Oreo Has Osteosarcoma

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Justgin

Justgin

Member Since 2017
It was supposed to take 10 days but the specialist (Dr. B) called today, so I knew what was coming. Early calls are never good news.

He's still hungry for food, but he limps. He's still on buprenorphine twice a day. Today his left foot looks a little swollen and he keeps grooming his left hip area. Dr. B wants to amputate the leg and wants to charge $2000 for it. I think my vet might charge less. Anyway, Dr. B says that sarcomas in cats don't progess as quickly as they do in dogs. I hope that's true. He wants to see if amputating his leg will help him to have a longer more painfree life or not, so he's contacting vets at NC State for their opinon. He'll let me know probably next week.

There may be some light at the end of the tunnel though. I do a lot of internet searches and sometimes searches lead to places I never originally intended to find. There are a number of people who've had documented tumor regression with diet change and pancreatinc enymes. There was at least one study that I know of involving lab animals (rats I assume) that showed positive results during trials. And there is a doctor - or doctors (possibly a number of them that I don't know about) who've also treated human patients with this type of therapy and monitored the progress via CT or plain films. Dr. B hasn't heard of such a thing.

I need to know what to do next. The only hope I have is this, at this point. :(
 
Oreo will be having his left hind leg amputated in the morning. Just now he rubbed up against me with that leg and it felt very warm. The area had been shaved for the biopsy and he's been licking it. I thought it was just red because his skin is white and any licking turns it red. Now I'm worried he's got a massive infection going on maybe from the bone biopsy. Please someone advise me ASAP! I'm already nervous and tearful having to have this surgery in the morning. And at least he will be seeing the surgeon in the morning. I'm worried.
 
:bighug: Sorry you and Oreo have to go through this. Sending tons of prayers for a successful surgery and a swift and complete recovery.
 
Oreo is back home now and loaded up on opioids, bless him. He has tried to walk but keeps falling over. I think the drugs are partially to blame but he doesn't know how to walk on 3 legs yet either. For now he's confined to my bathroom and has everything he needs in there. If I ever find out how to transfer pics from my phone to my cptr I will post them here.
 
 
FurBabiesMama said:
You can click Upload a File to the bottom right of the box where you type your text then browse for the file.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the info. I am a retard when it comes to computers so please type slower. :D I clicked on the picture icon but I don't see a way to browse. What did I do wrong?
 
I'm not very techie. If you can drag and drop a photo that you have on your computer desktop, that should work too. What @FurBabiesMama is referring to is the "Upload a File" bar that you see under the lower right corner of your text box when you get set to type a comment on the forum. When you click on that bar a list of files that are in a location on your computer will appear. In my case, it's my desk top files that are listed but I can switch to other files to find a photo.
 
So sorry for your kitty. I lost a cat to a fast moving osteicarcinoma earlier this year. My cat Pisew developed a lump in her back leg. She also had lumps in her groin area. My vet confirmed what I thought and gave some meds. He did not consider amputation an option for her and it was a very fast moving and aggressive tumour. She was older and tubby so mobility would be an issue.
Sorry to say I lost her less then two weeks later. It spread very quickly so treatment other the palliative care, wasn't an option.
If you have any questions or need to talk msg me. Hugs to both of you.
 
Oh I see now. What I did before is click on the photo icon in the light blue bar above the text box. So that's what I did wrong. I still have trouble getting pics to upload from my phone to my computer (it used to do that automatically when connected). I'll try again.

"The Upload file does not have an allowed extension".

I give up. Thanks anyway.
 
CassWTribby said:
So sorry for your kitty. I lost a cat to a fast moving osteicarcinoma earlier this year. My cat Pisew developed a lump in her back leg. She also had lumps in her groin area. My vet confirmed what I thought and gave some meds. He did not consider amputation an option for her and it was a very fast moving and aggressive tumour. She was older and tubby so mobility would be an issue.
Sorry to say I lost her less then two weeks later. It spread very quickly so treatment other the palliative care, wasn't an option.
If you have any questions or need to talk msg me. Hugs to both of you.
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The specialist at the referral clinic suggested amputation based on what the Oncologist at NCState advised him. He also advised chemo to make sure all the cancer was removed since this cancer was aggressive. I never did understand exactly what he meant when he said osteosarcomas are slower moving in cats than in dogs (so they never recommend amputation in dogs), but then he said this one was aggressive. Does that mean that this type is jus as aggressive in cats as in dogs? And if so, why was amputation recommended? He did not feel any lymph nodes and the cancer was localized to his left distal femur on film. None noted in his abdomen. The vet who did the surgery (Oreo's vet) took another film on day of surgery and said "to my eye, there's no change in the appearance of the left knee film done several weeks ago". I'll call the specialist and get him to pinpoint a prognosis for me. It's pretty discouraging thinking I've put him through this pain only to die anyway in just a few weeks. :(

