Treating cancer in old cat - advice please

[notagainnotnow]

Hi

Hoping someone might be able to offer a perspective / experience

Have a 14 year old boy. Generally very well cat. Recently gone totally off food, dramatic weight loss and lethargic - urgent vet trips revealed a cancerous mass in his intestine. He's been hospitalised tonight to get some fluid and nutrition in him. And they will scan tomorrow to see more abler the mass but 'best outcome' is 12 more months (with treatment).

We don't know obviously but we're weighing up the benefits and harms of surgery and chemo in relation to his quality of life. We don't want to make him suffer.

Does anyone have experience of doing chemo / cancer surgery with their cat? What was it like? Positive and negative views all welcome

Thank you

Sorry to hear that @notagainnotnow. Wishing you some good times with him still to come.

My 10 year old maine coon has suspended mammary cancer, we’re waiting on bloods to see how her liver and kidneys are and whether she could cope with surgery.

best case scenario is they can remove the affected nipple and tumour, otherwise they could take out both the whole strips of breast tissue which is a huge op and not something I want to put her through. A friends cat had it done and my friend really regrets it in hindsight.

i think that maybe it’s spread too much already anyway, a lymph node seems to be swollen too and her breathing doesn’t sound great.

i think we’ll be opting to let her go peacefully 😢

This week has been a ride (not a good one).

Have a diagnosis of FIP which is a terminal diagnosis of untreated. But he is treatable and this treatment isnt invasive / doesn't require to and from vet. He should recover fully and go on to live as normal. So having gone from nearly putting him down on Tuesday - to yesterday we have done a lot of mental somersaults.

I do so appreciate everyone's experiences and thoughts re their cats and cancer. I know this is a hugely emotional and sensitive topic. I wanted to update re the above but mindful that actually what I originally set out to ask on this thread (about cancer / letting a cat go) is no longer the position I'm in - and I'm sorry, I don't want anyone to think I've mined for experiences for no reason.

we are going to treat him, with one round and if that doesn't work or he needs further treatment that will be the end point. But it feels like he has a decent life left to live.

You have all genuinely made me smile and cry with your love and care for your furry paws.

Aw, that's great news @notagainnotnow. All the best to you and your lovely kitty 😻

What a roller coaster but glad you’ll have more time with your boy. My old girl had liver cancer and chemo and steroid tablets gave us 6 months of quality life. No more visits to the vets in that time until I called it and shattered my heart as she passed. Best of luck op x

I am haunted by my experience with my cat nearly 40 years ago. She and I were so bonded since she was a kitten. I was her human from the age of 10. When I went to uni, she used to go upstairs waiting for me outside my bedroom (she wasn't allowed upstairs!) She had a real wild streak and not being spayed as was common back then, she disappeared so many times in search of male cats! She only ever had kittens twice, and she didn't want to know, so they died. She lost half of her coat at one stage and the vet prescribed hormone tables and it grew back. I think now she was probably inbred. I adored her and she adored me.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 12, and only because the vet came out to a sheep and I showed her to him. She had disappeared for a week and came back absolutely stinking from the infection. The vet gave us something to treat that.

I can't remember how long she lived after diagnosis but omg she should have been PTS! It wasn't a thing back then and I was mostly living away from home. Anyway she died, my mother sat with her, and said she died a horrible death. I loved that cat so so much, and it breaks my heart even now, all these years later - I'm in tears just thinking about it!

16 years ago, the last of my two tortie sisters

Ooops.

The second of my two tortie and white sisters was diagnosed with a tumour in hr stomach and we were told by the vet that it was bleeding. She was very dehydrated so the vet admitted her to their vet hospital to go on a drip. I didn't go to see her because I didn't want to upset her and for her to think she was coming home. We knew we were going to have to make 'the decision' but it was taken out of our hands when she died suddenly at the vet's. I had arranged to bring her home the next morning for a few days of pampering before the inevitable, so when I approached reception to be told, "oh it's so sad, it was so sudden" was devastating. Receptionist then disappeared and came back to say that my girl had died shortly after 12 that night and the bastards didn't let me know!! I thought I was going to pick up a living cat only to find out she was already dead! I have to say I completely lost it and ran crying out of the surgery . I don't think I will ever get over it.

Sorry I just got morbid about it all but seriously folks just do whatever is best for your cat x

Sorry for the sad news, do the kind thing and let him go. He's had a good loving life.

That is as good an outcome as can be hoped.
My dog had a lump at 13. It was cancer but it was in a good place for removal and the vet said if it's early stages good recovery, which it was. But if it had been stage 3 or 4 and required chemo I wouldn't have done it. To not be able to explain the pain and nausea for an indeterminate outcome? No, not for an old boy.
He's 15 now, deaf and a bit blind but still enjoying life and walks.

This is wonderful news @notagainnotnow! Im just delighted that our sad stories aren’t your story, and that you have every hope of more years together. Honestly made up for you.

❤️❤️ thanks all.

These furry friends are such a huge part of life aren't they. My cat is home and is doing gradually better each day. Eating a good amount, purring and seeking out fuss. We've made the decision that if he deteriorates / needs additional treatment then that would be the cut off.