Willy might have cancer / high-grade lymphoma Treatment thread

[cmshap]

General update: Willy is now doing very well after recovering from his urinary catheterization on Friday. He is eating, drinking, playing, peeing, pooping, grooming, and sleeping. It doesn't get any better than that.

I have another 8-day course of zeniquin which I started him on today, because his sneezing/snottiness has made a slight resurgence during all of this. Just to remind everyone, these respiratory symptoms have been chronic all of his life, so they are not new, and they come and go. Shortly after his surgery, I noticed the symptoms starting to show up again. Zeniquin works for him.

Biopsy results are hopefully coming in this week, and he has a post-surgical follow-up visit on Thursday.

He is currently sitting on my lap, staring at me while I play a video game.

(Edit: You can see the lump under his left ear in this picture, but the hair is sticking out a bit further than normal due to being along the region where he was shaved. So, while that lump is large, it's not as large as it looks here.)

 

[FeralHearts]

He's looking good! :-)

 

[cmshap]

I'm leaning towards cancelling his surgical follow-up appointment on Thursday, because he's doing so well and his incisions look normal. He's probably going to have more appointments coming up with a specialist in the near future, so I'd rather not stress him out with an unnecessary trip to the vet if I don't have to.

I already left a message for my vet so she will call me back and tell me if she feels I really need to bring him in. Does anyone else have any thoughts about this?

(The vet is going to inform me of the biopsy results by phone as soon as they come in.)

 

[Kwik]

I'm leaning towards cancelling his surgical follow-up appointment on Thursday, because he's doing so well and his incisions look normal. He's probably going to have more appointments coming up with a specialist in the near future, so I'd rather not stress him out with an unnecessary trip to the vet if I don't have to.

I already left a message for my vet so she will call me back and tell me if she feels I really need to bring him in. Does anyone else have any thoughts about this?

(The vet is going to inform me of the biopsy results by phone as soon as they come in.)

I'd do the same-sincd he's doing so well I think a phone consultation would be just fine at this point and then you'll know your next steps after the biopsy.... sounds like a plan

 

[fionasmom]

I agree. Ask the vet if there is some crucial reason that he needs to be brought in. If it was only a followup and she agrees, try to keep him home.

 

[cmshap]

Update: My vet just called me with results. Willy has lymphoma.

She explained that surgical resection of the masses would likely not be immediately helpful, and that he will likely be a candidate for chemotherapy. My next step is a consultation with a veterinary oncologist. I have two referrals in my area, and I am going to call them both first thing tomorrow and try to get Willy into an appointment ASAP.

I just wanted to leave this quick update for now as I need to take some time to process this. Despite the news, I am genuinely taking comfort in Willy's strength and ability to survive thus far in life -- he was near death when I found him before he was one year old, and he survived a lot. And he recovered from last week's procedures and complications relatively quickly. For now, I am choosing to believe he will continue to be a survivor.

And he is being too goofy right now to make me feel sad.

 

[catloverfromwayback]

All the hugs and vibes for you both!

 

[silent meowlook]

If you are a cat and are going to have cancer, lymphoma is the cancer to have, because it responds best to chemotherapy.
While I am so sorry for what you and Willy are going through, I am also glad you have a diagnosis now and get on with the proper treatment he needs.

 

[FeralHearts]

*hugging you both*

I am choosing to believe he will continue to be a survivor.

I'm going to vote for this one and I will out a positive note out to the universe. XOXOXOXO

 

[Kwik]

You know how I feel about Willie(& you my friend)....it's not the news we hoped for BUT that won't make us skip a beat in moving forward with HOPE for Willie's good health!No sir!

Process it,make your calls ,get your ducks in a row and know that as S silent meowlook has said,it is true- feline lymphomas respond very well to chemo and come back bunny kicking!!!Willie is in the best hands he could possibly be in- YOURS

Get to work on that "GoFundMe" too......I pray continually for you both,for Provision and for Healing

 

[iPappy]

I'm so sorry cmshap but like the others have said, lymphoma is very treatable in cats.
(He looks so cute in that picture, no one told him about a diagnosis!)

 

[cmshap]

Thanks for all the positive feedback, everyone. It helps, and I have been doing my own research about feline lymphoma. I have high hopes for treatment.

I got him into a specialist as early as next week Tuesday (5 days from now). It's about a 45-minite drive away, but they also have an office that's closer, where the same doctor works, and they said I can go to follow-up appointments at the closer location from then on. This initial visit is just to get Willy seen ASAP.

 

[iPappy]

Thanks for all the positive feedback, everyone. It helps, and I have been doing my own research about feline lymphoma. I have high hopes for treatment.

I got him into a specialist as early as next week Tuesday (5 days from now). It's about a 45-minite drive away, but they also have an office that's closer, where the same doctor works, and they said I can go to follow-up appointments at the closer location from then on. This initial visit is just to get Willy seen ASAP.