And this limp, barely perceptible, started only about a week or 2 before his diabetes diagnosis. That's a long time for an aggressive cancer to grow. Anyway, thank you for sharing and I'm so sorry for the loss of your dear kitty to this terrible disease. Hugs.
 
Justgin said:
Oh I see now. What I did before is click on the photo icon in the light blue bar above the text box. So that's what I did wrong. I still have trouble getting pics to upload from my phone to my computer (it used to do that automatically when connected). I'll try again.

"The Upload file does not have an allowed extension".

I give up. Thanks anyway.
Click to expand...
The computers and I have mutual spite for one another - always have..darn things..was so much better without them...

if you start new post and click on "Upload File" below the space where you are supposed to type in your text you 'll get a window opened that asks Browse from... and then you click on the file from your PC or a cell -if it is connected by a cord to the PC - the file which you'd like to upload. Then wait, it asks if you want Full Image or a Thumbnail image - and choose accordingly.. I hope it helps.. But technology is so vile - no one can ever fully trust it...

How's Oreo even without picx?
 
Tanya and Ducia said:
we're all hope so much to hear good updates - how's Oreo doing today?
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Thank you! He's eating well, although I'm having to serve him underneath my bed. He fears I will take him back for more surgery I think, poor baby! If I were him I'd be afraid of me too. He doesn't understand. He has refused my handy homemade liter box without a front edge and somehow has made it into the box. I have filled the boxes with more litter to help him in and out.

He wore the e-collar only about a couple of minutes, but since then has not yet shown an interest, so far, in his back or his incisions. I'm keeping an eye on that too. Since Oreo IS the groomer kitty, I'm not really worried that the others might take over grooming him but I'm keeping an eye on them too. For safety's sake, and since the others don't show an interest in snuggling with him, nor he them, I will put him back in my bathroom to make it easier to medicate him with his pain meds. Personality wise he is more himself than he was the other day on drugs. But he's still quiet and hiding, yet when I serve him food, he does eat well.
 
Tanya and Ducia said:
The computers and I have mutual spite for one another - always have..darn things..was so much better without them...

if you start new post and click on "Upload File" below the space where you are supposed to type in your text you 'll get a window opened that asks Browse from... and then you click on the file from your PC or a cell -if it is connected by a cord to the PC - the file which you'd like to upload. Then wait, it asks if you want Full Image or a Thumbnail image - and choose accordingly.. I hope it helps.. But technology is so vile - no one can ever fully trust it...

How's Oreo even without picx?
Click to expand...

I know the feeling! Mutual spite, vile technology....lol. My computer thinks I'm dumb, and he's right! Ok let's try this again.

Won't work. Same message. <sigh>
 
One more time I'll try. If it doesn't work this time, I truly give up. I'll snail mail you all a Polaroid, how about that? LOL.

Ok same message. It did say the file was 220 KB.

I'll have to drive down to the corner drugstore to get a Polaroid camera I guess. Damn these new-fangled devices anyway.
 
Justgin said:
He fears I will take him back for more surgery I think, poor baby! If I were him I'd be afraid of me too. He doesn't understand.
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A while back, someone on this Board shared that her holistic vet suggested to talk (silently, on a mental level) with her cat whilst the cats was asleep... Like to explain why she did what she was doing to him and what was she hoping to achieve...She reported it worked! The cat understood and cooperated. Maybe you can try to explain to Oreo that his surgery was "our technology" to have the healing done, it is not going to be repeated and that he has no reason to fear you whatsoever but if he feels it is the way to proceed at a moment (to be afraid of you or to be cautious) - you'll understand it, too? Tell him again how much you love him - they understand it well...
(This Forum is the only place on Earth where I admit to having THAT kind of conversation with my cat.. Try it (keep it private if you wish) - it might work.):bighug:
 
