Poopers update... Not good :(

[Poopers and Catia]

Hi everyone, I just wanted to give everyone an update on Poopers. I've been gone for a little because its just been a hard here.
I had come on here to discuss how he's loosing a lot of weight and many of you suggested that it may be something else other than his diabetes and to get further tests, so we did just that.
Turns out he has (1) Teeth problems - The back area of his gums is infected and he eventually needs to be scheduled to removed those teeth.
(2) He came back with cancer He has Lymphoma in his small intestine.
We have him on paid meds for his teeth in the meantime and we have him on Steroid and Chemo (all pills)

If anyone has gone through similar or has any advice that would be helpful please go ahead and leave a comment or message me.
Yes i know that this month we haven't tested him more than the preshots ... Its been a VERY rough month

I think the affects of his Chemo pill just kicked in because for the past 2 days he hasnt been eating like crazy like he would before. (He started chemo on Sept 4.)

Thank you in advanced and send Poopers all your good energy please

 

[JL and Chip]

Sorry to hear you’ve had such a rough time. Diabetes is a difficult diagnosis to get, cancer even moreso. The dental issues don’t help either.

I believe lymphoma (at least some forms) can have very good remission rates in cats given proper treatment. I’m tagging Wendy, who has experience with small-cell lymphoma (SCL).
@Wendy&Neko

 

[Poopers and Catia]

Sorry to hear you’ve had such a rough time. Diabetes is a difficult diagnosis to get, cancer even moreso. The dental issues don’t help either.

I believe lymphoma (at least some forms) can have very good remission rates in cats given proper treatment. I’m tagging Wendy, who has experience with small-cell lymphoma (SCL).
@Wendy&Neko

Yes the specialist said that usually when its properly taken care of that cats can keep going for 2-3 years

 

[Wendy&Neko]

the specialist said that usually when its properly taken care of that cats can keep going for 2-3 years

I just scritched a cat in remission from SCL (small cell lymphoma), who was diagnosed over 5 years ago. She is my third cat who has had SCL, Neko was one of them.

I think the affects of his Chemo pill just kicked in because for the past 2 days he hasnt been eating like crazy like he would before

What chemo pill are you giving, how often, and how much of it? The proper chemo protocol is very important with good remission rates. More importantly, the newest protocol has the least side effects from the chemo. You should also be predosing anti nausea meds, specifically ondansetron, before giving the chemo pill and for a few days afterwards.

As for diabetes, he got to 1.8 (32!!) on 2.5 units on September 4th. Please reduce the insulin dose, you should not have increased. His dose should be 2.25 units.

 

[Poopers and Catia]

I just scritched a cat in remission from SCL (small cell lymphoma), who was diagnosed over 5 years ago. She is my third cat who has had SCL, Neko was one of them.

What chemo pill are you giving, how often, and how much of it? The proper chemo protocol is very important with good remission rates. More importantly, the newest protocol has the least side effects from the chemo. You should also be predosing anti nausea meds, specifically ondansetron, before giving the chemo pill and for a few days afterwards.

As for diabetes, he got to 1.8 (32!!) on 2.5 units on September 4th. Please reduce the insulin dose, you should not have increased. His dose should be 2.25 units.

Drug Name

Lantus insulin

PrednisoLONE 5mg tabs

Chlorambucil 2mg tab

Special Instructions:

Instructions

Give 2 and 1/2 units subcutaneously every 12 hours

Continue with 1 and 1/2 tablet orally once daily until September 15th, then decrease to 1 tablet orally every 24 hours until otherwise directed

Give 1 tablet orally once every Monday and every second Thursday. Do not crush or split tablets. Wear gloves when handling. Keep refrigerated.

this is what we were given
Also as to the 2.5 I know but our vet specialist told us that his number need to be regulated and to increase his dose because of the steroids

 

[Wendy&Neko]

What day did you start the steroids? It's important to list things that can impact the BG in the Remarks. And steroids definitely will do that.

Give 1 tablet orally once every Monday and every second Thursday. Do not crush or split tablets. Wear gloves when handling. Keep refrigerated.

That is a very unusual dosing method for chlorambucil. The modern dosing method is to give every two weeks, and the amount is based on the cat's weight. An older dosing method is 2 mg every other day. How much does Poopers weigh? There are even older dosing methods for SCL, but not what you've described above. It may not be very effective. You also need to be giving him anti nausea medication. Ondansetron is the best for chemo nausea.

 

[Poopers and Catia]

What day did you start the steroids? It's important to list things that can impact the BG in the Remarks. And steroids definitely will do that.

That is a very unusual dosing method for chlorambucil. The modern dosing method is to give every two weeks, and the amount is based on the cat's weight. An older dosing method is 2 mg every other day. How much does Poopers weigh? There are even older dosing methods for SCL, but not what you've described above. It may not be very effective. You also need to be giving him anti nausea medication. Ondansetron is the best for chemo nausea.

The chemo we started on the 4 and the steroids I believe it was august 31. He weighs about 6.8 pounds

 

[Poopers and Catia]

What day did you start the steroids? It's important to list things that can impact the BG in the Remarks. And steroids definitely will do that.

That is a very unusual dosing method for chlorambucil. The modern dosing method is to give every two weeks, and the amount is based on the cat's weight. An older dosing method is 2 mg every other day. How much does Poopers weigh? There are even older dosing methods for SCL, but not what you've described above. It may not be very effective. You also need to be giving him anti nausea medication. Ondansetron is the best for chemo nausea.

You think the dosing is wrong? :/

 

[Wendy&Neko]

So in spite of being on steroids on September 4th, he still went to 1.8 (32). Now I really think the dose is too high. We tend to wait and see if he needs a higher dose, instead of just increasing and thinking he might need a higher dose of insulin.

Next time you talk to the specialist vet, see if they can point you do the research/papers for the chlorambucil dosing they have given you. He has lost a lot of weight. Poor baby.

 

[Poopers and Catia]

So in spite of being on steroids on September 4th, he still went to 1.8 (32). Now I really think the dose is too high. We tend to wait and see if he needs a higher dose, instead of just increasing and thinking he might need a higher dose of insulin.

Next time you talk to the specialist vet, see if they can point you do the research/papers for the chlorambucil dosing they have given you. He has lost a lot of weight. Poor baby.

Will do but do you think the dosing of his chemo isn’t correct ?

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Like I said, ask the specialist (internal medicine or oncologist?) for a reference to the dosing protocol. If they can't produce one, then that's the chance to ask them what the standard published protocols are for dosing chlorambucil.