Latest Update 12-9-09 Storm's Been Diagnosed & Sunny's Biopsy Results

[Moesha]

Oh no! I hate hearing that "C" word, especially in regard to a cat's mouth. If it is any consolation, like your vet told you, cancer on the lower jaw has a better chance of treatment than in other places in the mouth. Morgan's was on the top jaw. But sadly, the surgery to remove the jaw is part of the treatment. I couldn't have done that to Morgan either, even though it wasn't an option for him. I'm glad to hear the good news for Storm but will be anxiously waiting to hear an update on Sunny.

[Medusa]

Well today was a very long day and not a very good Monday for me at work either. I have some good news and some potentially very bad news. I'll give you the good news first.

Storm's ultrasound was normal. My vet did say that he has a small cyst on one of his kidneys but she's not concerned about it and she did another blood test to check his kidney levels and they're fine. She also said that his gall bladder was enlarged but this could be due to fasting or just from old age. Part of his pancreas was also a bit enlarged and this could also be from old age. He already had a test for pancreatitis and this came back normal.

The blood tests that she did on him which were a Vitamin B12 test and a Cobalamin, Folate, TLI were also normal. He also acted normal throughout the day. When I gave him his pred with the 5mg of pepcid last night, he was able to eat without vomiting. He also slept well all night. My vet thinks that just like people, that Storm may be getting a sour stomach at night or maybe even acid refux which is helping to cause his vomiting. For now I'm going to give him 5mg of pepcid at night and his 5mg of pred in the morning. Hopefully this new formula of meds will finally do the trick.

I forgot to mention earlier that Storm only weighs 12.9lbs so he hasn't gained as much weight back as I had thought. he should be closer to 14 lbs. I'm sure the pred will help with that but hopefully he won't gain as much weight as my poor RB Starr did. So far he's doing well tonight although he's been hissing at everyone and growling too.

Now for the potentially bad news. My Sunny had to have 2 of his upper molars extracted and he's now on pain meds and antibiotics once a day for 10 days. He also has to eat soft food for 7-10 days which shouldn't be a problem because he loves canned food. My vet didn't see any roots left from where Sunny's lower molar was missing so now she's very concerned about what's causing his lower jaw to be swollen. She doesn't think it's being caused by an abscess or an infection. She told me that she fears that he may have cancer.

She took a biopsy from his swollen jaw and now there's a suture there that will dissolve or fall out in the next several weeks. She told me that I should know the results on Wed. but the post op instruction paper says that my vet will call me with the results within 3-5 days. My vet called me at work around 4pm and told me this news. It was very hard not to burst into tears. When my co-worker came to help me I told her the potentially bad news and then I started crying. She's also my roommate and she's known Sunny for years and he's her buddy. She also took it hard so work today was difficult for both of us.

My vet also mentioned that if Sunny's biopsy does come back as cancer then there's a surgery that might be able to be performed where she'd cut his jaw bone in half so he'd only have half a jaw left. She said that cats do very well afterwards but there may be a problem with drooling. The more I think about this the more I don't think that I'd want to put him through something like this. For one I don't think that I could afford the surgery and he just wouldn't be the same. I think that if he does have cancer that I'll just try to make him as comfortable as possible and hopefully he'll be able to be with me for quite a while. Please send some prayers and positive thoughts Sunny's way. Thanks.

Boy, that's a lot to swallow all in one gulp, Tracey. You're dealing w/an awful lot, aren't ya? For the vomiting, have you tried gel caps? This has helped tremendously w/Pidge. She isn't on Pred but her heart meds are very bitter and b/c they're to be halved or quartered, it makes it even worse. So I put them in gel caps and then squirt a little water in her mouth immediately after and she hasn't vomited since. The gel caps dissolve right away. If that doesn't help, there's an anti-nausea med called Metoclopramide syrup that really works.

The possibility of cancer is a tough call. I'd have a tendency to take the route you're thinking of should you get bad news but, of course, I wouldn't want to influence you in any way, just give you the support that you need. Our precious furkids have no voice and we have to make these monumental decisions for them and it just is not easy.

My prayers are continuing for you, Tracey, and your beloved Storm and Sunny. Keep the faythe.

[Catty1]

Here is a thread about Haggis, a kitty who was diagnosed with cancer (the lesion was under his tongue). illustr8tr checked re: Transfer Factor with her vet...Haggis was given only 2 months to live at the time.

July 29, he and his brother Hamish (who sadly passed away not long ago) were at the vet for heatstroke, and Hamish showed no signs of the lesion, and no signs of cancer turned up in his bloodwork.

