mowgli DX with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Status
Not open for further replies.
Mowgli and Keri

Mowgli and Keri

Member Since 2010
Hi there,
Been awhile, didn't know if I should post here or where.
So my sweet mowgli is doing well, he is still in remission KNOCK ON WOOD but yesterday was diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma. I am not sure what stage yet, those things are going to be determined by the vet.
My vet had said we could put him on prednisone but that most likely his diabetes will come back. Right now, cause I wanted to search options I have him on buprenephrine (sp) and some anti inflammatory....
Just thought I would touch base, keep all informed and see if anyone has been through this (which I am sure some sadly have) and if you have any words of wisdom or drug choices that are preferred..
Thanks!
 
I have no experience but I have read about that cancer in Yahoo's feline cancer group. There really is nothing you can do except make Mowgli comfortable. You might want to join that Yahoo group.
 
We didnt biopsy Janeways chin but it was probably squamous. Its fast growing usually and doesnt usually respond to chemo. Removal is the best option but to get clean margins so much needs to be removed that if its in the mouth/face (where it appears a lot), you cant remove it all without causing more suffering for the cat. It also frequently comes back.

I am sorry to not have good news about it. :( I noticed Janeways chin was swollen and hard around jan 23, got xrays the 25th. Half her jaw had become a calcified mass already. 2 weeks later it was bigger already, and she wasnt eating as well, tongue sort of sticking out.. I had to put her to sleep. I found a picture from January 1st and there was no obvious swelling, her chin was normal.

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=773136
 
Keri,
sending big hugs to you and Mowgli :YMHUG:

when would you get all the info from the vet? to see how far along it is?
Is he eating ok? sociable? have you noticed any physical changes?

I don't know anything about SCC.....I hope you get lots of info in order to give Mowgli QOL....

sorry about the dx....fwiw....the diabetis is the least of your concerns at this stage....if he comes off remission with whatever meds he gets...so be it....so long as he is comfortable and has QOL...my opinion though :(
 
Keri,
So sorry about Mowgli's dx. You must be so worried. Sorry can't help you with the decease. I will agree with Claudia though and say that if pred is the treatment do it. Do whatever makes him comfortable.

Thinking of you and Mowgli and sending strength vines.
You are not alone. I would join the yahooo group that was mentioned here.

(((Keri))) (((Mowgli)))
 
Sorry about the diagnosis. Squamous cell carcinoma is nasty.

My Tom was off insulin for 3.5 years when the mass on his tongue was diagnosed as being SCC. It was not removable and we opted to start prednisolone. It made him feel a lot better, brought his appetite back and slowed the growth a bit but it did require a return to testing and insulin.
Bupe was also useful for pain management.

We learned to syringe feed as well when it became too difficult for him to eat.

The Yahoo group is helpful and supportive.
 
Sonia & Tom (GA) said:
Sorry about the diagnosis. Squamous cell carcinoma is nasty.

My Tom was off insulin for 3.5 years when the mass on his tongue was diagnosed as being SCC. It was not removable and we opted to start prednisolone. It made him feel a lot better, brought his appetite back and slowed the growth a bit but it did require a return to testing and insulin.
Bupe was also useful for pain management.

We learned to syringe feed as well when it became too difficult for him to eat.

The Yahoo group is helpful and supportive.
Click to expand...

I am just wondering, being that mowgli still has a good appetite and is still eatting decently without too much difficulty would there be harm in holding off on the pred for now and just keeping him on the bup? Any thoughts?

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR REPLIES!
 
personally..... I would not hold off since this is a very aggressive cancer. the pred will help slow it down some,hopefully, and do whatever it can do with this cancer. better too early than too late. IMO
 
dian and wheezer said:
personally..... I would not hold off since this is a very aggressive cancer. the pred will help slow it down some,hopefully, and do whatever it can do with this cancer. better too early than too late. IMO
Click to expand...

I agree. If there is any chance at all that the Prednisolone can slow down the progress of the SCC, I wouldn't wait.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you should be looking at Prednisolone not Prednisone.
 
