trust her, but she’s not a specialist - though to be fair, she’d be the first to reccomend a referral when it’s something that she wouldn’t be completely up to date with treatment about.

IME the oncologist wasn’t overly set on chemo, it was one of the options I was given and knowing my cat I was quite happy picking that option, if it was my current cat who is much more timid and nervy and very very freaked by vets visits - I’d still go to the oncologist, but probably for the best palliative treatment regime rather than chemo and all the follow ups.

So it’s not that I would always go for treating something just because treatment exists, that depends on what is best for that animal... but I’d want the best advice and IMO that’s from a specialist.

So sorry to hear that, OP. We lost our girl to lymphoma back in November, after she had gone through 6 or 7 weeks of chemo. In our case it greatly improved her quality of life for that time. However, the vet did say he was normally not supportive of cats going through chemo as it can be very traumatic to those animals who get anxious at the vet. Luckily our girl was a very placid cat and a model patient. She had no issues with her cat carrier, going to the vet, or us leaving the room whilst the vet and nurse administered the chemo. When the day came to let her go he said how lovely a cat she was to treat.

If your cat hates going to the vet then I would recommend you don't go for the chemo.

Cuddles, treats, tuna, a bit of cream. Whatever your boy likes. Treat him and make the most of whatever time you have left.

Thanks for your replies everyone.

He really deteriorated today. We called the vet again and asked him to go through the options again. He really felt that from seeing him yesterday his prognosis was very poor. It was highly likely the cancer was widespread and the chemo unlikely to be successful. He is a nervous cat who hates the basket, the car and the vets. He said the initial tests would involve a general anaesthetic to do the scans and xrays. Which would have been an awful way for him to go if that was his last day. We therefore made the decision that that to put him to sleep would be best for him. Even though it was heartbreaking.

As the day progressed and you could feel al these new little tumours everywhere that weren't there yesterday. He was starting to get uncomfortable and couldn't really sleep. He was eating very little.

We had a vet come to the house as I couldn't bear to put him through the stress of the vet visit as his last time here. Expensive but worth it.

He was PTS at home today after having a day of strokes and his favourite "creamy egg" and tuna and a few dreamies (he couldn't manage much).

We even had a bit of time in the sun and garden with him.

We are devastated. And will miss him so much.

I'm very sorry OP. Glad you had a final day with him and you have clearly done the right thing.

I’m so sorry but you did the right thing for him.

I'm very sorry he deteriorated so quickly. Definitely the right decision to let him go peacefully

Very sorry to read your update, OP. You made the right decision, as hard as it is.

The pain will ease, I promise.

I’m so sorry op, but what you did is the kindest and most loving thing x

Hello MiniMum,
You must be devastated.
My cat also had lymphoma relatively young and it is so hard to be confronted with all the options. You did well in taking him home and keeping him happy as long as possible. It sounds like chemotherapy would not have been the right choice. It wasn't for us either.
I really feel for you, the whole thing is agony - the low level worry when you start noticing something isn't right, the despair of the diagnosis and then when they actually go. Five years is very young.
I hope you can all support each other, you did the kindest thing, and your boy sounds very much loved. It's a small consolation when all you want is to have them with you, healthy and happy.

So very sorry. I have no doubt it was the right decision. It's always awful but in a young cat it's even worse.

@MiniMum97 Im so sorry for your loss . Mine died yesterday too after numerous fits. Its absolutely heart breaking isn't it? I hope you're doing okay. Sending hugs.

Ah if he got that much worse in just a couple of days, there’s nothing else you could have done tbh.

MINIMUM97 I have been following your thread for a few days because it has mirrored my own situation very closely. I am only getting the chance to sit and write a response now. I am so sorry to hear that your lovely cat has died and at such a young age too. I know how heart breaking it is.

I have just lost my gorgeous pedigree boy within the last few weeks. He was older than your cat but in good health. It was about two weeks from I initially noticed he wasn't himself until he was dead. He was always very affectionate but stopped interacting with the family as much, went off his food and just seemed lethargic being in his box all the time. I took him to the vets just thinking that they would give him something to perk him up and he would be fine. The vet checked him over and said that they could feel a mass in his stomach and they would treat him for constipation but to come back in for bloods and x-rays the next day. They came back clear so it was a bit of a mystery as to what was wrong.

Then we saw a different vet who thought it was an issue with his kidney and he had an ultrasound. They thought that he had a tumour on his kidney. We took him back and forth to the vets and he seemed to be getting better and then he would dip again. In the end he was in the vets for 3 days on a drip and we got him home he seemed ok that day but once the effects of the medication wore off he really dipped. I took him back to the vets again and they just looked at him and said there was nothing more they could do and put him to sleep there and then.

It has been a very stressful few weeks with the initial, oh no there is something wrong with him to oh no he's not going to get better and he's actually going to die. There has been many tears shed. It was so hard seeing his lifeless body. He really just looked like he was asleep but when I stroked him he didn't purr and he didn't roll over. It's cost me a fortune at the vets but I wanted to give him every chance that I could.

All his stuff is now packed away. At the start if anyone mentioned him I was in tears but now between my DH and I we are remembering all the good times we had together and funny anecdotes about him. I hope in time you will be able to do the same X