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Histiocytic Sarcoma in Cat
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Member Since:
21 July 2015
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18 August 2015 - 2:09 pm
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My cat Milo was recently diagnosed with histiocytic sarcoma. He developed a golf ball sized lump on his left leg in a period of a couple weeks. Initial biopsy was unclear and the vet was leaning toward carcinoma. With no mets in his lungs, no signs of cancer in his blood or lymph nodes, we proceeded with the amputation. His amputated limb was sent to pathology and after about 3 weeks the diagnosis was confirmed, lymph node cleared.

There is so little information on this cancer in cats that the oncologist can't really tell me very much. He recommends staging to see if there is any sign of cancer in his liver, spleen, etc. And then depending on results, chemo. If the cancer is disseminated or metastasized, the prognosis is extremely poor (so no chemo in that case). If it has not shown signs of spreading yet, they honestly don't have any idea how the cancer will act, if it would inevitably spread anyways, how quickly (but would recommend chemo to prevent it coming back). They just know its a very aggressive cancer in dogs and that him being so young (3) isn't a great sign, though they did amputate pretty quickly after finding the tumor (one week), and it hadn't reached his lymph node yet. 

Milo is EXTREMELY traumatized by going to the vet. He has to get sedated every time and his personality is altered for periods afterward. He is only a little over a month post op on the amputation and is not yet back to being himself. I'm extremely hesitant to proceed with staging and chemo because of the impact vet visits and the meds themselves will have on his quality of life, which may be very short even if it hasn't spread yet. There are just so few research or journal articles out there on this disease in cats, and none exist when it was amputated before spreading to lymph nodes. Has anyone ever had a cat diagnosed with a localized Histiocytic Sarcoma?? 

On The Road


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24 September 2009
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18 August 2015 - 2:43 pm
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Hi Milo and family, welcome to the club nopawdy wants to join. Your future posts won't require moderation so post away.

I'm sorry you're in such a tough spot, I know it's got to be so overwhelming when you don't have much info to go on. As you know there's lots of info out there about dogs, and we've had many members who've had this diagnosis, but I do think you are the first cat member here who's coping with it. Unfortunately cat health information in vet medicine is just now coming into its own and there just isn't enough of it yet. Ugh.

However, if it's any consolation at all, even just a little, know that Milo's story will be there to help someone else some day who is also dealing with histio in their feline. I hope you'll consider starting a Tripawds blog to document your journey, the blogs are so helpful to members seeking comfort.

It sounds like you have a really awesome vet team working with you, that's a huge advantage to have, so yay! When you are presented with chemo options, keep in mind that this journey is all about quality of life. If you know that Milo will be completely messed up by even more vet visits, then that's no way for him to live. The fact is, with or without cancer we never know how much time we have on this earth so it's important to make every day the Best Day Ever. If you stick with that plan and listen to what Milo wants you can't go wrong. Some animals can do the chemo routine, some just can't due to emotions, health, whatever, and that's OK. Quality of Life is the best way to go.

Find out the options for dealing with this condition and let your vet know how Milo feels about visiting the clinic, and what your gut instinct is about his tolerance for any future treatment. Sounds like they will work well with you to come to a good treatment plan decision.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

Michigan
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2 April 2013
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18 August 2015 - 8:03 pm
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I'm so sorry poor Milo is having to go through this.

Our Murphy was diagnosed with histiocytic sarcoma after the amputation of his right front leg 4/2013.  He's a dog, so that part doesn't help you any, but the rest of his journey might.

His surgery took place about 5 months after he started limping because of an initial misdiagnosis.  The lymph node they took was also positive, but his lung x-rays were clear.  He was cd18+ (it's a tumor marker), so his chemo was ccnu which is a pill he got every 3 weeks for 6 doses.  He had to have a cbc drawn the week of treatment and 1 week after to check his white blood cells and platelets.  Our local vet worked with the teaching hospital to do his blood work on the week after to save us the 1 1/2 hour drive.  He also took denamarin every day at home to protect his liver.  He had no side effects from the chemo. 

