Suspected cat cancer - cannot afford vet fees

Claddagh_Noir

moomin82 said:

nicter said:

@moomin82 any updates on Bella ? Hopefully all is well x

Hi all,
Apologies for not logging in for so long.
Thank you for asking about Bella.
He was doing just fine after the op last year but in November another lump appeared on his other ear.
He’s just had both ears taken off (pinnectomy) on Wednesday 27th, and is at home recovering. He has developed a further lump at the base of his ear. Awaiting results and diagnosis, as last time they thought it was a low grade soft tissue sarcoma and they had got it all.
Trying to do all I can for my sweet Bella but dread the thought of losing him. I am trying to be hopeful and am praying his prognosis is good.

Thank you for updating us.  

I have everything crossed for you and hoping for the best for you and Mr Bella! 😊

Murphybear

hi

firstly you have my sympathy at the thought of losing your cat, ours is 20 and very frail and know she hasn’t much longer.

if you are on benefits then check out the PDSA site aas they can offer free care if you qualify.  

moomin82

MovingForwards said:

He will be fine without ears. They act like radars, but he still keeps the hearing part as that's inside. 

Oddly enough a post popped up on FB this week where the cat minion had knitted an ear headband for their ear-less furball. 

Just keep doing what you are. React and deal with things as and when. 

If you have any spare money, even a couple of quid, find a high interest savings account and pay it in as and when you can. Get a safety blanket of money slowly building up.

If the day comes when you can't, either due to where it is or financially, remember you've gone as far as you can over however many years.

The way I copied with loss was planning the funeral and having their ashes back home. Now I remember all the good times we had and know I did the right thing for them.

Don't think about the future, focus on the now, take photos, videos, play games and snuggle together.

We're all here wishing you both well. If you want a chat, say what's going on post up and you will get words of support.

Hi everyone,
Thanks for the support. Got the post-op results back today. I’m afraid it’s not good news. He’s been diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma in both ears, and they haven’t got it all in the left ear as it’s at the base. The vet is going to consult with an oncologist and come back to me with some options. She outlined a further, more complex op, or possible chemotherapy. I’ve taken a few days off as it’s been quite stressful. I’ll treasure our time together, as I am not sure how long he has left. Those who’ve been through it, how did they come through the treatment(s)?
I’ve started an insurance claim today as it’s come back a different type of cancer, last year they thought they’d got it all and that it was a low grade, soft tissue sarcoma.

elsien

I'm sorry that you've had that bad news come back.  Not something I've had to consider as yet, although it's on the radar as my dog has various lumps and bumps, some more suspicious than others, but for me when it comes to chemo/other cancer treatments there's a real quality of life debate to be had.
The difference between animals and people is that we know what the treatment is, we know why we're feeling poorly and how long it will last for, and we understand what benefits it may give us which allows us some hope and to tolerate it better. Animals don't know any of that - they just know that they are feeling sick and miserable and they have no clue when/if there is an end in sight. 
 Depending on what your vet says about the chemo, side effects etc, have at the back of your mind that just because we can do something it doesn't mean that we should.
I have decided that I will not be putting my eleven year old dog under anaesthetic for any biopsies or lump removal because it won't make any difference to the outcomes. The big lump in his armpit is too major a surgery and I will not be considering chemo if he does have cancer because he'd just be thoroughly unhappy and upset so why go there? That's my personal view - with a different pet and at a different stage in their life I may feel differently. 
There's not an easy answer but just take your time to make any decisions looking at all angles. 

MovingForwards

I'm so sorry to read this, it's a difficult decision and you'll need full facts eg will all the treatments work or just grant extra time.

A friend's cat went through chemo and many years later is still with her.

I put one cat through two major ops. When it came down to a third even bigger op where the option was open her up, look and if not possible to remove then that was it. Instead I took her home and we had nearly 6 months of fun until she passed away on my lap. When I saw the vet, took another in to get 'done', he remembered her and was surprised she carried on as long as she did.

If I faced a similar situation now, with the cat I have, I wouldn't put her through it. She's a totally different persona and the stress would be too much.

sheramber

I agree with Elsien.

Remember vets will always tell you all the options available

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Quality of life before quantity.

Katiehound

My beautiful hound- the real Katie hound got a lymphoma which progressed at a' spectacular' rate. (the vet's description) Whilst we tried non- invasive diet & CV247 solution it did not work.  She was only 9 years old and I decided that the kind thing was pts. I remember walking her to the vet- she looked the picture of health-  and one friend said how could I? Easy: would I really let my wonderful dog choke to death?

Of course it wasn't easy: even as I write this, 13 years later I still have a tears in my eyes.

Just because we can do something really doesn't mean it is the best thing for our pet. Sadly I do think that some vets see pound signs. The question might be what would be the kindest thing to do?

 With a previous dog (also lymphoma) another friend asked why I was keeping him alive when the prognosis was so bad. Was it for him and his quality of life or just  for me? Yes, it was for me and ever after that I have said better a week too early than a day too late. You have to look at your cat's quality of life. Do you really want to put him through another operation?

He wants a pain free life. You have the gift to let him slip away without suffering.

Remember all the good times you have had and enjoyed with him, and let him go peacefully with you cuddling him.

Yes. it's very hard.

Thinking of you, take care.

KxMx

My Lily was diagnosed with small cell lymphoma and even though I had to have her pts less than a week after diagnosis (the illness progressed and she began to suffer) I had decided in that short time not to pursue treatment.
Initially I though I would attempt it and let Lily say yes or no- but ultimately I came to realise it was not in her best interest to even try.
We were looking at multiple visits to the Vet per month for blood tests under sedation and them forcing pills down her throat while she was awake.
All for a treatment which may not work and give 2 years at absolute best.
Lily was very frightened at the Vets and would be aggressive as a result- when she was undergoing tests for the illness I gave them strict instructions to sedate her while still in the carrier, as you would a feral cat.
And the Vet was embarrassed to send her home with a bandage on because she attempted to bite the Nurse when they tried to take it off! Me I just shrugged at that lol, business as normal.

Pollycat

So sorry to hear your bad news.

I would think very hard about whether to put him through any more treatment.

I agree with this:

Katiehound said:

Just because we can do something really doesn't mean it is the best thing for our pet. Sadly I do think that some vets see pound signs. The question might be what would be the kindest thing to do?

22 years ago, my cat went from being a healthy boy to a bag of bones in a few weeks. It was the worst news, kidney failure - with no offer of treatment just 'take him home and love him and bring him back when it's time'.
He stopped eating cat food so we were given some nutrition liquid (which he hated) so we fed him on whatever he'd have (prawns were very popular).
One day, he staggered into his water bowl and stood with wet feet and looked at me as thought to say 'I don't know about you, but I've about had enough'.
We took him to the vets the following day.
She said 'I think he'll go a few more days'.
I could have killed her.
What was the point in keeping him alive a a couple more days when we'd taken a terminally ill cat to be pts?

From diagnosis to losing him was just a few weeks, the vet said they were the worst test results he'd ever seen.

It's a very hard decision for you, make it the right one for both of you.

Sending hugs to you both.

TripleH

When we were children we had our Yorkie put together sleep. She was 12(??) and suffering dementia quite badly.

She would wander off. Concern was we lived on a busy road and had only lived there about 2 years.

I howled and wouldn't speak to my father after he got back as the dog had been there all our lives. It was the right thing to do then as she would have wandered out into the busy road (one of main roads into town) eventually...