Okay, I appreciate all the advice and thoughts.. I will call my vet asap and get things on the go..
I am assuming that the Bupr will be long term pain med, is what I will also ask...
thanks again
 
Rocket has been on both the prednisolone and the bupe....it is a long term use...for both...so long as he is alive he will be on both

just also note that once you start the pred you can not stop cold turkey....and also make sure he has food in his tummy to help with the med...it is powerful and can make them nauseuous too....so you will most likely need antiemic med too....i use ondansetron for Rocket....but see how it goes with the two meds to start...by two meds i mean the pred and the bupe....

pred=prednisolone
bupe=buprenorphine

sending you both lots and lots of hugs
 
There is one thing you might investigate, called neoplasene. It is not FDA approved, as no one has applied for it, as far as I know. Some of the folks in that group believe they have had success with it.
 
Hi Keri.

I'm so sorry to hear the news about your precious Mowgli. I know you must be so very worried. Tori as you know didn't have SCC but she did receive Pred as part of her chemo and also for her CP. I think it would be well worth your while to go with it. The Pred will make Mowgli feel better and also may keep the tumor a bay. Yes it may take him out of remission but it may not. To be honest Pred didn't effect Tori"s BGs that much but of course ECID. Do you still see Dr Doug? I know he will take time to discuss all the options with you and come up with a plan.

In the mean time I have some supplies that you might like to have. I have some meds (Bupe and Lantus) that are left over from Tori that you might like. They are not outdated. I've been meaning to take them down to the clinic but never got around to it. I would love for you to have them. Mowgli has always been very special to me and I would love to help in any way I can. Call me if you want. I'm a good listener if nothing else. If you don't still have my number PM me and I'll send it.

Give your baby a hug for me and hang in there.
 
I am so very sorry that Mowgli has received this diagnosis. My heart goes out to you.

What I write below is meant to prepare you for the worst, but I pray that things will be better for Mowgli and you.

SCC is a rapid growing mass - made worse by being in the mouth because there just isn't any room for things to expand in there. Carcinomas, in general, don't respond well to any treatment. I did try chemo for Jeddie because all three of the vets I spoke to about it said that pred would not have much effect. If pred would have worked, I would have jumped at the chance to use it, so if that is something that your vet feels will slow the growth than start it NOW. Do not wait a minute on it. The diabetes will take second seat now, and believe me it is the least of your worries and the easiest thing to treat for.

If you can afford to do it, get him to a board certified surgeon and/or oncologist for an assessment. As was said, surgical removal, to be effective, needs to be able to get clean margins. That is tough in the mouth without removing part of the jaw. That would require a feeding tube for the rest of his life as well as him needing daily washing. In some, rare, cases though it is possible because the tumor is very small and in a "good" location. Time is of the essence here.

I am afraid you are in for a hard, sad, short road with him. Jeddie was diagnosed on May 8th and gone on July 3rd. His tumor was under the tongue and, while his body was doing great, he had trouble eating within a few weeks. By about week four I was feeding him with a kitten bottle, which he took to very well, but the tumor kept growing and at the end it was too painful for him to even be fed that way. He was on bupe for the last 3-4 weeks and it was very important, I think, to his QOL the final weeks. He did not respond well to the chemo. He had two rounds of it, two different kinds. No response to the first one and a small response to the second, but too little, too late. There was no wasting of his body, or general weakness, which made it all the harder in the end to set him free, but he was clearly suffering when the feeding became painful, yet he was still hungry. He never really lost his appetite, just his ability to take in food. I could have put in a feeding tube, but it would not have extended his life more than a week. Also, although it wasn't a major issue for me, he could not keep himself clean. He tried, but his tongue did not work well so he just made himself dirtier. I found cat wipes to be fairly effective, but his paws, which he drooled on, needed constant washing.

I wish I had better news. Prepare yourself. And take a lot of photos of him now doing all the things that make him Mowgli. You will cherish them.

(((hugs))) Again, I am so sorry.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top