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

[Catlady711]

Sorry to hear the results came back cancerous. Sending good thoughts for you and Storm.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Are you going to give the Transfer Factor a try, hon?

HUGS to Storm, I hope he'll be back on top of things, and good to hear that Sunny is yelling!

No, I've decided not to. I've heard that it tastes very nasty and I don't want to force this on him. I also remember that Emeraldgreen's cat Tiger also had this form of cancer and she tried this on him without any luck. I researched many holistic sites and nothing will cure this cancer or any cancer. It only prolongs the inevitable.

Sorry to hear the results came back cancerous. Sending good thoughts for you and Storm.

Thanks Catlady711.

My vet called me a little while ago. She's been so busy today and she had to do 2 surgeries. She told me that there's not much that can be done with this type of cancer. Surgery isn't recommended because they can't get clean margins so it just comes back. She could refer me to an oncologist to possibly put Sunny through radiation or chemotherapy but this has no guarantee of working and it's very expensive. I'm already in a lot of debt so I just can't afford this kind of treatment.

I've decided to just do nothing at this point except to enjoy my Sunny boy and cherish every momemt that I have with him. I'll keep my vet updated monthly about him and when he needs some pain meds then I'll give them to him. My vet said that I may have 3-5 months left with him. She also said that his kidney values are on the high normal side. This is why I don't want to use any pain meds that will attack his kidneys because then I'd have much less time with him. We can use pain patches or the Buprenex that I was giving him after his dental. I hope that you don't think that I'm a bad cat meowmie by making this decision. Thanks again for all of the emotional support.

[Catty1]

Re: the Transfer Factor...Emeraldgreen's cat definitely did not like the taste, and took very little of it, which is a factor. EG told me later that the vets did believe what he did take gave him more time.

illustr8r's Haggis took it very well and was cancer-free at the last test.

Just a thought - if Moesha has just a few caps, why not see if Sunny will take it? It will cost you nothing to find out.

Here's a link direct to the study smokey the elder was talking about. Perhaps there is a similar study in CA? They might know.

http://research.vet.upenn.edu/Clinic...Carcinoma.aspx

Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Study Investigating New Drug Safety and Effects on Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carinoma (SCC)
Principal Investigator: John Lewis, VMD, FAVD, Dipl. AVDC

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common oral cancer in cats and people. In cats, it is a devastating disease with a median survival time of approximately 60 days. Penn Vet recently received a generous gift in memory of "Bud", a cat affected by maxillary SCC, with the establishment of the Squamous Cell Carcinoma Research Fund.
With this fund, the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital Dentistry and Oral Surgery service is currently recruiting cats diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma to be included in a new study evaluating the toxicity and efficacy of two polyamine inhibitor drugs, 2-Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and MQT 1569.

Polyamines are compounds found in cells that play a role in cell replication and growth. Polyamines are often elevated in tumor cells. By administering the two drugs, DFMO and MQT 1569, and preventing polyamines from working, the study hopes to find that tumor growth is delayed or halted.
Eligibility:

* your cat must have been diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma with a biopsy
* you have opted not to have surgery performed to remove the tumor or pursue other chemotherapy or radiation treatment, either by your veterinarian’s advice or your own choice
* if your cat previously had surgery to remove a squamous cell carcinoma and the cancer has recurred, he or she is still eligible
* your cat must have a reasonably good appetite and you must be willing and able to give oral liquid medication three times per day

Benefits to enrolling your cat in this study include a physical exam at each visit; blood work including complete blood count, chemistry screen, and thyroid level; urinalysis; chest x-rays; dental x-rays; a CT-scan of the head; lymph node aspirates and repeat tumor biopsies at no charge. You will also be supplied with the investigational medications at no charge.

You must be able to bring your cat to MJR-VHUP for the initial visit, a follow-up visit two weeks later and the final visit one month from the initial visit.

If you are interested in learning more about this study, please contact the Veterinary Clinical Investigations Center at 215-573-0302 or [email protected]

[Moesha]

I absolutely don't think you are a bad cat meowmie! I think you've weighed all the factors involved and are doing the very best that you can for Sunny. Each and every case is unique. Only you know all the different factors and none of us are in any position to judge you for whatever decision you make. (Not that I feel that anyone has judged you at all!) I know it was so frustrating for me trying to get Morgan to eat the Transfer Factor, and it had no positive results in my case. I'm very glad for those that it has worked for.
KAK and I discussed it, and I'm sending the unused Transfer Factor to a friend of mine in North Carolina. She found out last week that her 3 year old Basset Hound has lymphoma. He's going to go through treatments that have an 80% chance of remission, but they still don't think he'll have more than a couple of years. So in addition to the the treatment, she's going to try the Transfer Factor and hopefully get more time with her Wilson.

[Catty1]

Long Beach Hospital

This is what they use for Squamous Cell Carcinoma

We routinely perform this surgery using the carbon dioxide laser. The significant advantages are minimal bleeding during the surgery, negligible post operative pain, and no need to put sutures in for some cases. This short QuickTime movie below shows the initial incision with the laser, and just prior to suturing- note the lack of blood. Make sure you have QuickTime from apple.com on your machine and double click the box below.

A new and promising treatment for SCC is called Photo Dynamic Therapy. It involves the use of a laser beam to selectively destroy cancerous tissue only. An injection of photosensitive chemical is given to a pet that has SCC. The only cells that absorb this chemical are the cancerous ones. It is only these cells that are destroyed by the laser, the laser beam harmlessly passes through the normal cells that do not absorb the photosensitive chemical. If one of our doctors feels that this therapy is appropriate, they will let you know. It is considered experimental therapy, and is performed locally only at the Beckman Laser Institute at the University of California at Irvine, on a referral basis only.