Wow, 45 minutes away with a closer office for follow ups is wonderful!! I'm glad you're able to have him seen so quickly, and you don't have to wait too long.

 

[cmshap]

Anyone knowledgeable about this, please post your thoughts.

I have been researching feline lymphoma, and this is a quote that grabbed my attention from one source I found online:

"The alimentary form affects the digestive tract and surrounding lymph nodes. This form is least likely to be associated with feline leukemia. Alimentary (intestinal) lymphoma is the most common form of lymphoma in cats. The average patient is a senior cat (9-13 years) with a history of vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, inappetance or any combination of the above."

Willy definitely has a history of vomiting, like his whole life (but none of the other symptoms listed above). Every vet who has seen him chalked it up to food sensitivity. Which I believe he also has, but I am now wondering if these symptoms have or have had anything to do with his lymphoma.

He is currently vomiting almost every night. It's just once per night (and no other time during the day; so just once every 24 hours, in the middle of the night). When I was sleeping on the couch and watching him overnight while he was going through complications from last week's procedures, I witnessed his night vomiting as it happened.

He wakes up from a dead sleep, around 2-4am. This is always several hours after his last meal for the day. He jumps onto the floor from his sleeping spot, paces around as he smacks his gums repeatedly, sometimes while sticking his tongue out, like with an expression that there's something foul-tasting in his mouth. The gum-smacking eventually becomes loud exhalations (like if you were to breathe out, loudly, while saying "hhhhhhhhhhhhhh"). He makes these exhalation sounds 2-4 times and then vomits. And the vomit is always yellow, mushy, sometimes with a little bit of liquid.

After that he is totally awake and wants to play, which is its own thing, but this nightly vomiting thing has been an off-and-on occurrence over the last several years of his life. It hasn't always occurred, and sometimes disappeared for long periods of time. I have usually been able to stop it (or so I thought) by changing his food.

I was considering that the night-vomiting might be a reflux issue, but I was thinking that before I received the lymphoma diagnosis.

Edit: By "smacking his gums" I mean he is like chewing without any food being in his mouth. With an expression on his face like "there's something gross in my mouth." That's why I was thinking it might be a reflux issue.

 

[Kwik]

Anyone knowledgeable about this, please post your thoughts.

I have been researching feline lymphoma, and this is a quote that grabbed my attention from one source I found online:

"The alimentary form affects the digestive tract and surrounding lymph nodes. This form is least likely to be associated with feline leukemia. Alimentary (intestinal) lymphoma is the most common form of lymphoma in cats. The average patient is a senior cat (9-13 years) with a history of vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, inappetance or any combination of the above."

Willy definitely has a history of vomiting, like his whole life (but none of the other symptoms listed above). Every vet who has seen him chalked it up to food sensitivity. Which I believe he also has, but I am now wondering if these symptoms have or have had anything to do with his lymphoma.

He is currently vomiting almost every night. It's just once per night (and no other time during the day; so just once every 24 hours, in the middle of the night). When I was sleeping on the couch and watching him overnight while he was going through complications from last week's procedures, I witnessed his night vomiting as it happened.

He wakes up from a dead sleep, around 2-4am. This is always several hours after his last meal for the day. He jumps onto the floor from his sleeping spot, paces around as he smacks his gums repeatedly, sometimes while sticking his tongue out, like with an expression that there's something foul-tasting in his mouth. The gum-smacking eventually becomes loud exhalations (like if you were to breathe out, loudly, while saying "hhhhhhhhhhhhhh"). He makes these exhalation sounds 2-4 times and then vomits. And the vomit is always yellow, mushy, sometimes with a little bit of liquid.

After that he is totally awake and wants to play, which is its own thing, but this nightly vomiting thing has been an off-and-on occurrence over the last several years of his life. It hasn't always occurred, and sometimes disappeared for long periods of time. I have usually been able to stop it (or so I thought) by changing his food.

I was considering that the night-vomiting might be a reflux issue, but I was thinking that before I received the lymphoma diagnosis.

Edit: By "smacking his gums" I mean he is like chewing without any food being in his mouth. With an expression on his face like "there's something gross in my mouth." That's why I was thinking it might be a reflux issue.

It's great you got the appt set-I'll reserve my thoughts until the oncologist categorizes this lymphoma( I'm assuming from the biopsy its been determined as small cell )more specifically with a staging as well

Vomiting "only" leads me to believe it's early stage,I'm expecting Willie to respond positively to treatment...It's really great he has a good appetite and not any other symptoms..... you are a wonderful Daddy with the best little boy- love you both

 

[iPappy]

Anyone knowledgeable about this, please post your thoughts.

I have been researching feline lymphoma, and this is a quote that grabbed my attention from one source I found online:

"The alimentary form affects the digestive tract and surrounding lymph nodes. This form is least likely to be associated with feline leukemia. Alimentary (intestinal) lymphoma is the most common form of lymphoma in cats. The average patient is a senior cat (9-13 years) with a history of vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, inappetance or any combination of the above."

