Dcat has a mast cell tumour in her intestine. Does anyone have any experience with this?

[Whereistheheartacheemoji]

Namechanged because I want to share some pics of my cat later on .

My cat was recently diagnosed with a mast cell tumour in her intestine (12mm) after having spells of illness on-and-off for the last few months. The vet said it is an aggressive form of cancer. If it is a grade 1 or 2 she has months, if its grade 3 she has weeks. I wish I had a better phrase than this, but I feel like I'm stuck in a nightmare and that the vet is wrong about everything...but of course they are right. Right? My cat has had digestive problems ever since I brought her home as a kitten at 12 weeks; she is 4 years old now. This makes me believe that the vet is wrong wrong wrong and they've just missed something simple and obvious. Like the cat equivalent of severe IBS that just looks really similar to cancer in an ultrasound .

I sound pathetic but I know I need to face the truth. Has anyone on mumsnet experienced something similar with their cat: a cancer diagnosis they didn't want to believe, accept, or turned out to be plain wrong? I sound weak and that I can't handle bad news but I'm not and I feel so alone. I feel like lots of people out there would think 'it's just an animal' but she's not just 'an animal' to me. Please can someone share their experiences with me. At the moment I have three choices:

1. Throw everything towards delaying the inevitable by taking her to a specialist pet oncology place, $10 000 plus (I think that's about 5000 pounds and a bit. I have insurance but I have to get more info about what I'm covered for)
2. Have the vet surgically remove the tumour, get it biopsied and then sent off to a specialist in a different part of the country where a treatment plan will be devised between my vet and said specialist. This is the middle of the road option. Not as expensive as the first option but more than 'nothing' - palliative care+++ I suppose.... But I can't bear for her to be cut open for nothing.
3. Palliative care. She gets a (weekly) injection of some kind of steroid drug thing to delay the spread of the cancer. This will just buy us a bit more time but that's all.

The vet says the best we can hope for is that the cancer hasn't spread and can be cut out, unfortunately there is evidence that the lymph nodes near her intestines are enlarged so I think that window has sailed us by...I have to make a decision by next week.

I know no one can tell me the right thing to do but I would appreciate any words of wisdom or experience. This is the only 'pet' I've ever had and she's so precious to me. Thanks for reading.

I’m bumping for you. Hopefully someone will have some knowledge on this.

I think I’d go for 2 & hope it’s not a tumour. You poor thing, 4 is so young!

Sorry to hear about your poor kitty...

The only experience I have with mast cell tumours is on my last Labrador, unfortunately it was on her muzzle. I will tell you honestly my experience, the lump started as a tiny bee sting like lump and within 6 weeks had grown substantial. Operating wasn’t was option but the vet did source some chemotherapy treatment, it was incredibly experience but we felt like we needed to try. The tumour continued to grow and we had the decision to let her go. The lump started bleeding as the skin was so thin and we knew it would continue to grow and she would start to suffer. I’m sorry this wasn’t a more positive story but I would have wanted to know the reality. Please bare in mind that my lab was 12

Your kitty is only 4 and I would be favouring more for option 2, you will know what you are dealing with by then can make a decision from there.

Take care and best of luck x

I think I'd have it biopsied/ removed. But only to remove any lingering. "What if it wasn't cancer niggles" then I'd look at palliative care only and PTS when the time was right.

She is young, so I'd go with the option 2. But if you're not 100% convinced with what you're being told, you can take her to another vet for a 2nd opinion. See what the insurance company has to say and if you're covered for option 1, then I'd definitely try that first.

So sorry you're going through this. It's so hard when they're unwell

Thank you so much for all your replies.
Fluffycloudland77 thank you, I always thought I'd have one of those lovely, doddering 20 year old cats . I thought that I'd have kids one day and that I'd catch her snuggled up with them in their crib or something. Then start a lighthearted AIBU about it .

Glitterb I really appreciate your story Glitter. I'm so sorry about your beautiful dog, it's so unfair. They are so innocent. I wish love was enough to make them better. I never thought to factor in her young age as a potential positive in all this, so that gives me motivation to try option 2. Thank you again x

Toddlerteaplease Thank you. I think that's the vets ultimate plan. To prove beyond a doubt it's cancer, grade it, and then work out a palliative treatment plan. I'm scared it's selfish to assuage my own doubts that she has cancer when the vet is certain but it's probably obvious (from space!) that I have anxiety issues and being certain would help me in my own mind. I asked the vet if it was a 'painful' cancer and he told me that there aren't as many nerve endings in the gut as there are in the bones, for example...(good God to those people and animals ). He said she would probably feel sick more often, and then euthanasia should be considered. I didn't think to ask what the final signs would be but online it said seizures and breathing issues.

