Has anyone had a mammary cancer cat still thriving after a year with no treatment?

UnderneathTheStars

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My Moon is about 12 years old. We adopted her and she was an ex-breeding queen (persian). She was in very bad health at the time and had just gotten spayed (it was an infected incision -- her previous owner wasn't taking care of it). She was emaciated. We took her to a general vet, internal medicine specialist, and board certified cardiologist (they found HCM). With medication, food, and love, she has thrived. She's super energetic, eats a lot, and is alert and loving. The vets are stunned by how well she bounced back as it was really touch-and-go for awhile.

Well, a year ago this month, I found a lump under one of her nipples. I took her to my general vet. I couldn't get to her specialists as they are in another province which I can't cross into due to COVID. My general vet said about 90% of mammary lumps in cats are cancer. She said an aspiration would likely be inconclusive and anesthesia for a full biopsy is out of the question with her heart. Her heart is stable so we don't want to chance it. We contacted the specialists and everyone agreed -- palliative especially since an x-ray showed a small lump in her lung as well.

Well, in a year, the mammary lump has grown a bit but barely. It doesn't hurt. It doesn't bleed. It's not ulcerated. She had a follow-up x-ray in September and the lump in her lung hadn't grown or spread. She doesn't have any lumps in the other nipples or lymph nodes.

My general vet is a little stunned that she hasn't needed pain killers, has continued to gain weight, and runs around and plays like a young cat. They had estimated a few months, but now it's a year and she is asymptomatic. Even her breathing rate has remained stable.

Has anyone experienced this? As far as I know, mammary cancer is usually very aggressive in cats. I'm very happy, but it makes me wonder whether this isn't cancer..
 

FeebysOwner

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Hi. I can't offer any first hand experience. But, from what all I, too, have read, it would seem to me that this very well is NOT cancer! You listed 90% odds of these tumors being malignant; I have also read some documentation about 85% being the percentage. However, in either case, it seems that Moon is in that 10-15% category! I hope she stays asymptomatic and enjoys a long, long happy life!
 
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UnderneathTheStars

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Hi. I can't offer any first hand experience. But, from what all I, too, have read, it would seem to me that this very well is NOT cancer! You listed 90% odds of these tumors being malignant; I have also read some documentation about 85% being the percentage. However, in either case, it seems that Moon is in that 10-15% category! I hope she stays asymptomatic and enjoys a long, long happy life!
Thank you! I don't want to get too excited about the possibility of it not being cancer because, although it hasn't grown a lot, it has still grown a small amount compared to when I first noticed it. Also, I can't think of why she'd have a small lung lump on the same side as the mammary lump if it weren't cancer. I definitely won't look a gift horse in the mouth, though. I'm more than relieved that she is still with me and happy! :)
 

fionasmom

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I also hope it is not cancer. However, even if it is, cancers are projected to spread according to certain formulas which does not mean that it has to happen that way. Things may be moving very slowly with your cat which would also be great.

My dog was given an at-most year and a half prognosis after his melanoma. This included the amputation of his leg and immunotherapy. He is still here four years later.
 

Nacho23

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Hi, I hope your cat is ok! Im going through more or less the same situation.My 14 yo cat has been living with mammary cancer for like 1 year and a half, vet doesnt wanna take chances on surgery cause the X-ray showed that her lungs dont look normal but there were no signs of metastasise. In all this time her lump diameter grew 1cm and it looks like it started to ooze a little bit fluid but thats it, apart from that shes asymptomatic.
 
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UnderneathTheStars

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Hi, I hope your cat is ok! Im going through more or less the same situation.My 14 yo cat has been living with mammary cancer for like 1 year and a half, vet doesnt wanna take chances on surgery cause the X-ray showed that her lungs dont look normal but there were no signs of metastasise. In all this time her lump diameter grew 1cm and it looks like it started to ooze a little bit fluid but thats it, apart from that shes asymptomatic.
Still going strong! She has a checkup on Monday to x-ray her lungs and just check her overall wellbeing. I weight her at home. She was a normal 7.5lbs a year ago when diagnosed and now she's gotten a bit fatter (8.5lbs) because she eats so much, lol. Her mammary lump has grown a bit, but not as much as you would expect from a cancer that is supposedly very aggressive.

I'm glad to hear that your baby is still doing so well. I think we are both very lucky. I've heard from others whose cats passed weeks to months after the cancer was found. Do you give any medications or do anything special?
 

Nacho23

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Mine is getting even fatter as well haha i dont give her any treatment, only food everytime she asks for it and much much love :)
 
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