Mammary Tumors

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MoxZig

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This would be my first post ever regarding my fur babies, I was linked to this site by a coworker & it's been great giving me insight to my cats' hyperthyoid issues.

Now I am here, sadly for some understanding on what to do with my 16 yr old baby Moxie. She has developed breast cancer and I am devastated, in January I noticed she had smaller nodules, when I brought her in to my Vet they confirmed it was cancer but told me given her age & weight (she's always been tiny)that it is best to keep her comfortable because she might not survive surgery. Fast forward a few months later, the tumors have grown so I took her to a more affordable Vet that was recommended to me. They did a chest xray to make sure it hadn't spread, it hadn't & she did say surgery was indeed possible. It was something I was terrified to do, still am, especially after what my previous Vet said.

It's been a couple of months since the xray, the larger tumor is now bleeding and looks horrible. I am so afraid she's in pain so I brought her in, they suggested surgery & a spay. I adopted this cat when she was about a year old, she wasn't spayed, when she went into heat later but I never got her fixed because she was an indoor cat & I thought it would be hard on her, I had no idea about breast cancer in cats, now I hate myself because I feel responsible for her suffering.

She is acting very normal; eating, playing & wants attention. The soonest I can get an appointment for her is in 2 weeks. I am worried within that time they tumors will burst. I guess what I am asking is how likely is that to happen? Will the surgery be hard on her, given her age and the fact they want to spay & remove the tumors (the tumors are on one side & they'll be removing the full side of mammary glands). I'm so nervous and scared for her. I've already made one bad decision not getting her fixed, I can't do wrong by her again. She is my baby.

Any help advice or anyone gone through this as well?
 

Mamanyt1953

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Many years ago, when surgery for cancer in animals was still rather new, our senior dog developed mammary cancer, and two of the tumors burst. It was messy, but we simply cleaned the area very gently with warm water and a gauze pad until her surgery. Should that happen, call the vet for advice on managing it until surgery, there could well be new ways of handling such things. She did VERY well post-op, and lived several more years. And this was at a time when we didn't have the advances in veterinary medicine that we do now.

SO...what will happen with your cat? She will almost certainly be given a new lease on life. For how long? We can't know, but for whatever time it is (and it may be until her natural lifespan is ended), she will be happier and healthier.

Regardless of the outcome, YOU have done the best you could for your cat, acting in her interests with the information you had available to you AT THE TIME. It is not what you would choose now, but it was the best you could do AT THE TIME. I urge you to forgive yourself your well-meaning mistakes, and move forward able to concentrate clearly on getting Moxie treated and back to normal.

I do consider the fact that she is still eating, drinking and playing normally to be a good sign!

Keep us posted on how she is doing!
 
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MoxZig

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Many years ago, when surgery for cancer in animals was still rather new, our senior dog developed mammary cancer, and two of the tumors burst. It was messy, but we simply cleaned the area very gently with warm water and a gauze pad until her surgery. Should that happen, call the vet for advice on managing it until surgery, there could well be new ways of handling such things. She did VERY well post-op, and lived several more years. And this was at a time when we didn't have the advances in veterinary medicine that we do now.

SO...what will happen with your cat? She will almost certainly be given a new lease on life. For how long? We can't know, but for whatever time it is (and it may be until her natural lifespan is ended), she will be happier and healthier.

Regardless of the outcome, YOU have done the best you could for your cat, acting in her interests with the information you had available to you AT THE TIME. It is not what you would choose now, but it was the best you could do AT THE TIME. I urge you to forgive yourself your well-meaning mistakes, and move forward able to concentrate clearly on getting Moxie treated and back to normal.

I do consider the fact that she is still eating, drinking and playing normally to be a good sign!

Keep us posted on how she is doing!
Thank You for your reply. I was worrying so much I called my vet to ask if I could email them a photo of what her tumour is looking like. They were very helpful, for some reason this surprised me, and offered me a cell phone number to text photos of the concerned tumour. They are recommending antibiotics to clear up any infection that could be causing the puss and bleeding. She just finished a week of antibiotics but these are stronger. So I'm hoping this will keep the tumour from rupturing.

I really am touched by your response,somuch so I teared up reading it. Your experience and positivity was very much needed right now.

Will update about on how Moxie is doing.
 

Kat0121

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I have no experience with mammary tumors but wanted to stop by to lend support. I hope everything goes well. Bek is right. You have done everything you thought you could for your girl for a long time. You have been her devoted friend and champion. Hopefully, she will get the treatment she needs and have more happy, healthy years with you. I also agree that if she is eating, drinking, playing and using the box normally that these are good things. She clearly has a fighting spirit. She wants to get better so she can be with her best friend as long as possible.

Stay strong. We're here for you. Lots of love, hugs & scritches to sweet little Moxie from all of us. :hugs: :vibes::vibes:
 

Kiwimom

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I would never consider surgery on a cat this age. The age expectancy of an indoor cat is 13-17. Why put the poor kitty through it.
 
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MoxZig

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I would never consider surgery on a cat this age. The age expectancy of an indoor cat is 13-17. Why put the poor kitty through it.
See this is what my first Vet told me. But she has Cancer, what else can I do? I have a friends with a 18-20 year old cats, I know they can live a long time. I don't want her to suffer but either way it will be hard on her, I feel getting rid of the tumours would be best for her, but I'm not a vet & I am getting two very different opinions which makes this 100x harder.
 

