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.

[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...

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

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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