Willy definitely has a history of vomiting, like his whole life (but none of the other symptoms listed above). Every vet who has seen him chalked it up to food sensitivity. Which I believe he also has, but I am now wondering if these symptoms have or have had anything to do with his lymphoma.

He is currently vomiting almost every night. It's just once per night (and no other time during the day; so just once every 24 hours, in the middle of the night). When I was sleeping on the couch and watching him overnight while he was going through complications from last week's procedures, I witnessed his night vomiting as it happened.

He wakes up from a dead sleep, around 2-4am. This is always several hours after his last meal for the day. He jumps onto the floor from his sleeping spot, paces around as he smacks his gums repeatedly, sometimes while sticking his tongue out, like with an expression that there's something foul-tasting in his mouth. The gum-smacking eventually becomes loud exhalations (like if you were to breathe out, loudly, while saying "hhhhhhhhhhhhhh"). He makes these exhalation sounds 2-4 times and then vomits. And the vomit is always yellow, mushy, sometimes with a little bit of liquid.

After that he is totally awake and wants to play, which is its own thing, but this nightly vomiting thing has been an off-and-on occurrence over the last several years of his life. It hasn't always occurred, and sometimes disappeared for long periods of time. I have usually been able to stop it (or so I thought) by changing his food.

I was considering that the night-vomiting might be a reflux issue, but I was thinking that before I received the lymphoma diagnosis.

Edit: By "smacking his gums" I mean he is like chewing without any food being in his mouth. With an expression on his face like "there's something gross in my mouth." That's why I was thinking it might be a reflux issue.

I would definitely bring this up on Tuesday when you see the oncologist, they might have some ideas for you to try.

Geoffrey Small Cell Lymphoma
This member has a cat with SCL, and seems to be doing very well.

 

[cmshap]

I finally got the actual medical records file from my vet -- for some reason it took a long time.

My vet only told me "lymphoma" over the phone, but now that I am reading the report, I see that it's large-cell lymphoma... which is very concerning.

Here is what the histopath report says:

SOURCE: A) Ear B) Neck MICROSCOPIC FINDINGS: Lymphoma, large cell (x2)
SPECIMEN MARGINS: Evaluation of margins is not applicable in this case (incisional biopsy). COMMENTS: Both specimens in this submission contain a large cell lymphoma, possibly arising from regional lymph nodes, although no recognizable lymph node architecture is observed in these specimens. Staging is recommended. MICROSCOPIC DESCRIPTION: 2 bisected samples: Similar findings are present in both tissues. Infiltrating fibroadipose tissue is a nonencapsulated, poorly demarcated, and densely cellular neoplasm. The neoplastic cells are closely arranged in sheets in a pre-existing fibrovascular stroma. The neoplastic cells are round, with clear cell borders, small to moderate amounts of amphophilic and flocculent cytoplasm, a centrally located, oval to reniform nucleus, finely stippled chromatin, and up to 2, small, basophilic nucleoli. Anisocytosis and anisokaryosis are mild to moderate. The nuclear size measures greater than 2 red blood cell diameters (large cell). Mitoses are frequent, up to 6 per single 400x HPF. Scattered throughout the mass are numerous tingible body macrophages.

 

[FeralHearts]

cmshap firstly XOXOXOXOXOXOXXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Don't look up the statics. It doesn't matter and it's not right anyway. I've spent many a moon and many a sleepless night looking and researching after Mia passed. Stats are useless and there are too many factors for it to be accurate. One says one, one says another and it really will serve no purpose other than to drive you crazy. Seriously. S silent meowlook often says "Don't tell them they're sick. They don't know" . Go on as per usual.

I was very glad to read you have an oncologist appointment so quickly. That is wonderful and that's where he needs to be.

----------

 

[cmshap]

S silent meowlook often says "Don't tell them they're sick. They don't know" . Go on as per usual.

I like that. He certainly has no idea he is sick. He just got done shredding paper all over my living room floor. (It's one of his favorite things to do, so I've been letting him... given the circumstances, I don't mind cleaning up the mess.)

 

[iPappy]

I like that. He certainly has no idea he is sick. He just got done shredding paper all over my living room floor. (It's one of his favorite things to do, so I've been letting him... given the circumstances, I don't mind cleaning up the mess.)

I'm glad you got the actual report. I've learned from past mistakes to always request a copy of what is wrong, if I'm concerned things aren't improving.
Tag had bloodwork about 11 months before he passed. I was told he had certain levels up, some down, etc. When I got the paperwork 6 months later for another vet to look over, I was horrified. He had levels so high and so low that they were labeled "Critical", yet, no one said a word. Luckily for us both, he didn't seem to outwardly show it.
I'm anxiously awaiting to hear how the little paper shredders appointment goes on Tuesday.