Have a read, just in case. Prayers that Sunny does not have cancer and that his swollen jaw can be successfully treated for something else. Perhaps the two teeth that needed to be pulled caused some inflammation elsewhere.

HUGS AND PRAYERS. Good news on Storm.


November 3 2008
http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...ghlight=Haggis

July 29, 2009
http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...=Haggis&page=8

[krazyaboutkatz]

Thanks everyone. I'm trying to stay positive and I'm praying that I'll hear good news about Sunny. I forgot to mention that they shaved his chin area and now I can really see the swelling in his lower jaw. I just wonder how long it's been like this.

[Pinot's Mom]

Tracey, we're all hoping Sunny gets a good report with you, and that Storm gets better, too!

IF the biopsy comes back (God forbid!) with a bad result for Sunny, please know Moesha and I have both been through it; we'd both be good sounding boards. I don't want to think that way, but I just wanted you to know. Keep us posted!

Maggie

[Moesha]

I have some transfer factor capsules if you would like, I could send some to you. I had some of it compounded, and Morgan would eat it that way. I would be glad to send that to you as well, but I think it may say it needs to be refrigerated.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Tracey, we're all hoping Sunny gets a good report with you, and that Storm gets better, too!

IF the biopsy comes back (God forbid!) with a bad result for Sunny, please know Moesha and I have both been through it; we'd both be good sounding boards. I don't want to think that way, but I just wanted you to know. Keep us posted!

Maggie

Thanks, hopefully his biopsy will come back noncancerous but if not I'm just going to have to be strong and try to keep Sunny as comfortable as possible and cherish the time that I have with him. I think this is the way that he'd want it if he could speak to me.

I have some transfer factor capsules if you would like, I could send some to you. I had some of it compounded, and Morgan would eat it that way. I would be glad to send that to you as well, but I think it may say it needs to be refrigerated.

Thanks for the offer. Let's see what happens first.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Hi I just received an e-mail from my vet about Storm. I guess I misunderstood her the other day and one of Storm's tests just came back. This is what she said:

Hi.
Storm's vit b12 level is normal but his folate is slightly low. This indicates that he has small intestinal disease that is higher in his intestinal tract and that the pancreas is ok. I think we should supplement him with 400mcg folic acid once daily x 6 weeks. You can get folic acid at most drug stores or GNC. The tabs are usually 800mcg, in which case you give 1/2 tablet daily. It is fine to crush and put in a small amount of chicken baby food or the canned EVO.


Endoscopy would likely be diagnostic, as the disease appears to be in the stomach and first part of the small intestine.


In terms of pred, give him 5 mg once daily x 4 weeks.
I will call when I have the biopsy results for Sunny.
-Rachel

[3Catcondo]

Sending good thoughts your way. I'm sorry that you all are going thru this.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I missed the call from my vet today which is just as well because the results aren't good at all. Here is what she e-mailed to me:

Hi Tracey,

The biopsy for Sunny is attached, and it indicates that he has squamous cell carcinoma. The prognosis for this disease is not good, usually months. The tumor tends to grow quiet large and is destructive. We could consider piroxicam, which is a NSAID that supposedly decreases the rate of growth, but it is metabolized by the kidneys and may make it worse. We can talk about it more.


-Rachel

I'm devastated. I hope to have more good quality time with Sunny than my vet predicts. I was already planning on taking time off between the Christmas and New Years and also the first week of Jan. so at least I'll get to spend some more time at home with him and the rest of my furkids. Thanks for all of your support.

[AmberLee]

{{{gentle hugs to you, Storm, and Sunny}}}

[Barbara]

Tracey I am so sorry that I read this only now. I am still away travelling and then normally I have less time for PT.
I am so sorry for Sunny- he was always my favorite among your gang and you know why. And it reminds me of Tigris of course. Let's hope there is some time to say goodbye and to spoil Sunny even more than he is already.
Lots of kisses to his little head.

[Medusa]

Tracey, do exactly as you had planned, take that time off and spend as much time w/Sunny as possible. This is a lousy break for both of you and I wish I could help in some way other than offering support. Please know that you and Sunny are always in my prayers, those aren't just words w/me, my PT family are always on my mind and in my heart. Keep the faythe.

[Kirsten]

I'm so sorry that you got these devastating news!

May you still have a lot of quality time together. I'll keep you in my thoughts!

(((HUGS)))

Kirsten

[Freedom]

Catching up and reading this entire thread for the first time, now. Tracey, I am sorry you are having to cope with all of this, with 2 ill kitties at once!

Hugs to you, and to your roomie.

Gentle rubs to both Storm and Sunny.

Prayers from RI for all of you.