Tanya and Ducia said:
A while back, someone on this Board shared that her holistic vet suggested to talk (silently, on a mental level) with her cat whilst the cats was asleep... Like to explain why she did what she was doing to him and what was she hoping to achieve...She reported it worked! The cat understood and cooperated. Maybe you can try to explain to Oreo that his surgery was "our technology" to have the healing done, it is not going to be repeated and that he has no reason to fear you whatsoever but if he feels it is the way to proceed at a moment (to be afraid of you or to be cautious) - you'll understand it, too? Tell him again how much you love him - they understand it well...
(This Forum is the only place on Earth where I admit to having THAT kind of conversation with my cat.. Try it (keep it private if you wish) - it might work.):bighug:
Click to expand...

Oh I do understand that only us cat lovers would do such a thing but it's sure worth a try! I wonder if there are ANY holistic vets who know about the pancreatic enzyme treatment to make tumors regress? It's rare to even find a human doctor familiar with that type treatment. But this was trialed on lab animals - either rats or bunnies one -with success. I just don't even know where to start looking although I've asked several vets already. I'll continue my search online.
 
Hmm..
Justgin said:
I've asked several vets already.
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Translation: you have asked you vets where else to put your money...hmm...I wonder if they had any choice but to tell you "no such thing"!..? or "no where else but me"...
:)
The lady whom I mentioned above is from Pennsylvania. Where are you located? Someone on the Board from the same area might know a good holistic one...

The holistic vets are VERY, very hard to find, and usually seeing one requires quite a drive for an appointment..but most said it was worth it.

Anyway, if you can start a new thread on the Main Health Forum titled something like "Looking for a holistic vet in such-or-so-area" someone might be able to help. If no responses coming in - just keep posting another details/ questions to your own post to "bump" it up on list - you see, once a new message/ post comes in the old ones are go lower and lower until they became invisible. Do not edit your post with additions - write a new post as a reply to your own 1st post - otherwise it will not get pushed up to the top.

You do know how to post a new thread, I trust? You've posted here and , BTW, managed posting/ uploading a pic successfully, too..;) ... not everyone here can claim that much. :)

Let me know if I may be of any help.
 
Tanya and Ducia said:
Hmm..

Translation: you have asked you vets where else to put your money...hmm...I wonder if they had any choice but to tell you "no such thing"!..? or "no where else but me"...
:)
The lady whom I mentioned above is from Pennsylvania. Where are you located? Someone on the Board from the same area might know a good holistic one...

The holistic vets are VERY, very hard to find, and usually seeing one requires quite a drive for an appointment..but most said it was worth it.

Anyway, if you can start a new thread on the Main Health Forum titled something like "Looking for a holistic vet in such-or-so-area" someone might be able to help. If no responses coming in - just keep posting another details/ questions to your own post to "bump" it up on list - you see, once a new message/ post comes in the old ones are go lower and lower until they became invisible. Do not edit your post with additions - write a new post as a reply to your own 1st post - otherwise it will not get pushed up to the top.

You do know how to post a new thread, I trust? You've posted here and , BTW, managed posting/ uploading a pic successfully, too..;) ... not everyone here can claim that much. :)

Let me know if I may be of any help.
Click to expand...


Actually the first vet I asked was a holistic vet my holistic MD referred me to. (And you are right, this vet is a good distance away from me.) He'd never heard of enzyme therapy but he did say he respected the vet who did Oreo's bone biopsy and wanted me to keep him informed of Oreo's progress. And when I asked referral vet if he'd heard of it, I could tell he wasn't even interested in such things. Strange! I would leave no stone unturned. Here's a website I found in case anyone is interested in learning more about the scientific research done by Dr. John Beard, a Scottish embryologist in the early 1900's. He published his research on enzyme therapy in 1911. It's real science.

https://www.scribd.com/doc/7840273/The-Enzyme-Treatment-of-Cancer-John-Beard-1911

That's over 100 years ago! And yet medical science has yet to catch up, except for a few doctors willing to risk their careers. I have no idea how to extrapolate this info to vet science. But I do know that it was trialed on lab animals with success. His work was overshadowed by Marie Curie and her 2 Nobel prizes. What a shame.

