Jeddie probably has oral cancer - anyone with experience?

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Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA

Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA

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All I am reading is really bad news. I am guessing that he has sublingual squamous cell carcinoma, which is a rapidly growing tumor that erodes bone and becomes very painful. Eventually teeth fall out and eating is difficult because of the damage to the tongue.

Prognosis is poor even with treatment, maybe buying 5 months. Best case would be a year. But the time is probably at the expense of function like being able to groom and eat. At least this is what I am reading here:http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/Medicine/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/433715

I would appreciate any input especially if you have experienced this horrible cancer or other mouth issues that looked like cancer, but weren't. I am so crushed by this news. Jeddie is such a sweet boy. I've only had him for 2-1/2 years. He is only 12. And he and Beau have gotten so close in the last year.

My original post is in the Lev ISG here: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=70581
 
Re: Jeddie probably has oral cancer - anyone with experience

(((((((((((((((((((((((((SHEILA)))))))))))))))))))))))) Oh NOOOOOOOOO Crying here..

Its awful. Its fast moving. Surgery to remove it has to remove jaw/bone, and it grows back fast. Its usually not found until its big. Chemo wont help, Radiation can.

Janeway probably had that, we didnt biopsy. Radiologist agreed thats most likely what it was.

I look across the room and her jaw is big, and hard (no abscess) That was January 24th. I found pictures from January 1st where her jaw looks normal. Xrays on the 25th showed that a little over half her jaw was already gone, consumed by the tumor/mass, calcified. Got Conors DX same week. By Feb 6th, her jaw was bigger, she wasnt eating much, starting to drool. And Feb 8th, I had to send them to the Bridge together.

Everyone has to decide for themselves of course, and no judgements whatever you decide...but I just knew Janeway wouldnt want that extra time if it meant pain, disfigurement, and just QOL. Grooming and eating are such CAT things. I couldnt watch her be unable to do them.

Wrapping you up in cyber hugs for sure.
 
Re: Jeddie probably has oral cancer - anyone with experience

Sheila & Beau & Jeddie said:
I would appreciate any input especially if you have experienced this horrible cancer or other mouth issues that looked like cancer, but weren't.

My original post is in the Lev ISG here: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=70581
Click to expand...

Peaches has had several large eosinophilic granulomas on her tongue. The first time we saw it, the vet removed it and sent it out for pathology. Since then, we just treat her with steroids if it returns.

Emmy's Dude has also had large benign growths in his mouth.
 
Re: Jeddie probably has oral cancer - anyone with experience

Thank you Lisa and Deanie. You addressed both sides of this issue since I don't have a firm diagnosis yet. I have done some more searching and contacted a practice owned by a vet who is a board certified internist to see what the next step might be.

I think I want to get a biopsy, but the vet tech I spoke to said that Dr. Yohn recommends going right to a board certified surgeon who can excise the entire mass trying for clean margins and have that biopsied. If it is cancerous then the whole thing was removed already and another surgery isn't needed right away. Whereas a smaller biopsy still leaves tissue behind. The catch is that the first surgery runs $1000-$2000. I can get Dr. Yohn to do a small biopsy for probably $400-500 (I think). She is $125 to walk in the door.

As much as I want to go at this aggressively, in my heart I agree with you, Lisa, about not putting him through a painful and disfiguring surgery and making his last months awful. So, if it was cancerous, I would do what I can to keep him comfortable as long as possible.

But it would be good to know as soon as possible if it isn't cancer and a treatment option can be figured out.

I feel like I don't' have much time to make a decision.
 
