Results of Amy's Echo not good

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Tim & Chris

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It was like a punch in the gut because I never even considered it would be this bad. She has inoperable liver cancer. Several tumors on her spleen & liver of various sizes.
Something lymphoma that will spread throughout her entire body. Not sure after a while my mind went numb.
Nothing can be done except to keep her comfortable. She's sleeping now. Apparently she is much older than the shelter thought. She's at least 12. What a hard life she's had. Now this. She's such a sweet girl. This is devastating news.
 
Oh no! :cry: I am so sorry you got such bad news. But at least she has a bean that loves her and will care for her however long she lives. And take comfort that at least you know, and there's nothing you could have done to prevent it. She's still your sweet kitty, regardless. You and Amy will be in my thoughts.
 
I'm so sorry to hear your bad news! Sweet Amy is lucky to have a nice, comfortable home with people that love her. Just give her lots, and lots of love.
 
I've lost three over the years to liver cancer. My Autumn showed no signs as far as not eating, acting different, but I was watching her breathing. Next day I was looking at her again and thought she might have a silent pneumonia going on. I put her in the carrier, got in the car and immediately new she was in trouble. Flew to the vets and they got her into oxygen immediately. I waited and the vet came out and said she had a pneumothorax which usually comes only from trauma or injury. I went in to see her and she was comfortable getting the oxygen and I left. Got home and my pager was showing 911. She had passed away. I asked for a necropsy and it showed cancer that had mestatized to her lungs. I don't know if my stressing her hastened it by a day or so but at least she was on oxygen. One of my others was an outside kitty that moved into our place and lived for 10 years. He changed his pattern, backed off on eating and was losing weight. I put him up in our garage where we were building a new home in our back woods. He started doing very loose and yellow diarrhea. I brought him in, did blood work, etc. I visited him and was with him before he went in for exploratory surgery. I just needed confirmation and the exploratory gave it to me. I waited and vet tech came out and said liver cancer. I did not let him wake up. Watch for eating to stop, yellow diarrhea, not much...just little at a time....and also breathing problems. The third kitty I knew had it, back many years, and did not see her change in pattern. She died a painful death at night which I will always blame myself for.

I am so sorry this is happening to your Amy. Just watch her, love on her and if you feel the time is right, don't let your brain sway you away from helping her to leave. One day of waiting might mean a painful passing for her. Even if you call it early, it will still be the right thing to do for her because there is nothing else to do.

Prayers for more time with Amy and that you will know in your heart what to do.
 
Tim & Chris said:
It was like a punch in the gut because I never even considered it would be this bad. She has inoperable liver cancer. Several tumors on her spleen & liver of various sizes.
Something lymphoma that will spread throughout her entire body. Not sure after a while my mind went numb.
Nothing can be done except to keep her comfortable. She's sleeping now. Apparently she is much older than the shelter thought. She's at least 12. What a hard life she's had. Now this. She's such a sweet girl. This is devastating news.
Click to expand...


Hi Chris, sorry to read this news about Amy. wondering who she saw for her u/s -- did you see an internal med specialist?
Surgery is not the treatment of choice for lymphoma, chemo is. Did they suggest any treatment for her?
some meds can shrink tumors very fast. Winnie had GI lymphoma, and after a short term of chemo it went into remission. When she crossed last August ( 5 years post dx) it was from other causes, and the lymphoma had not returned. Hers is an unusual case, and a different type of lymphoma than Amy. I just wanted you to know that there may be chemo options.
If this wasn't discussed or mentioned, you might wish to ask.
There are no oncologists in WNY -- so these cases fall to internal med specialists -- there are only 2 board cert. IMs in your area-- both Winnie and my civie Wolfie have seen both for different things.--that is why I wondered where you went .

I also am strongly believer in the old ECID -- there are only *best* decisions, no *right* ones.

if you have decided on palliative care, what supportive care has been offered? prednisolone or dexamethasone ? pain med? liver support --- denasyl or denamarin?
an extended good quality of life with supportive care can often be achieved.

Here is a nice site set up by some members of the yahoo lymphoma group. much reading and info for both aggressive and palliative care.
http://felinelymphomacaregivers.org/

Amy is lucky to have come to you after such trauma in her life. I know you will see her through the best way for her. We're here to support you and Amy.

((( Chris ))) ((( Amy )))
 
She will go on the wings of angels and in your comforting arms, knowing she was loved. You will have many fond memories. I am so sorry to hear your news.
 
Cheryl's great advice included everything I had to offer about palliative care.

