Fibrosarcoma

[Clairebear8621]

Good morning... My cat is approximately 12 years old and I found a pea size lump on her hip and on the side of her stomach... The are kinda hard and move around.. So I took her to the vet.. He sd it's more than likely fibrosarcoma...they took chest x-rays and there is a snowy pattern in her lungs that they say is 'just different and not normal'... And it's probably related to the lumps. I take her to have the lumps removed on Tuesday to confirm the diagnosis. So, if it is in her lungs, does anyone know how long I may have with her? I'm am just beside myself with grief.. I don't think I can make the decision to put her to sleep, I know she's an older cat and do not want to put her through surgery after surgery.. I just want to give her a comfortable life.. She's my baby.. I'm so sad.. Can anyone offer any advice/knowledge regarding what i need to expect?

[Catty1]

Hi, ClaireBear, and welcome - though I wish I was greeting you under happier circumstances.

Ask your vet about prednisone - this keeps the swelling of the tumours down a bit, and keeps her appetite up. Your vet will know about other things that will keep your girl comfortable.

I don't know if your vet will recommend chemo - if it will help.

There is a product called Transfer Factor that some people have had success with. It basically makes the body alkaline, which cancer can't live in. I don't know what stage your kitty's cancer is at, but again ask your vet and I am sure you will get more responses here.

Do you have a picture of your girl? What is her name?

HUGS to you - I am so sorry you are going through this.

[Freedom]

Oh my, how scary! Sending you cyber hugs and calming thoughts. Waiting to get more info is tough. Do let us know what more the vet advises. And what the lab reports show, for the lumps he removes.

[kuhio98]

I am so sorry to hear your kitty might have cancer.
We recently lost a kitty to fibrosarcoma. But, Halo's was a very large tumor and very aggressive. She had 2 surgeries to remove the tumors but they came back faster and larger. (Please keep in mind, they were very large, not pea-sized like your cats').

It sounds like you have caught it much earlier than we did. So, I would imagine your outcome will be better.

I'm not a vet, but from what I've been told, the "different" lung x-ray may have nothing to do with fibrosarcoma. Our vet explained that fibrosarcoma isn't a cancer that gets into the bloodstream and goes to other organs. Instead, it grows roots into surrounding tissue. The roots are microscopic and almost impossible to remove completely. Our vet did not recommend chemo or radiation, but that could be because Halo's cancer was so aggressive.

You can read more about sweet, gentle Halo here: http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...highlight=halo

She was diagnosed in May. Had surgery in May and again in July. We had to let her go in September.

[Clairebear8621]

Thank you so much for all your comments... I do have a picture, but I'm at my friends destination wedding and I don't have one I can post. I'm trying to enjoy myself, but it's so difficult when I just want to be with her in case she's not ok.
Her name is Claire... I call her Claire-bear..
I guess the only thing I can hope for is the little lumps come back just benign.
Thanks again and I'll post back with results from Tuesday.

[Medusa]

I've not had experience w/this but I just wanted to say that my prayers are going up for your Claire-bear. It's tough waiting for answers and making decisions when our sweet furbabies trust us completely to take good care of them and make the hurt go away. Praying for a good outcome.....keep the faythe. (((HUGS)))