Mr Meow is home, pictures added on post #80

[Catty1]

Jen, did you get my PM? It might sound weird...but run it by a specialist, and see if they have the technology...

If they could even 'freeze-dry' the thing...I know cryogenic treatment is used with tumours, but what kind, I don't know.

[jennielynn1970]

Have you taken Mr. Meow to Valley Central to see Dr. Hodges at all?? I mean, Joyce thinks so highly of him, and he did pull a bunch of our guys through when we thought nothing would help (look at Sneakers....). Dr. Hess gave me the same prognosis as Dr. Hodges did when it came to Alex back in February, when Dr. Fanelli missed it by a mile. I love his manner with the animals, but he's missed things before, or treated them differently than Dr. Hess, and Dr. Hess' ways have worked better with the ones he goofed up.

I didn't know that Mr. Meow was that young! Wow... I hope there is something they can do. It would be great if they could remove the tumor. If it's not attached to anything, and was movable, that's a better sign than being attached to something isn't it?? If it's small and hard and in a fixed spot, that's more likely to be a cancerous tumor than something squishy and movable (many times those are cysts). A lymph node, I'm not so sure about, cause those run throughout the body, and can spread cancer like they do in humans, but usually it's a group of lymph nodes, and not just one, right??

[Emeraldgreen]

It's so hard to know what to suggest. I have experienced both sides of the coin in the last few months. In one case, my cat Charlie who seemed in very good health and around the same age as your Mr. Meow (aged 6) had a golf ball sized lump on his side (that seemed to appear out of nowhere so I think it must have been fast growing) underwent a fine needle aspiration to make sure it wasn't an abscess or a fat deposit. It was neither. The vet wanted to put him under and take a biopsy but I asked him to take the whole thing if he was already going to be under. Charlie, died just after the surgery but the vet believes Charlie had cardiomyopathy which was unknown to everyone. The thing is though that the vet said the surgery itself went so well and that he managed to excise the tumor completely and he said he got all the surrounding tissue as well. Lab results later confirmed this. He said he was sure that Charlie would have gone on to live a very long life.
My other cat Tiger had a tumor removed from his nasal passage a few months ago as well at the age of 11. He wouldn't be here without the surgery because he was in terrible shape at the time so I'm so thankful we went through with it.
I think a fine needle aspiration is a good idea, they can do it so quickly and Charlie didn't seem to feel any discomfort when they did it right in the exam room. Perhaps there is a way to determine if Mr. Meow has any issue with Cardiomyopathy prior to anesthesia? I think if Mr. Meow is healthy otherwise and strong enough to handle the anesthesia that it might be a good option. But again, it's so hard to say what is the right thing. They're so important to us and these are very big decisions.

[Anikaca77]

Is there any way they could take an extra or do an ultrasound and maybe confirm that way that it is a tumor or not. Mr. Meow is so young.

You will what is best for you and him.

My prays are with you both.

Melissa

[jenluckenbach]

Jennie, Mr Meow saw Dr Hodges when he has his ultrasound. He is the vet who wanted to do te endoscopy.

Why would no one (3 vets saw him) offer a fine needle biopsy? It was never mentioned. This makes me wonder if it is not an option in his case?

This is all very confusing and stressful. Thank you for all your help.

[Craftlady]

Jennie, Mr Meow saw Dr Hodges when he has his ultrasound. He is the vet who wanted to do te endoscopy.

Why would no one (3 vets saw him) offer a fine needle biopsy? It was never mentioned. This makes me wonder if it is not an option in his case?

This is all very confusing and stressful. Thank you for all your help.

I think most general vet's probably dont do needle biopsy's. It wasnt until we went to specialist did they do one for Thumper. It's pretty quick and painless (they numb the area). The specium was sent to California for analysis.
It's not a cheap procedure.

[Medusa]

I think most general vet's probably dont do needle biopsy's. It wasnt until we went to specialist did they do one for Thumper. It's pretty quick and painless (they numb the area). The specium was sent to California for analysis.
It's not a cheap procedure.

My Creamsicle had a needle biopsy done when she first got the skin allergy because my vet thought she may have skin cancer. I don't recall it being that expensive, though I can check my records to be sure. If it's available to you, you may want to give it a try.

[Catty1]

I wonder if One by One would cover a needle biopsy?

Is an endoscopy terribly invasive? I am not sure what it is...