Pancreatic mass...

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

scottmurphy

Member Since 2017
Hello,
My 11 year old diabetic cat stopped eating last week and an ultrasound exam found a four cm mass around his pancreas. They suspect it's cancer but aren't 100%. Today, he still walks around and is eating (though not as much as he was just a few weeks ago). Last night he was yelping so I administered temgesic. Are there any immediate holistic remedies I can try...and what might be the best sign to bring him to the vet's for the final time? Thank you...
 
Before you act I really need to share this. Our dog had a mass and after 2 ultrasounds, 2 needle biopsies and a final exam with an oncologist. That's when we were told to take her home and feed her whatever she wanted. Surgery and chemo were not an option. She got the full Princess treatment and started to gain weight. After 100 days we stopped counting. It was NOT the cancer they suspected, everyone got it wrong. Having said that none of us want you to prolong his suffering looking for someone else's mistake. I've been where you are now my friend, I hope you both find peace.
PS Noah gets transdermal BUPE for pain, I can't offer anything holistic.
:bighug:
 
Noah & me said:
Before you act I really need to share this. Our dog had a mass and after 2 ultrasounds, 2 needle biopsies and a final exam with an oncologist. That's when we were told to take her home and feed her whatever she wanted. Surgery and chemo were not an option. She got the full Princess treatment and started to gain weight. After 100 days we stopped counting. It was NOT the cancer they suspected, everyone got it wrong. Having said that none of us want you to prolong his suffering looking for someone else's mistake. I've been where you are now my friend, I hope you both find peace.
PS Noah gets transdermal BUPE for pain, I can't offer anything holistic.

Thank you for your answer. This morning, my cat ate some tuna, and seemed glad to do so...
Click to expand...
 
Wow, that's good about the tuna. I've been thinking about what I said. A cat not eating since last week is not good but he's your cat and you know him better than I do. It's not my place to either say this is the end or there's still hope. I've had cat's bounce back from the edge before and other times not so lucky. You asked "what might be the best sign to bring him to the vet's for the final time?" Severe weight loss can shut down organs and there's no going back. Weight loss can mean too sick for even exploratory surgery. Cancer is never good, even benign. Sometimes the light just goes out of their eyes and that's the saddest part. We have lost eight in this house and each was different. If things don't look good spend as much time as you can with him, some extra head scratches and chin rubs. He knows you love him but even if it looks like he wants to be left alone maybe put his bed next to yours. There's so many ifs. You asked about Holistic remedies. If there is real pain you'll have to turn to pharmaceuticals. This is how we made Nigel's last few days comfortable. We doubled his dose, then moved him in our bedroom and quadrupled the dose. He could still walk around without stumbling, an amazingly tough little yellow cat. If he wants food that's great, keep an eye on his litterbox and sugar levels. Take care of yourself as well. I'm all out of words, hope you both get some rest.
 
Noah & me said:
Any news or changes yet?
:bighug: :bighug: :bighug: :bighug: :bighug: :bighug:
Click to expand...
Thank you for your response. My cat is still somewhat active but not as interested in food which is a big concern. He likes his water bowl. I am considering a dose of prednisolone to stimulate his appetite as I don't have any mirzipine. Any thoughts? My funds are limited to go back to the vet.
 
Sorry he’s not eating well. HERE are some ideas that may help. And some people swear by this LIVER SHAKE. I don’t know about the prednisolone. Let us know how he’s doing.
 
My cat collapsed yesterday and went into shock. His weight is also low. He is now at the vet getting fluids. They were urging me to put him to sleep. I shall see today how he is recovering. Anyone here give fluids to their cat on a daily/long term basis and have a solid recovery?
 
scottmurphy said:
My cat collapsed yesterday and went into shock. His weight is also low. He is now at the vet getting fluids. They were urging me to put him to sleep. I shall see today how he is recovering. Anyone here give fluids to their cat on a daily/long term basis and have a solid recovery?
Click to expand...
I'm so sorry your sweet kitty is having such a tough time, and you, too. Does the vet think there is nothing further to be done to help him? It's so hard to know what the best thing to do is. Sending prayers that it all works out for the best, whatever the answer may be. :bighug::bighug::bighug:

Lots of folks here have given fluids on a regular, long-term basis, for a number of different reasons. The first who pops into my mind is @jayla-n-Drevon, but there are others who will hopefully respond.
 
