Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hi Tripawds family,
To start with, I'm probably in the wrong place... but this is the first forum I've run across that's still active and has information about cancer treatments for fur-babies.
Long story short, my 11 year old cat was diagnosed 2 days ago. He had biopsies and the results show both low-grade and high-grade (small cell and large cell) gastrointestinal Lymphoma.
Have been provided with 4 chemo protocols from the veterinary hospital - but not much guidance on what is the best option for him. Mainly just that it's "not as scary as it seems". From the research I've been doing, it looks like the one protocol option that's similar to the "CHOP protocol" would be best. Trying to make the decision whether to move forward with chemo or simply continue with the steroid.
Before I go into more detail, does anyone here have experiences with or insights about chemo for gastrointestinal Lymphoma in cat? Or, do you know of any resources to help me learn more and make the best informed decision for my little one?
My childhood dog was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, had a leg amputation, and chemo - so I know these are very different types of cancer. Just wanting to get as much information as possible to base a decision from.
Thanks so much in advance.
Hi and welcome! I'm sorry about your cat's diagnosis. The type of cancer she has is something we've never run into here, so I apologize but I don't have much info on it to offer. Here's a good link to Cornell's page about lymphoma in cats, which mentions there are different situations and outcomes for large vs. small cell lymphoma. Do you know which one is more dominant in her?
What I can say is that if your cat handles vet visits well, then chemo should not be much different. The drug chlorambucil (see our blog post in that link) is used, and many cats here have taken it for metronomic chemotherapy (low-dose, at-home long-term chemo) after a cancer diagnosis. The members whose Tripawds have had chemo here can tell you more, but for the most part animals do much better than people, as you may have experienced with your dog.
In our post "Questions to Ask Your Veterinary Oncologist," the info can apply to cats as well as dogs. What I would want to know about those treatments is, when compared to one another how do they rank in terms of success rates, side effects, and remission? Ask your vet to rank from most successful/least side effects, to least, and see where that conversation goes.
I hope this helps! Stay tuned, there may be others out there with feedback and direct experience.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Hello and welcome!
I'm sorry about the diagnosis. I see this was posted weeks ago. Good for you for doing your research. Just in case you have not seen this - Dr. Sue (the cancer vet) has a playlist on youtube on feline Lymphoma.
How to treat, everything one needs to know if their furmily member is diagnosed with Lymphoma - here is a link. Lymphoma in cats.I recently watched the entire series for a friend a few weeks ago. Very informative, a must-watch for anyone diagnosed. She goes into all the treatments available and types of Lymphoma, what she recommends etc.
Also, there are active io groups on cancer, Lymphoma here
FelineCancer
There are also specialized cancer groups, for specific types of cancer, (feline Lymphoma and feline VAS) (felinelymphomasupport and FelineBladderCancer).
Feline_Smallcell_Lymphoma / Feline Small Cell Lymphoma
feline Lymphoma, also known as low-grade or lymphocytic Lymphoma, and veterinary professionals.
Felinelymphomasupport / Feline Lymphoma Support
This is a support and discussion for pet parents caring for cats with Lymphoma or any form of cancer.
Best wishes to you and your kitty!
Hugs
Holly & Purrkins
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