Want2beme Thank you. There is a specialist vet in my city, a university place where all the vets in the land get their degree from. This vet (the one who diagnosed her) was my 'second opinion' vet. I'd been taking her somewhere else since she was a kitten but they were never able to satisfactorily explain why she had such bad GI problems (For 4 years! I hate myself for this). I trusted them 100% but within one visit of this new vet they recommended all these tests and told me that she was really unwell and too small for her age (It's true. She's tiny for 4). My previous vet said some cats are just 'dainty' but I always thought that she was strangely small (at her beautifully chubbiest she has gone up to 3.5kg about 7.720 pounds. She has never been heavier than this). I chose to trust the vet because I'm not an expert and I've never owned another cat to compare her to. My sadness is slowly turning to anger but I can't waste time on that now.

I trust this vet more than the old one, but I also don't trust them for this same reason. I think I will seek out a third option at the university place. I really appreciate the responses, truly.

Oooh. I’ll post some pics. I’ll be a minute, I’m crap at computers

She’s stunning. Her eyes are just beautiful.

Oh, she is lovely. That's upsetting re your experience with the first vet. It makes you question everything you're told. It seems like this 2nd vet is more experienced. I hope you get a positive response from the insurance company.

On Monday we had our 16 year old boy PTS with advanced abdominal cancer. It happened so quickly. The vet said he might have had a few weeks left if we chose palliative care, but he had been so poorly we felt it was the right time. Is she still grooming herself?

Oh, she’s stunning.

I had my girl euthanised last Feb, whilst undergoing radiotherapy for a tumour myself. She had had her toe then leg amputated when the biopsy showed the cancer had spread. 2 days before I had to go (treatment was far away so had to stay) I found a lump. My mum had to take her to the vets 10 days later.

My girl was always small. Never more than 3.4 kg. Her bro has never been above 4. It was heartbreaking as I wasn’t there to hold her, tell her how special she was. But I knew I had done the right thing in pursuing more surgery, CAT scans, chemo or radiotherapy for her.

I now remember her and smile. So many photos of her in silly and stupid poses. But I did my best for her to the very end.

Be strong. You will know when it’s time to say goodbye and she will forever leave a paw print on your heart. I am so very sorry you have to make this decision 🐾💗

She's beautiful. I had one of mine PTS 18 months ago for heart disease and acute kidney failure. It was awful, but very peaceful and dignified. But what really helped was having a plan of what I wanted to happen at the end, what I'd do with her remains etc.
I have a key ring with all
My cats paw prints on. The company can send you an ink less kit. Or she can do it from a clear photo of their pads.

Wishing you well LittleMissnotLittleMrs

Condolences to everyone for the sad loss of their furry friends🐈

Thanks for all your well wishes and stories everyone, I passed on your compliments to the little madam . I decided to go with the first option after asking about insurance coverage (It's covered! I was in happy shock) She's going to have surgery to remove the tumour tomorrow. The vet says its mostly diagnostic and they can confirm if it's cancer or not. I feel like she is in good hands (finally) and I trusted the vet straight away- they listened to everything I had to say and were happy to answer any questions. The vet also said new studies have shown that cats with mast cells tumours can live an extra 500 days with some treatments so that's something.

Toilenstripes yes, she's still grooming herself and using the litter tray, eating etc. Apart from nausea every few weeks she seems fine. I'm sorry about your lovely boy, I'm a bit in shock at how fast this is all happening. I was reading up on euthanasia and it does seem very peaceful for them.

LittleMissNotLittleMrs Thank you for sharing your story, I'm sorry about your girl and I hope you are doing well yourself. Everything that I thought I would do in a situation like this has gone out the window, I just want to do the best for her. I'm scared I won't get that instinctive feeling to let her go and I'll just try and hold on to her.

Toddlerteaplease I'm sorry about your kitty. I had a few drinks before I started looking up all the burial stuff but I felt a lot calmer and focused afterwards. The paw prints idea is lovely, I'll have to look it up.

I'm so nervous about the surgery. She's really, really coddled at home and I'm worried they'll leave her in a cold cage with no one to fuss over her. I'll ask the surgeon more questions tomorrow so it should be fine. Thanks again everyone.

Oh gosh, I'm so sorry about what you and your girl are going through. I hope so much that she doesn't have cancer. Best of luck with the surgery. I know what you mean about them being coddled at home and worrying about them when they're at the vet. I know that the lovely nurses at our practice do everything they can to make our boys comfortable when they're there and I'm sure it's the same at any good practice. Vet nursing is one of those professions people definitely go in to for love.

Hello anyone reading this. All the previous replies have been so comforting during this time and I wanted to update the thread for anyone else out there going through this.

