OMG, there's a lump between Luna's shoulder blades!!! (Update Aug. 15)

[Kirsten]

I'm sitting here with tears running down my face, and I'm almost freaking out here.

An hour ago, Luna was lying next to me and I petted her, it was the most peaceful moment you can imagine, when I suddenly felt a mass between her shoulder blades. It's a lump about the size of a thumbnail, it's below the fat tissue, and it's movable.

What if it's a vaccine related fibrosarkoma? :( :( :( I'm not ready to lose my heart kitty, she's only 6 years old!!! And she's been through so much already! Now it looks like she's going to have another surgery! :( :( :( My poor girl!!! It breaks my heart just to look at her!! I was so happy that she had no more bladder problems lately.

Why Luna? She never did any harm to anyone, she's just sweet and innocent, and she doesn't deserve this! It's just not fair, all this is just not fair!!!! I know I love Luna too much, and that I will be punished for this one day. :(

I will take her to the vet tomorrow after work. Unfortunately, my vet is on vacation, so I have to go to another one.

Please keep my Luna in your thoughts,

Kirsten

[Lizzie]

Lumps are scary, I know, but most of them turn out to be benign. You are veering straight off into the worst case scenario, as we all would in your place, but chances are that it's not what you fear. I thought lumps were less likely to be the bad kind if they are moveable? It's when they are attached that they are more likely to be something nasty.

Let Luna calm you, she's not worrying. If you get upset, then so will she. Sending positive thoughts and best wishes for the check-up.

[Killearn Kitties]

Of course Luna will be in my thoughts, and you.

I know it is easy to say, but please try not to panic. You won't help Luna or yourself. :( Lots of love and healthy vibes being sent sweet Luna's way!

[Kirsten]

I know, and I wish I could be stronger for Luna, but right now, I'm a mess. The moment I noticed the lump, it was like a knife of ice going through my heart.

I try to tell myself that movable lumps are the good ones, but maybe every lump would be movable in Luna's fat tissue? I don't know... :confused:

Her last rabies vaccination is 4 years ago, her last leukemia shot 3 years (as these diseases are not so dangerous for indoor cats without feline contacts), and those are the ones that may cause sarkoma.

Is it possible that injections (like antibiotic shots) cause a lipoma, or an abcess? Luna got lots of these shots because of her bladder problems.

Kirsten

[Kfamr]

Has she recently got a shot there?


Simba (although canine) got a shot on his hip a month or so ago. He had a bump for a few weeks because of it and it's very common. It finally went away.

[Kirsten]

Well, the last shot may be three months ago. During the last winter, she got many shots there because of her UTIs.

I don't know for how long the lump is already there, it's hard to feel as it's sometimes hidden under her right shoulder blade.

Kirsten

[catnapper]

Oh Kirsten! ((((HUGS)))) I can only imagine how you feel.... I am praying its only a fatty tumor like Nicki has. They shift around too and the vet says they are perfectly harmless. I don't know how common they are in cats but they are very common in dogs, so I'll pray thats all it is.

[catmandu]

Precious had a lump in more or less the same spot, and it came off, no problem at all.
That was 4 years ago, and theres been no problem since.
We pray that Luna will be well, and there will be no problem with her either.

[jenluckenbach]

Now don't worry too much just yet.

Luna will be in my thoughts and prayers.

{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}

[kb2yjx]

Kirsten!!! I am sure by the time you read this, you will have already called your vet and talked about the lump. HOPEFULLY, you have been reassured that everthing is OK. PLease let us know what happens!! Prayers for both Luna and YOU!!!(((((((hugs, too!)))))))) Sandra

[Queen of Poop]

Prayers for Luna that this lump is benign and nothing to worry about, just like my lump was. It's heart wrenching I know, but until you have reason to worry try to be calm. Upseting Luna is the last thing you want to do. Prayers to help you get thru this as it is truly awful to find a lump on your pet. Hugs for you and Luna. Please take care.

[GreyhoundGirl]

oh, (((HUGS))) I know how you feel, Jenny has one too. :(

[Zippy]

((((HUGS))))
I will pray it is nothing.