After he finished his chemo treatments another tumor was found on his left shoulder blade which was highly suspicious, but we chose not to do any other treatment.  That was October 2013.  So far that tumor has not grown and his lungs have remained clear.  He is happy, barks and chases squirrels, jumps on the furniture and is spoiled.

There are no guarantees with any of this, you have to do what is best for Milo and you.  Many people opt to not go through the chemo at all.  If he's going to be that stressed, it may not be worth it.  Or maybe they can offer some suggestions for you to make it easier for him

Donna

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png


Member Since:
21 July 2015
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26 August 2015 - 10:19 pm
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Thank you both so much for responding. In case anyone was following or curious, we've decided not to go through with any staging or treatment. The research to support the chemo just isn't there. We can't justify putting him through so many traumatizing vet visits when there is almost no science backing it up. (I went to the oncologist appointment solo to figure out options, and he smelled the vet on me and hissed at me until I washed the clothes I was wearing and showered..... he really, really hates the vet.) We won't risk making the rest of his life miserable. So, who knows if we've got it and he'll live to be an old cat, or if he's just got a couple of months. The plan is to watch him get back to himself after the amputation and figure out what his new normal is so we can have a baseline for behavior and cancer symptoms. 

He is 6 weeks post op today and seems to be more interested in interacting with us this past week and seeking attention finally, though he gets incredibly frustrated when he can't do something he used to be able to do easily and huffs and puffs and lets us know. He can make about a 3.5 ft jump onto a large surface area, but he used to do about 7 ft, and his balance isn't there so he isn't sure about even very small leaps sometimes. Anything he can grip is more comfortable for him because he can catch himself and pull himself up if he slips or misses. Smooth surfaces lead to falls. 

He still gives the random warning meow and hiss when he's not into the other cat or when he gets startled. But it's been about 4 days since he hissed at either of his humans (usually just if we made sudden moves after sitting too still). That's the longest stretch yet. I did end up putting feliway plug ins on two levels of the house to ease the reintroduction with the other cat, Oscar, and he didn't seem to want to hang out on the floor without them, so I just put them in almost every room of the house. Those plus time seem to be significantly helpful.

It does seem like he has phantom limb pain sometimes, crying out, can't get comfortable, eventually runs away and hides, but that appears to be less and less frequent. I've read some people think that doesn't exist for animals, but I couldn't find another explanation for his very strange sudden behavior sometimes. 

Anyways. Just trying to figure out the new normal and hoping for the slim chance that we have a very long time to do that. I'll keep you guys updated on any major developments. Thanks, again. This site has been the biggest resource for us. There is almost nothing else out there. 

Michigan
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2 April 2013
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27 August 2015 - 8:24 am
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Aww...that sounds like it's probably the best for Milo if he gets that stressed out.  It really wouldn't be worth making him so miserable.  The pain itself, for the most part at least, is gone, so that's the majority of the battle.  That really is what most of us want for our babies, is to not be in pain. 

Can you maybe "catify" a part of your house for him?  lol If you've ever watched Jackson Galaxy you've heard that phrase!  He always suggests making places that are safe for cats - ledges or places that they can climb or get to.  If you google "catify your house" and look at images, you can get all kinds of ideas.

Donna

Donna, Glenn & Murphy 

Murphy had his right front leg amputated due to histiocytic sarcoma at 7 years old. He survived 4 years, 2 months & 1 week, only to be taken by hemangiosarcoma at 11 1/2 years 6/12/17  
Read about Murphy's Life on Three Legs

Donna.png

On The Road


Member Since:
24 September 2009
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27 August 2015 - 10:40 am
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Awww Milo has some real spunk to him, I like that cat!

Well I agree, you don't want to stress him out like that with vet visits, poor guy. Any decision made with his best interest in mind is the best we can do for our animals and all the want from us. Quality of life is SO important when coping with cancer and I do believe that it is the best medicine there is sometimes. I know that many animals who weren't expected to live long, did so when they got to continue doing what they loved most in this world, our own Jerry among them.

We would love to follow your story because every path taken helps someone else in the future, especially when an uncommon diagnosis is involved. If you'd ever like to write something for Tripawd Tuesday do let us know, we'd be honored to publish it.

Lots of love & scritches coming your way, let us know how things are goin.

Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet

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