Their website is kinda basic, but here is the contact info:
Long Beach Animal Hospital
3816 E. Anaheim St.
Long Beach, CA 90804
(562) 434-9966
Fax (562) 597-4226

We are open M-TH 7:30 AM to 9 PM
Friday 7:30 AM to 8 PM
Saturday 8 AM to 6 PM
Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM

http://lbah.com/patients.html Cute pics of people and their pet patients!

You know your friends here would do some fund-raising. If you don't want a second opinion, that is cool. But I did some searching and found this.

They have pictures of before and after surgery that are not gross or bloody at all...but they could upset a sensitive constitution.

{{{hugs}}}

[Moesha]

Excellent research, Catty. That is certainly one area where you excel. You try very hard to help all of us know all of the different options available with different situations.

[Pinot's Mom]

Tracey you are definitely not a bad Mom! The decisions regarding this disease and your kitty are yours and yours alone. We all respect that. ((((hugs)))) for you both.

[slick]

Tracey: I applaud your decision!! **clap clap**
With such a short time left, the only thing to do in my opinion is to enjoy and appreciate each day you have with your dear boy. Quality of life is what really matters and sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.

This has been a very difficult year for you. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Luv
Slick

[krazyaboutkatz]

Long Beach Hospital

This is what they use for Squamous Cell Carcinoma






Their website is kinda basic, but here is the contact info:
Long Beach Animal Hospital
3816 E. Anaheim St.
Long Beach, CA 90804
(562) 434-9966
Fax (562) 597-4226

We are open M-TH 7:30 AM to 9 PM
Friday 7:30 AM to 8 PM
Saturday 8 AM to 6 PM
Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM

http://lbah.com/patients.html Cute pics of people and their pet patients!

You know your friends here would do some fund-raising. If you don't want a second opinion, that is cool. But I did some searching and found this.

They have pictures of before and after surgery that are not gross or bloody at all...but they could upset a sensitive constitution.

{{{hugs}}}

Candace, thanks for all of the research that you've done. I do appreciate it. You do have to understand that CA is a huge state and I live in the Northern part and Long Beach is in Southern CA. I think it's about 8-10 hours away from me.

Like Slick said "quality of life is what matters and sometimes the cure is worse than the disease". I totally agree and I just want to make my Sunny as comfortable as possible and when his quality of life is gone then it's time to say goodbye. I'll never keep an animal alive just for my sake. In my eyes it's just plain cruel.

[ChrisH]

No, not your beautiful Sunny boy. Tracey I am so, so, sorry. Both of you will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Tracey: I applaud your decision!! **clap clap**
With such a short time left, the only thing to do in my opinion is to enjoy and appreciate each day you have with your dear boy. Quality of life is what really matters and sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.

For what it's worth I totally agree with slick, in similar circumstances it is what I would to do for my Bob and Ebbs.

Much love.

[Medusa]

Tracey, everyone knows what a good mom you are, so no worries there, my friend. You're doing what's best for Sunny and that's true love. The right decision isn't always the easiest decision. Prayers are continuing. Keep the faythe.

[Grace]

I've decided to just do nothing at this point except to enjoy my Sunny boy and cherish every momemt that I have with him. I'll keep my vet updated monthly about him and when he needs some pain meds then I'll give them to him. My vet said that I may have 3-5 months left with him. She also said that his kidney values are on the high normal side. This is why I don't want to use any pain meds that will attack his kidneys because then I'd have much less time with him. We can use pain patches or the Buprenex that I was giving him after his dental. I hope that you don't think that I'm a bad cat meowmie by making this decision. Thanks again for all of the emotional support.

Bravo Tracey!!

This is exactly what we will do if a similar situation arises with one of our cats.

[Pinot's Mom]

You just let me know if there's anything I can do, or if you need any information from me. My prayers are with you and Sunny. If you drop off, you know I'll be contacting you!

Maggie

[Catty1]

Sorry, Tracey.

The photodynamic thing looked really hopeful to me, as a dye is injected that lights up the cancer cells, and the laser is trained to hit THOSE cells, not the healthy ones. The dye is a newer development.

Kaiser Permanente uses PDT, as do many dermatologists. Whether a researcher at KP would give this a go, or know a vet who would, I don't know.

It was just a thought...it seemed non-invasive, no "surgery" as such, and effective and I thought there might be a hope.

Hugs to Sunny.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Bravo Tracey!!

This is exactly what we will do if a similar situation arises with one of our cats.

Thanks Grace. I'm glad that to hear this and that you understand.

You just let me know if there's anything I can do, or if you need any information from me. My prayers are with you and Sunny. If you drop off, you know I'll be contacting you!

Maggie

Thanks so much Maggie. I most likely will have some questions for you in the future.

Sorry, Tracey.

The photodynamic thing looked really hopeful to me, as a dye is injected that lights up the cancer cells, and the laser is trained to hit THOSE cells, not the healthy ones. The dye is a newer development.

Kaiser Permanente uses PDT, as do many dermatologists. Whether a researcher at KP would give this a go, or know a vet who would, I don't know.

It was just a thought...it seemed non-invasive, no "surgery" as such, and effective and I thought there might be a hope.

Hugs to Sunny.

Candace, I know that you only meant to provide me with information that could possibly help my Sunny. I'm sure that if there was a vet out in my area that did this that my vet would know about it. She specializes in felines, is preparing to become board certified in feline medicine,which she may have already done,and she's also doing a fellowship at U.C. Davis. Thanks for your research work.