Thank you for the tips!
 
Just popping by to say hello and send tons of hugs to you and Oreo.
My kitty Uncle also had a back leg amputated due to a sarcoma (it was subcutaneous). He was 8 at the time lived to be 17. Heart disease was what he eventually died from, not diabetes or cancer. He was a bit wobbly at first too, like you said some was from the pain meds originally and then he just had to practice being a tri-pod. He had some technical difficulties at first, didn't take very long for him to get back to his normal self -including catching mice!
Glad Oreo is eating for you. Hope he feels better every day. Keep us posted on his progress :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Oreo gave me a scare this morning at 8am. I got up and fed him separate from the others. He's been staying in my masterbath adjoining my bedroom. He had peed and pooed during the night so I scooped that. Then he ate pretty well. He was ready for his food. I went to the kitchen to rinse out the tins of cat food when I heard a single meow faintly. I saw a kitty at my garage door last night so I thought it was an outside cat. I heard it again several times, then realized it was coming from Oreo. When I got in my room he started meowing desparately like yelling. He kept moving around like he couldn't get comfortable. Earlier I noticed that he passed gas, but that didn't seem to bother him. I was worried that he had hurt his incision or maybe knocked his left hip out of joint or something. So I ran to get my phone off the charger. During that time he seemed to settle down some but I called the vet anyway. He wasn't in yet. Then he called about 20 minutes later. By then Oreo had settled down in my closet and was calm. He's been resting ever since but hasn't gotten up yet. I do not know what happened but it really scared me that something bad had happened. He never meows like that.
 
Justgin said:
Oreo gave me a scare this morning at 8am. I got up and fed him separate from the others. He's been staying in my masterbath adjoining my bedroom. He had peed and pooed during the night so I scooped that. Then he ate pretty well. He was ready for his food. I went to the kitchen to rinse out the tins of cat food when I heard a single meow faintly. I saw a kitty at my garage door last night so I thought it was an outside cat. I heard it again several times, then realized it was coming from Oreo. When I got in my room he started meowing desparately like yelling. He kept moving around like he couldn't get comfortable. Earlier I noticed that he passed gas, but that didn't seem to bother him. I was worried that he had hurt his incision or maybe knocked his left hip out of joint or something. So I ran to get my phone off the charger. During that time he seemed to settle down some but I called the vet anyway. He wasn't in yet. Then he called about 20 minutes later. By then Oreo had settled down in my closet and was calm. He's been resting ever since but hasn't gotten up yet. I do not know what happened but it really scared me that something bad had happened. He never meows like that.
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It's possible he moved in such a way as to stress the amputation site. That would be awfully painful I think. Did the vet have anything to offer? Is Oreo still on opioids?
 
The vet didn't even want to give him a Fentanyl patch because of the risks and because of his skin sensitivity/condition (he still has those scabs on his back.) he is on 3 days worth of robenicoxib (sp?) an NSAID and today's the last day. Luckily I still have some Buprenorphine left over from his biopsy. This is the first time I've heard him meow in pain. The vet said he would probably give another 3 day round of the NSAID and that it can be given with the Bupe. He's still resting right now.
 
Hi Gin, just replied to your PM and now reading this. Glad you can give Bupe, the NSAID just may not have enough pain control.
I remember well just how intense that incision is and can imagine how raw, angry and swollen everything probably is right now, so it doesn't take much movement for things to really hurt I imagine.
I know how hard it is to see/hear them in pain. Hope Oreo gets to feeling better real soon! :bighug:
 
I wanted to wait a little bit to see how he did this morning. Caught the little booger licking his incision so the cone of shame went immediately back on. I noticed a small open area yesterday, but never did see him lick until this morning. I believe the Bupe is helping plus the Onsior. The vet has given another 3 days worth of Onsior and will prescribe more Bupe.

So I gave him Bupe this morning before breakfast, then he ate, and I gave Onsior afterward and his Levemir. He used the litter box twice already - only #1 so far and no poo overnight. He did poo well yesterday. After breakfast, no meowies like yesterday! Pain control and cone are the key to healing. He's also getting along easier on 3 legs. He's beginning to get the hang of it. Bless him!

I figured out how to post a pic from my phone! Be forewarned it's a pic of his incision and you can see a small open area in the center. This is from yesterday.
 

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