Re: Jeddie probably has oral cancer - anyone with experience

It could be an eosinophilic granuloma. A biopsy will tell you what you are dealing with. My kitty is currently struggling with a suspected eosinophilic granuloma on the back of his tongue but vet thinks its extending down his throat and we are only seeing the tip of the ice-burg. Sometimes the granuloma's can turn into something more sinister like a squamous cell carcinoma and we're not sure whether that's the case with LB. If it's a cancer I won't prolong his life with treatment. I can't bare to see them suffering. He's miserable enough with trying to swallow the lump on his tongue - it's starting to affect his breathing. I would not think twice about whether to treat cancer. Wish humans had the same option when faced with pain and suffering.
 
Re: Jeddie probably has oral cancer - anyone with experience

Eosinophilic granulomas are nasty. Gandalf got them on his paw pads and on the outer edges of his mouth, but I did not notice them on his tongue. I remember him drooling on one occasion, but not pawing at them. I can imagine one under the tongue would feel like there was something under there and that's why Jeddie paws at it.

Since they can occur on mouth tissue, that is a consideration as for what you're dealing with. They look all for the world like some grotesque cancer and yes they break open. Gandalf would have open sores on his paw pads. His mouth or his chin would swell up, become misshapen and if you palpated it, you would swear it was a growth. The discoloration you see on Jeddie's paws could be from the granuloma oozing.

Unfortunately the best treatment for them is Depo Medrol steroid. Within 3 days after a shot, Gandalf's granulomas would be nearly gone, so it is practically a miracle cure, or was in my eyes at the time, so I continued taking him in for those shots, over 7 years! It's amazing he didn't become diabetic before age 12.

But in an area like the tongue, I would not hesitate to use Depo Medrol, even on a diabetic. It's a matter of the benefit vs risk.

And I know you appreciate your vet being honest, but it is possible they jumped the gun on immediately saying "cancer." We just don't know at this point, so that's why I explained Gandalf's experience with granulomas. Since he did not have any on his tongue, to my knowledge, the possibility never occurred to me that Jeddie has it or I would have mentioned it sooner.

((((Hugs)))) I know there are a lot of things to consider right now. A definitive diagnosis will help a lot. We're here for you, whatever that diagnosis may be.
 
Re: Jeddie probably has oral cancer - anyone with experience

(((((Sheila))))) I have no experience with this but wanted you to know, you and Jeddie are in my prayers. Whatever you decide My prayers are with you.
jeanne
 
Re: Jeddie probably has oral cancer - anyone with experience

I have no experience with this either, but sending my thoughts and prayers ...
 
Re: Jeddie probably has oral cancer - anyone with experience

Thank you all for your experiences, thoughts and most of all your support. Every piece of information helps me make decisions about this. And your prayers and good wishes mean the world to me.

I have made a bunch of calls this morning gathering information and looking at finances and I have made a decision on what to do next. I can't not do anything. I have to find out what we are dealing with. And I say we, meaning all of us here who care about Jeddie and those that have offered financial help.

I am taking him to the surgeon next Tuesday morning where they will do blood work and xrays and make sure that surgery will benefit him (in other words no evidence that it already metastasized) and if so, he will have the procedure the same day. I will ask questions about how destructive the surgery will be to his mouth and tongue and what his quality of life will be before giving the final go ahead. They are not sure if he will have to stay overnight or not. He might because he is diabetic. Next Tuesday will be a very long day for me - and for Jeddie.

But a few minutes ago he was basking in the sun on my balcony.
 
Re: Jeddie probably has oral cancer - anyone with experience

I'm so sorry to read this, Sheila. I don't have any experience to offer with either oral cancer or granulomas. thank goodness. But I know how much you love Jeddie, and I know how hard it is to even begin to think about what to do, and what you are able to do. I hope that your plan for getting a diagnosis provides you with good news and an affordable treatment, and that your sweet boy will be with you for years to come.
 
Re: Jeddie probably has oral cancer - anyone with experience

But a few minutes ago he was basking in the sun on my balcony.
Click to expand...
♡ ♡ ♡ I hope you find this is not cancer and any treatment he might need is something that will help Jeddie continue doing what he likes doing best.
Hang in there Sheila.
 
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