5/21 Pepper AMPS 135, +7 169, PMPS 163 - Cardio update
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Re: 5/21 Pepper AMPS 135
Sending good vetty vines.
Sending good vetty vines.
Anne & Zener GA
Member Since 2011
Re: 5/21 Pepper AMPS 135
Paws crossed.
Liz
Paws crossed.
Liz
Nancy&Pepper (GA)
Member Since 2012
Re: 5/21 Pepper AMPS 135, +7 169 - Cardio update
Where to begin? The diagnosis is acromegaly associated cardiomyopathy. The wall of the heart is thickened and the left ventricle is dilated. The doctor, Dr. Fries, prescribed Furosemide (Lasix, 1/2 12.5 mg tablet twice a day) and Plavix (1/4 75 mg tablet once a day)to prevent blood clots. He said that radiation therapy to treat the acromegaly can reverse some of the cardiac changes and he recommended doing it, that Pepper's heart condition wouldn't prevent him from being treated. They all loved him! They said he was the sweetest cat they had ever had. The doctor wrote on Pepper's report, "Pepper was a great patient!" He really is the best cat ever and he deserves a much better bean than me! I wish I had gotten the acro test done sooner, I just was having a hard time facing it. I really want to get the SRT done now. The doctor said they could do it there - this is a place called "Medvet - Medical and Cancer Center for Pets". He said they have treated pituitary tumors there (though not cats with acromegaly). We have an appointment scheduled for next week with the radiation oncologist to see what she says about treating Pepper. Has anyone ever heard of anyone getting radiation therapy anywhere other than Colorado State or UC Davis or the one or two other places that escape my memory right now? I would love it if it were really possible to treat Pepper at home, but if we have to, my sister says she is all ready to go to Colorado with me.
Where to begin? The diagnosis is acromegaly associated cardiomyopathy. The wall of the heart is thickened and the left ventricle is dilated. The doctor, Dr. Fries, prescribed Furosemide (Lasix, 1/2 12.5 mg tablet twice a day) and Plavix (1/4 75 mg tablet once a day)to prevent blood clots. He said that radiation therapy to treat the acromegaly can reverse some of the cardiac changes and he recommended doing it, that Pepper's heart condition wouldn't prevent him from being treated. They all loved him! They said he was the sweetest cat they had ever had. The doctor wrote on Pepper's report, "Pepper was a great patient!" He really is the best cat ever and he deserves a much better bean than me! I wish I had gotten the acro test done sooner, I just was having a hard time facing it. I really want to get the SRT done now. The doctor said they could do it there - this is a place called "Medvet - Medical and Cancer Center for Pets". He said they have treated pituitary tumors there (though not cats with acromegaly). We have an appointment scheduled for next week with the radiation oncologist to see what she says about treating Pepper. Has anyone ever heard of anyone getting radiation therapy anywhere other than Colorado State or UC Davis or the one or two other places that escape my memory right now? I would love it if it were really possible to treat Pepper at home, but if we have to, my sister says she is all ready to go to Colorado with me.
rhiannon and shadow (GA)
Member Since 2012
Re: 5/21 Pepper AMPS 135, +7 169 - Cardio update
((((Nancy)))))
I know it's not what you wanted to hear. But it sounds like your vet has a plan and you have a direction.
Paws crossed that the new meds and treatments will make Pepper feel much better.
((((Nancy)))))
I know it's not what you wanted to hear. But it sounds like your vet has a plan and you have a direction.
Paws crossed that the new meds and treatments will make Pepper feel much better.
Re: 5/21 Pepper AMPS 135, +7 169 - Cardio update
This sounds like a great vet. I would send a PM to Wendy/Neko or any of the others who have cats that went through SRT. Since this clinic hasn't done the procedure, you should have a lot of questions for them. The procedure isn't inexpensive and personally, I would prefer if there was some other cat that was their test case. I'd really want to know how many SRT procedures the veterinary radiologist has done. If the vet hasn't done a lot, I'd think about taking a road trip.
This sounds like a great vet. I would send a PM to Wendy/Neko or any of the others who have cats that went through SRT. Since this clinic hasn't done the procedure, you should have a lot of questions for them. The procedure isn't inexpensive and personally, I would prefer if there was some other cat that was their test case. I'd really want to know how many SRT procedures the veterinary radiologist has done. If the vet hasn't done a lot, I'd think about taking a road trip.