[AbbyMom]

Prayers for you and Luna!! We'll be thinking of you.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Kirsten, I sure hope that it's nothing serious. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent Luna's way.

Several years ago I also noticed a small lump while petting Sunny. I was starting to freak out when I realised that what I was feeling was his microchip. Boy was I relieved.:) I hope that the lump is just a simple reaction to her recent shots. Please take care.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Kirsten, try not to worry to much, please.... . You say it is movable, so the chance that it is nothing serious is real!!
Of course, I understand your fear, I would react the same way.... :(

[kb2yjx]

Any word???

[lvpets2002]

:( OMG Kristen I am so sorry & sad for you & Luna.. Hope all is ok.. ((((HUGS & PRAYERS)))) from me & the girls..

[Kirsten]

I took her to two different vets after work today. Both my regular vet and the other vet in town are on vacation and had substitute vets in their offices (the first one very young, the second one very old); they checked the lump but couldn't say wether it was benign or malign. Of course I know they cannot tell without a biopsy, or histology, but they told me to wait several weeks and watch the growth of the tumor. And they say that it's movable is NOT a guarantee for a benign one, so this small hope I had is also gone now. :(

That's all I know for now. :( All I can do is waiting and fear for Luna's life. :( :( :(

My regular vet will be back in two weeks, and I will call her as soon as she's back and ask for advice. My personal opinion is not to wait too long with the sugery, because why should you wait until it's worse? On the other hand, if it's a sarcoma, the chances aren't good anyway, with or without surgery. :(

Kirsten

[Queen of Poop]

Sounds like there is a reason they are substitute vets. Is there any other "real" vet you can take her to before your vet is back. Two weeks will be agony and seem like an eternity. Keep a close watch on the lump. But do not give it so much attention that Luna becomes aware of it. Although it sounds like she wouldn't be able to reach it. I will pray that it is just a lump and nothing that needs any attention or causes her (and you) any difficulty. Please give Luna a big KISS.

[Barbara]

I think the lump should get looked at anyway. So surgery would be the next option. It does not make sense to wait. Either it is a little fat lump or not - but in the latter case it should happen soon.

Keeping all my fingers crossed.

[orangemm]

Hugs to you and prayers for Luna. I'm hoping and praying it will be nothing more than a fatty tumor that can be removed.

Don't go imagining the worst scenario. There is always hope.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

I think the lump should get looked at anyway. So surgery would be the next option. It does not make sense to wait. Either it is a little fat lump or not - but in the latter case it should happen soon.

Keeping all my fingers crossed.

I agree with Barbara! There must be a reliable clinic somewhere near you. No matter if that lump is bad or not, it is better to have it removed.... .
Good luck sweet Luna!!

[Donnaj4962]

Oh my, I am just seeing this thread! I am sorry to hear about Luna's lump, but even more sad to hear that you got nothing definitive from the 2 vets you took her to. I agree that a "regular" vet is the way to go, not a substitute.

Lots of hugs and many prayers coming your way from Indiana for you and Luna!

[Catsnclay]

Awhile back I too found a lump on Fluffy while petting him. We too rushed him to the vet who felt it and at the time didn't seem to concerned. She told us to keep an eye on it, make sure it didn'g grow bigger or move.

We checked it every time we brushed him, and one day my husband asked me what side the lump was on, again?? We both felt Fluffy, and neither of us could find that lump! Yeah! And we searched & searched :rolleyes:

So, do not rush to conclusions, or into surgery just yet. Give it some time, and see what it does. Sometimes they get bumps & bruises, but it is under their skin (ours show on top). I know it is hard to be patient, but hopefully this lump will go away on Luna, and we all worried for nothing ;) But we will be keeping all fingers and paw's crossed, just in case......

[phesina]

Dear Kirsten, my cats and I all hope and pray that this lump is benign and will come off with no problems.

By all means, get this looked at right away by a vet who's in regular practice; perhaps a specialist, or get recommendations from friends. See what the vet has to say, but I should think that if the lump is at all questionable, the best thing to do is get it out. If it's benign, no loss (except for the cost of the surgery, of course), but if it is malignant, the sooner it's out the better to limit potential spread, and the sooner it's diagnosed the sooner you will know what the overall picture is and what if any further treatment might need to be considered.