I'm sorry to hear he took a turn for the worse. There is always the possibility of recovery. Another example.

Leo was diagnosed with Small Cell Lymphoma in the last 6 months. He had stopped eating and was getting in bad shape. Now he gets prednisolone daily, and chemo every other day. 4.5 months later he is still with us. He is eating pretty good. Just an example that life can be prolonged, sometimes with pretty good quality. Your circumstances are a little different.
 
Thank you for your responses. The vet's reasoning is that fluids may help in the short term, but there's still this tumor to deal with. I don't have the finances to begin a chemotherapy treatment. Holistic meds, fluids and feeding is the best I can do. His weight is low. I'll find out more today, but glad to have any input.
 
I've had to do force-feeding that turned out for the best. Emotionally draining for both of us but it worked.
No one wants to drag things out further than necessary but our dog was diagnosed with a mass that was assumed to be a tumor. A needle biopsy can be done in 5 minutes under a light anesthetic but in our case it was inconclusive. Turns out it was a cyst in her GI tract. Please don't grasp at straws because some stranger proved his vet wrong, that was a one in a million thing.
If these memories are painful for me I can only imagine what you're going through. Now it's Friday and if you like your vet you probably want to stay away from emergency clinics. There's nothing selfish about wanting one more weekend with your cat, this is what we did with Nigel.
We have a big master bedroom so we put a litterbox and his food up there. We then doubled his dose of BUPE and doubled it again, just kept him away from the stairs. Amazingly he could still walk, he knew who we were and the other cats were very compassionate to him. We knew his time was almost up but as long as he was not in pain, had his dignity (not pooping on himself etc.) and had a little sparkle in his eyes we knew it wasn't quite time yet.
And maybe he wants to spend just one more weekend with you.
Lastly, this is what pharmaceuticals were intended for. Too many people miss this point, there is absolutely no reason for anyone to suffer. I hope you find some peace my friend, this never gets any easier. We are all here with you.
 
Hi,
I am so sorry for what your going thru.....
I have given fluids long term for many of kittys and it greatly improved the way they felt. Currently I give Dre fluids every day and sometimes 2 times a day if his sugar seems stuck too high.
Rico his civvie was getting them for 5 years but then developed a heart issue so he will get them in small amounts and rarely. ( I also have lasix on hand and a stethoscope to listen to his lungs just in case)

Other than a heart condition I have not seen a reason that fluids would not help. I know others have different views on when to start and how much but for me subq fluids have given many of my (fosters etc.. as well as my own ) a much happier healthier quality of life.
If you have the Walgreens saving card you can get a case of fluids for around 65$ and the needles and lines you can get from many places online. Terumo needles seem to be the best for comfort they go in like butter!
Big hugs and many prayers coming from Chicago..:bighug:
 
Chemo may sound expensive, but it is not. I'm paying the following:
$45 for 2 months of chemo in liquid form. ($22/month)
$20 for prednisolone/month

Leo eats more money in cat food than the costs of the drugs above. So it is worth exploring. The vet bills for diagnosis ended up costing us more than the actual drugs.
 
JeffJ said:
Chemo may sound expensive, but it is not. I'm paying the following:
$45 for 2 months of chemo in liquid form. ($22/month)
$20 for prednisolone/month

Leo eats more money in cat food than the costs of the drugs above. So it is worth exploring. The vet bills for diagnosis ended up costing us more than the actual drugs.
Click to expand...
That price/treatment is for small-cell lymphoma. That cancer is diffuse and there is no real tumors/masses. Cancer that have masses are large or intermediate since cancers and are expensive to treat.
 
Thanks for the update Larry. Yes, Leo's chemo is for small cell lymphoma. So far it seems to be working (starting month 5).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top