Re: 5/21 Pepper AMPS 135, +7 169 - Cardio update
Great visit and I agree with Sienne. I wouldn't want my kitty to be the first acro they had treated.
Sending special thoughts for you, Nancy.
Great visit and I agree with Sienne. I wouldn't want my kitty to be the first acro they had treated.
Sending special thoughts for you, Nancy.
Nancy&Pepper (GA)
Member Since 2012
Well, it would be their first acro, but not their first pituitary tumor. But you're probably right, someone experienced with acromegaly would probably be the best choice. Pepper seems very angry with me tonight. I hope he forgives me for taking him to the doctor by tomorrow.
Hi Nancy, Pepper is showing some wonderful numbers for all that vetty stress. It sounds like you have a great cardio vet. It's fabulous news that the vetty thinks this can be reversed with SRT. And don't beat yourself up about getting the test done sooner. I know all too well the feeling of denial. It's great that you are now looking forward into what you can do next and that Pepper has some meds to make him feel better.
There is a difference between regular radiation therapy and true Stereotactic Radiation Therapy. For more on SRT, check out the CSU web page on radiation therapy. The main difference is the number of beams of radiation. For SRT, the animal is placed on a table, and the beam is on a revolving gantry so that a beam of radiation is sent from 7 different angles towards the tumor. This means that a smaller amount of radiation can be sent on each beam and where the beams meet on the tumor is where it is concentrated. At CSU the first day a CT scan is done so they can plan the beams so that they have an error of no more than .1mm in coverage.
Most places that do pituitary radiation send only 3 beams of radiation, meaning that there is a higher concentration of radiation sent along each beam to get the same effective result at the tumor site. Higher concentration means more chance of tissue on the path to the tumor being damaged. However, this used to be the standard of care for acromegaly before the SRT machines came out. Those SRT machines are expensive! Cats who have had the 3 beam radiation done may need to be on prednisone for a while to combat inflammation. Looking at the picture in the Medvet brochure, it looks like one of those 3 beam machines. Poking around the Acro forum here, I think someone had that surgery done in Florida. It's worth finding out the cost of the local solution. I know of a private clinic in Canada closer to us (but still a long drive) that does the 3 beam surgery for twice the cost of CSU, which is a research facility. The total cost you look at should include travel and hotel stay if you go that route.
For me, there was a certain comfort in knowing CSU had done over 30 of these procedures before us and that they had done research studies on acromegaly there.
If you poke around the CSU website, they have a free consultation service. I did use it. You leave a brief description and they call you back for a free consult.
There is a difference between regular radiation therapy and true Stereotactic Radiation Therapy. For more on SRT, check out the CSU web page on radiation therapy. The main difference is the number of beams of radiation. For SRT, the animal is placed on a table, and the beam is on a revolving gantry so that a beam of radiation is sent from 7 different angles towards the tumor. This means that a smaller amount of radiation can be sent on each beam and where the beams meet on the tumor is where it is concentrated. At CSU the first day a CT scan is done so they can plan the beams so that they have an error of no more than .1mm in coverage.
Most places that do pituitary radiation send only 3 beams of radiation, meaning that there is a higher concentration of radiation sent along each beam to get the same effective result at the tumor site. Higher concentration means more chance of tissue on the path to the tumor being damaged. However, this used to be the standard of care for acromegaly before the SRT machines came out. Those SRT machines are expensive! Cats who have had the 3 beam radiation done may need to be on prednisone for a while to combat inflammation. Looking at the picture in the Medvet brochure, it looks like one of those 3 beam machines. Poking around the Acro forum here, I think someone had that surgery done in Florida. It's worth finding out the cost of the local solution. I know of a private clinic in Canada closer to us (but still a long drive) that does the 3 beam surgery for twice the cost of CSU, which is a research facility. The total cost you look at should include travel and hotel stay if you go that route.
For me, there was a certain comfort in knowing CSU had done over 30 of these procedures before us and that they had done research studies on acromegaly there.
If you poke around the CSU website, they have a free consultation service. I did use it. You leave a brief description and they call you back for a free consult.
Nancy&Pepper (GA)
Member Since 2012
Wendy - thank-you so much for all that information! I was going to ask you how to get a consult with CSU, so thanks for that and the link to their web page!
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