My boy Sydney has a fibrosarcoma. About a month ago I felt a lump under his right armpit. I took him to the vet right away, and she removed it surgically 3 days later. Pathology came back saying fibrosarcoma, probably vaccine-related. The vet took very wide margins with her surgery, but it turned out she didn't get it all.

Last week we looked into radiation but decided that is not an option. A surgical specialist thinks he may be able to get the rest of it, so Sydney is scheduled for surgery with him on August 22, the first opening he had.

If that is not successful, we won't do any other drastic treatment. He's fine for now, but it will very likely recur down the road and perhaps metastasize. All radiation and/or chemotherapy might do is extend the time before recurrence or mets, not prevent it.

I'm giving Sydney lots of love and some homeopathic-type immune-boosting medications which may possibly help. We'll do whatever seems best to do as we go along.

Much love and prayers and good wishes and purrs are coming to Luna, and to Lily and you too.

Pat, Sydney, Peony, Priscilla, and Poppy

[momcat]

I know I love Luna too much, and that I will be punished for this one day.
First of all, I don't believe for even a moment that you love her too much. Our kitty companions have a way of stealing our hearts over and over again. Luna holds a very special place in your heart and in your life just as Groucho does in mine. Kirsten, you have done nothing to be punished for! Our pets are a very special gift that bring so much to us, things we could never find anywhere else... their unconditional love, devoted companionship. You have given Luna everything a happy kitty could possibly hope for. If loving a cat too much is a punishable offense then each and everyone of us here on PT are in a whole lot of trouble!
Prayers are certainly being prayed for Luna and you as well.

[CultureJunky]

I hope Luna is going to be just fine, and I'm sure she will be with your loving care and attention. She is lucky to have an owner who does so much for her and cares so deeply. My fingers are crossed that she will be fine, and I'm sure she will ;)
Love Kate, Jack & Sunny

[Kirsten]

Thank you everyone for your support!

phesina, I'm really sorry to read about your Sydney! :( This is so scary, and I'm sending all the best wishes to him.

As you all said it's too risky to wait several weeks, I called the vet clinic in Kassel this morning and described Luna's case, and the person on the phone said very clearly that I shouldn't wait that long. She offered me an appointment for a sugery tomorrow, but said I should introduce Luna to the clinic's pet specialist first. So I agreed to bring Luna to the clinic this evening after work.

The thought of poor Luna having surgery so soon was sort of scary, and I cried all morning at work. I just couldn't help it; it broke my heart and I was terribly scared.

At 5:30 this afternoon, I was finally able to pick Luna up and bring her to the clinic where the vet checked the lump and said it was big, about the size of a cherry pit. She left the decision up to me whether the surgery should be tomorrow or not. She said it's very likely that it's only a reaction to shots (fat tissue necrosis), which sometimes occures up to 3 months after (!) an injection. Luna's last antibiotic shot IS three months ago. It's true that IF it's a sarcoma, it's better to remove it as soon as possible, even though it's a fact that you NEVER get all the cancer cells out of the system, so it's very likely that there are relapses. At least a fibrosarcoma does not metastazise.

Anyway, we eventually agreed NOT to have the surgery tomorrow, as there are (according to her) good chances that it's only a fat tissue necrosis. But I need to watch Luna closely and if I notice any changes, she will have surgery immediately.

I don't know if this was the right decision, all I know is that I had a terrible bad feeling about the surgery tomorrow. I really don't know what to do. I'm just scared. But when we left the clinic, I was sort of relieved that I don't have to put Luna through this torture tomorrow. Does that make any sense to you?