First things first, yes, it is definitely mast cell tumour cancer. My poor kitty has also developed pneumonia as a side effect of the operation (oxygen tube inside trachea). She's been on antibiotics and getting a lot better. Wow, pneumonia is just as dreadful in cats as humans. The vet was happy for her to be an outpatient after an x-ray but she sounded awful for a few days- wheezing, gagging and honking! .

We have decided that she will have chemotherapy until it is no longer viable for her to receive this treatment. The specialist vet has quoted a study that said cats with mast cell intestinal tumours can live up to 300 extra days with chemo treatment. Of course, cancer is on the highest fuckwittery plane imaginable, and anything could happen :(

I feel so sorry for her. She does seem better after the operation though. The tumour ended up being a bit bigger than the ultrasound showed so I'm very glad it was removed. Thanks again for all the support

Lots of unmumsnetty love and hugs

Hi OP, thanks for the update. I'm so glad she came through the operation ok and seems to be better, she sounds like a little fighter. One of my boys is very poorly with kidney failure due to amyloidosis, he's up and down with eating but is otherwise his usual sweet self. He's Siamese and it's usually familial, his brother has shown no signs of being ill but we're getting him tested tomorrow so that we can change his food and start on meds if necessary. They're only 3 so it's all pretty horrific. It sounds like you love your girl as much as I love my boys so sending a handhold and unmumsnetty hug!

Thanks so much penguingorl for your lovely words, I'm so sorry about your boy, I hope he gets better and his brother stays healthy. My cat has gotten (sorry about grammar) a lot better from the pneumonia. She'll probably start chemo next week via tablets. I feel guilty because she's about 95% her usual self after the operation and knowing our luck she'll probably get every side effect possible after taking the chemo pills and feel sick again . I've put my tears on hold for the moment, I'll just look after her and hope we get as much time together as possible. My family has been really kind to me, they know that she's like a baby to me.

Once again, hoping for all the best with your gorgeous kitties .

Thanks so much @Whereistheheartacheemoji I'm so glad to hear that your girl is doing well. Fingers crossed she doesn't have too many side effects from the chemo, and any that she does have can be helped with medication. 🤞 And lots of cuddles of course!
My cats are like babies to me too, they've been by my side through some really tough times and I love them with all my heart. Otto is currently well, which is amazing, he will now have extra tests as part of his yearly health check so that we can stay on top of it if he does develop any signs of amyloidosis. Loki is a little better, he has been on a renal diet and some meds for a week which have already helped. His blood pressure is very high though (at least in part due to vet visit I expect, which makes it all the more horrid that I have to wait in the car park) so he is on some more meds and will be checked again next week as it's important to get the dosage right. We were looking at BP cuffs for cats online so that I could try to do it at home but we can't afford one. If next week stresses him out I'm going to try and find a way to get one though!
We really would do anything for our precious kitties wouldn't we?! 😻

My 15 year old cat collapsed last Saturday, he had shown no signs of illness before this. He had an ultrasound and it showed a tumour in the bowel. I had 3 options, put him to sleep, palliative care or surgery. I went for the surgery and he came home Monday. He is happy and eating as normal. We are waiting for results of the biopsy. There was a glimmer of hope so I had to go for it

How awful @Jul1911, what a tough decision. I would 100% have gone for the surgery too and I'm so glad for you that he's happy and eating well. Long may it continue! 🐱

I have tried uploading a photo but I can't? He is doing very well so far

Here he is

Aww, gorgeous boy 😻

penguingorl I'm glad Loki and Otto (awesome names!) are doing well. I know, right, the things we do for our cats!!! I wasn't even an animal person let alone a 'cat person' before I got my cat. She has truly changed my life.
I feel your pain about not being able to afford the BP cuffs (my industry is shut down because of covid-19). Because my cat has pneumonia, the vet has to take more x-rays which adds an extra $200 (about 134 pounds) to her base consultation bill (a bit over 100 pounds) which sucks but it needs to be done if we want to start chemo.

Jul1911 what a handsome boy he is. I'm sorry you're going through this. I can't imagine how worrying it would have been to see him collapse .

I'm so glad he's doing well after the surgery, it's horrible not having them at home. Did he get his belly shaved? (I think I can see it in the picture), mine did and I want to tickle her pink belly SO MUCH, but alas, I shall resist.
I really hope your cat’s biopsy results are good, that the tumour removal is successful and your lovely cat goes back to his usual handsome self.
It’s frustrating that we have to make these kinds of decisions. Why can't life-preserving surgery for animals be the norm and AFFORDABLE? If I didn't have my pet insurance there's no way we could have elected to get surgery for my cat - and it makes me go cold to think about it.

Get pet insurance people!!! You'll never know how much you end up loving your pets.