((((Amy)))) Chris loves you, and always will, even from afar. Let her know when you need to go, she will understand and send you off to the bridge holding you, She may rain tears on you, but those are only the warm washings of her breaking heart. May you both find peace.

Venita
 
I'm so sorry to hear this, Chris. When you're ready, get a copy of the reports and share them here, if you want, as there is (unfortunately) a lot of caregivers with experience caring for cancer kitties here and we may have some ideas. Did they do any aspirates of the masses in her belly? This can give very important information on the type of cancer and the treatment and palliative care you can give little Amy.

As someone who has suffered similar punches-in-the-gut, you have my sympathy. Let me know how we might help.
 
Thank you all for your supportive words and prayers. Here is the discharge report I received yesterday...

"She has a mild thickening of one of her heart walls that make the chamber a little smaller and the valve hits the wall
causing the murmur.

There is a large mass associated with the spleen.
There is 1 large, 2 medium and at least 1 small tumor in the liver.

Treatment : I gave a long lasting cortisone shot that is good for a month. It can be repeated in a month or you could try pill or liquid form and give it daily.

Surgery is not an option because of the number of tumors in the liver9could be more) If she is not eating and starts hiding it may be a sign to have her put to sleep."

The shot she gave her was DepoMedrol. Does anyone know how long it takes to work? I was told it would help her to eat. She has eaten nothing all day. At about 2 this afternoon my brother came over and helped me to give her the
Mirtazapine from her regular vet. Still no eating. I offered her beef broth and no drinking. How long does it take for the Mirt to work? Last time it only took a few hours until she ate. Then the second day she went nuts eating.
What do I do? I can't let her lay in there and starve to death. She is still social...lets me pet her, scratch her chin and neck. I always kind of thought she didn't like me because she was so aggressive. But yesterday when they were doing the test she had a mussel on and was pretty upset. But when I talked to her and stroked her neck she calmed right down.So she must have felt a bound with me after all. She so sweet when Tim's not near her. I can't believe this.
No aspiration was done yesterday. She pretty much told me there's nothing we can do but make her comfortable...think about putting her to sleep if she won't eat. Is that harsh or reality? I don't want her to suffer so I will do what I have to. But I don't want to give up on her if there is anything I can do. I can't make any decisions right now because I am still in shock and haven't slept much. My first priority is getting her to eat. Any suggestions?
 
Whoa. Who did this ultrasound and workup? What you need is a second opinion -- can you get to an oncologist? You can check for one in your area by looking at ACVIM.org, or contact Cheryl (she indicated you live close to each other?) to see whom she trusts. I'm sorry but giving a shot of depo-medrol to a cat with heart disease and saying "there you go, watch her decline and die" isn't my idea of compassionate, appropriate care. For heaven's sake. I am really tired of people and their animals getting dire news and shoulder-shrugs from their vets without any appropriate workup. Who was this vet?

If you're near Cheryl, please contact her. She's great and has a lot of experience in working with specialists in your area, and I'm sure she'd be glad to help. BTW, a lot of older cats get clusters of liver benign liver cysts -- if there really is something on the spleen, it could be different than what's on the liver (or not). You need to bring Amy to someone who is willing to spend time and effort on your concerns and her care.

((Chris)) I'm sorry you're in this position. Make sure to tell your regular vet what happened, when you have the time and energy. S/he should know how this vet acted.

Take care,
Jess
 
Jess,

THANK YOU. I so appreciate that you are giving me the other side. BTW...Amy just started eating a few minutes ago.
Hopefully she will eat well tonight. Last time she had the 'please eat meds' she ate well the first day and I could give her enough the second day. Is there an injectable appy stim available? It would be much easier to give her a shot. On her & us.

I have pm'd Cheryl earlier today. With it being a holiday weekend she may not be on line. I don't have tons of money but I would be willing to whatever I can to help her. Honestly, I was somewhat taken aback when she told me to PTS if she ddin't eat soon. And not even trying to take an aspiration. Amy was walking around the exam room checking everything out. This vet watched her. That doesn't sound like a cat that's ready to call it quits. She can't get enough affection. Then after telling me my cat was terminal she left me sitting in the waiting room fighting to keep my compsure while she wrote to report. hen charged me $400. I have great faith in My vet though. I was planning on calling her Tuesday already. She's off til then. I wasn't making any decisions w/o Dr D's advice anyway. She gave me a copy of the echo but I have no idea what's what. I didn't understand how Amy could go now hill so quickly. If we can just keep the nausea in check and keep her eating and hydrated I will have time to investigate and make a well informed decesion.

Thank you, Jess. I have some hope now. I thought she'd be gone by week's end. I'm sure it's not good for Amy to feel the stress from me.

Chris
 
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