Kirsten

[shais_mom]

glad to hear an update -
will be hoping it goes away on its own

[My Peanuts]

(I know Luna is a kitty, but all my experiences are dog related, sorry)
My dog, RB Angie had a small lump in the same spot. She didn't die of anything related to it, so don't worry about that. Angie's turned out to be from trauma. When she would go outside she was so eager that she run while the door was opening and hit it, lightly, in the same spot every time. Maybe Luna is doing something similar? The vet drained some fluid and checked for cancer. It was nothing. I hope that Luna's turns out to be nothing. It could be a cyst or fatty tumor. Prayers are on the way for your girl. Because it moves doesn't mean you are in the clear with cancer, but it does make the odds with you that it isn't cancer or that if it is, it hasn't spread.

My boyfriend's 9 year old Golden just had a large cancerous tumor removed and went through chemo over several months. She is doing wonderfully and all her blood tests are clear. She also had cancer in the same spot when she was 2 years old. Just because they use the big C word doesn't mean the end. Try not to worry.

[Barbara]

I am glad you went to Kassel - although it was some driving etc. At least these people sound as if they knew something.
If it is a fat tissue necrosis- what would they expect to happen? Would it be gone after some time?

At least this gives you the time to wait for your normal vet to come back.

We don't uncross our paws yet.

[catmandu]

We are praying ever harder, tahn like the lump that Precious had, it will go away, and be nothing serious.
We all love Luna, theres no such thing as loving a friend too much.

[K & L]

Kirsten
One of our cats did this and the lump evenutally went away. I think you made a wise decision. Just watch it and if it seems to get larger, or she's in discomfort then you can opt for the surgery. Good luck with this!

[Soapets]

My heart goes out to you. I think you made the right decision for now. It's so hard to decide what to do in cases like this. I know you will watch it very closely, and hopefully it will get smaller, or at least not grow any more, between now and when your regular Vet. gets back........

Keep us posted, and I'll keep you and Luna in my prayers!

Deb

[phesina]

Dear Kirsten, I'm glad you and Luna saw a good vet. Sounds like she gave you some good advice, and we know you'll be watching her very closely and giving her lots of attention. When does her regular vet come back?

Thanks for the good wishes for Sydney. He is doing just fine right now.

More prayers and wishes and thoughts that Luna's lump turns out to be nothing serious are being sent along.

Love,
Pat and Sydney and the gang

[DJFyrewolf36]

Prayers on the way that Luna is ok...hopefully it's nothing. Ive had a couple of dogs have had similar reactions to shots.

[dukedogsmom]

I hope Luna will be alright. I would just watch it. Duke's had a fatty tumor for years. I'll admit I was worried it was something else until I saw another older dog with them. You can't help but worry.

[Sonia59]

I hope Luna will be all right. You are in my thought and all paws are crossed. I think you did the right thing by going to the vet quickly. May be it is nothing bad. Don't stress too much Kirsten (yes, I know it is easy to say), because Luna will feel it and will be stressed too!

[Kirsten]

Thank you everyone!

Well, I don't want to set my hopes too high, but when I checked her lump yesterday and today, I got the impression it has gotten a bit smaller. I'm not really sure about it as it's really hard to tell (as you can only compare it to the size that you have in your memory), but I'm pretty sure it hasn't grown during the last days.

HOPEFULLY this is something that will go away without surgery!!! Please keep my beloved girl in your thoughts, okay?

Thanks,
Kirsten

[momcat]

This sounds like very promising news, Kirsten, but I do understand your reluctance here. You and sweet Luna remain in my thoughts and prayers!

[Russian Blue]

As momcat said, that does sound promising Kirsten. :)

I have come across strange bumps before on many pets and many of them went away. Keeping fingers crossed for you and Luna.

[Felicia's Mom]

My prayers are with you and Luna.

[jazzcat]

Kirsten, I'm just now catching up on all this. How scary!

I'm glad to hear the lump is getting smaller, very good news.

[Kirsten]

Thank you everyone. When I checked it earlier today, I couldn't find it, but I just found it again, and now it seems to me it still has the same size... :( It's so hard to tell.... :(

Kirsten

[Kirsten]

One of our local vets is back from the holiday now (the one with a lot of homeopathic knowledge). I called him today and discussed Luna's case, and he recommended a homeopathic remedy that may help with lumps, Silicea. I already ordered it in the pharmacy, so I can pick it up tomorrow.

Kirsten