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Well, if it goes on much longer, euthanasia will be the only option. So if she doesn't survive the surgery, it's the same outcome, but at least you tried. If it's financially an option, I say give it a go. But make sure she gets adequate pain relief, and you're up for helping her through recovery. It'll be pretty intense for a few days.

My first cats lived to be 21 so she may have a few years left in her.
 

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If she is otherwise healthy I would go ahead with the surgery. With good medical care, many cats live to 18-20. She could have several more happy years ahead of her.
 
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MoxZig

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Well, if it goes on much longer, euthanasia will be the only option. So if she doesn't survive the surgery, it's the same outcome, but at least you tried. If it's financially an option, I say give it a go. But make sure she gets adequate pain relief, and you're up for helping her through recovery. It'll be pretty intense for a few days.

My first cats lived to be 21 so she may have a few years left in her.
That's what I'm hoping. I want to give her the fighting chance at least. I found a place that treats cats on a sliding scale, her surgery is going to be between $350-400. And I am fully expecting it to be a hard week, this is why I want to have a plan on the most comfortable place for her to recover & what to do the night before.

This is just so frightening. I want her to be ok.
 

Kiwimom

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Hope all goes well. I had to put my 7 year old cat to sleep 3 days ago. It is so hard. She was fine in January at her check up. By April she had lost 6 lbs. It was lymphoma. We did predisolone but no chemo. She did well for the last 7 weeks and then just quit eating. At
least you will know you did all you could.
 

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I'm so sorry you are going thru this. I had a cat who had mammary cancer when she was in her 20's - she made it to 23 years with kidney disease managed for 5 years and also the mammary cancer - eventually old age took her. I would say this - it's always about quality of life right? I think at this age, that's a big surgery to put her thru. If it was me, and this is just me, I'd leave her alone and let her live out whatever time she has left. The spay surgery is tough and I had researched the mammary removal surgery and that is VERY invasive - to me it's not worth it. I'd love her and spoil her and keep her comfortable until she tells you it's time.
Sending you a hug.
 
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MoxZig

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Hope all goes well. I had to put my 7 year old cat to sleep 3 days ago. It is so hard. She was fine in January at her check up. By April she had lost 6 lbs. It was lymphoma. We did predisolone but no chemo. She did well for the last 7 weeks and then just quit eating. At
least you will know you did all you could.
I'm sorry for the loss of your beloved kitty. These are the hardest times, it really feels like I'm losing a child. i'm trying to do what's best but both options feel so wrong. :(

I hope everyday is getting easier after your loss & you have other fur babes to shower with love & cat treats.
 
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MoxZig

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I'm so sorry you are going thru this. I had a cat who had mammary cancer when she was in her 20's - she made it to 23 years with kidney disease managed for 5 years and also the mammary cancer - eventually old age took her. I would say this - it's always about quality of life right? I think at this age, that's a big surgery to put her thru. If it was me, and this is just me, I'd leave her alone and let her live out whatever time she has left. The spay surgery is tough and I had researched the mammary removal surgery and that is VERY invasive - to me it's not worth it. I'd love her and spoil her and keep her comfortable until she tells you it's time.
Sending you a hug.
I don't want her to suffer. They are going to do another xray & blood work before the surgery & I may ask them to hold off on the spay, they said it will help so the other side doesn't develop tumors, but it just seems like too much for a cat her age.

May I ask how long did your kitty survive after her diagnosis? Also, as the cancer progresses the tumors leak & bleed, how did you manage that? Nothing online is very helpful, just says best thing is surgery & if not than pain meds but doesn't go into detail of all the other stuff that goes on when the tumors are progressing.

Thanks also for sharing your experience <3
 

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She has to be spayed, too, or the tumors will come right back. Mammary tumors are estrogen sensitive. If they're already going into her abdomen, there's no reason to skip the spay---it won't be any harder on her than the rest of the surgery.

But definitely make sure they keep on top of pain relief. Some vets seem a little casual about pain relief, so if they don't seem to be serious enough about it, you have to poke them a little.
 
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MoxZig

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She has to be spayed, too, or the tumors will come right back. Mammary tumors are estrogen sensitive. If they're already going into her abdomen, there's no reason to skip the spay---it won't be any harder on her than the rest of the surgery.

But definitely make sure they keep on top of pain relief. Some vets seem a little casual about pain relief, so if they don't seem to be serious enough about it, you have to poke them a little.
Oh I definitely will. I already had to ask them to do an Xray, I thought that was part of the pre-surgery treatment but wasn't. I did do one a few months ago but knowing what I know now, how rapidly this disease spreads to lungs, I definitely want to do the Xray. Have you had any experience with cats getting surgery like this at such an advanced age? I keep getting different opinions on whether the surgery should be done. I know ultimately it is up to me but if you had this same time of instance I'd like to know what to expect, given Moxie's age.

Thank you for your comment & advice.
 

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I haven't personally, sorry. I have a friend who got her dog several mammary tumor surgeries at a very advanced age (15-17). The dog did well in surgery and never seemed to be in distress from it. Eventually the vet said it wasn't doing any good to keep trying and the dog didn't have enough skin left to sew back together, so the owner just got painkillers and when things got bad enough she euthanized.

It really depends on your feelings on the matter. Will you feel better if you tried surgery, or would you feel better if you let nature take its course and euthanize when things get worse? It's such a personal decision.
 
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