Cat With Mammary Cancer

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Cat With Mammary Cancer

Cleo

QUESTION

A few days ago my 9 year old female cat, who I adore, was diagnosed with mammary cancer. I am unemployed at the moment so took her to a local cat charity for treatment.

Other lumps were detected by the vet on further mammary glands apart from the large and very nasty looking one on her upper mammary gland which I had noticed.

The tumour is discharging a brownish fluid and sometimes small ammounts of blood. The prognosis was not good, I was advised that it could possibly be weeks not months.

Shocked, I read up on the disease on the internet and read that for a cat with a tumour over 3cm the post operative life expectancy can be 6 mths and that it could have spread to her lungs and lymph nodes.

When I took Cleo back for her return appointment, I asked if they would consider an operation to remove the mammary glands and they said they would if I wanted to go ahead. I am now in a quandry and want to do the best thing for Cleo herself, I would not want to put her through the trauma of an operation if it would not neccessarily add to her life expectancy, however I feel that with it, she may have another 6 mths.

While I realise they are very busy and overstretched and appreciate the help they are providing, I don't think I've been provided with enough insight with which to make an informed decision as to whether to go ahead.(The article I read was very technical)

Any advice you can offer would be much appreciated

Hi,

Cleo is very beautiful and looks so sweet. I am very sorry for your news.

I think the best answer for you, in a nutshell, is the answer based on my experience. While the statistics you read in books or on the internet are not very encouraging, that has not been my experience.

As far as the surgical procedure goes, it is recommended that even if just one mammary gland is involved, the whole chain on that side should be removed.

You did not say if only one side is affected or if the multiple lumps involve both sides. Irregardless, I would suggest in your case that both chains (left side and right side) be removed, but that it be done in 2 separate operations. Obviously, the side with the tumors or with the largest tumors would be done first.

Prior to removing them, chest x-rays need to be taken and bloodwork evaluated. If her lungs are clear and the bloodwork is normal, then if she were my cat, I would proceed with surgery.

Make sure you have a good surgeon who has experience with this operation and practices very safe anesthesia. If you have a cat hospital anywhere near you, I would suggest you take her there.

After surgery, the removed glands need to be sent to a pathologist to see if the edges were clean. If they were, she has a chance of living much longer than 6 mnonths.

I have had many cases that survived for years, some indefinitely, after surgery, even with large, ugly tumors. There are no guarantees, obviously, and this is a decision you alone have to make.

As far as pain and discomfort go, most cats seem to show very little discomfort from this procedure. Make sure the hospital you choose gives pain medication to their patients.

I know this is a very difficult time for you and this is a huge decision to make. If I can be of any further help, please do not hesitate to write back. Remember, also, there is no right or wrong answer in this situation. You have to choose what seems best for Cleo and for yourself, and remain comfortable with that decision no matter what happens.

Best to you and Cleo,

Dr. Neely

Comments for
Cat With Mammary Cancer

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Nov 13, 2011

Mammary cancer is so sneaky
by: Anonymous

Hi everyone,

So sorry to hear about your beloved pets illnesses. My little one will be put to sleep in 2 days. She has labored breathing and is drinking small amounts of water. Today I haven't seen her eat. I am devastated. I found a lump on her belly. It was small enough and even though she was almost 16, I was told the $3000.00 dollar surgery would give her more time. The internet articles all said that if the tumor was under 2 cms, life expectancy was about 3 years. My cat had all of the mammary glands (chains) removed. She lost a pound of skin and tissue. She recovered well. Suddenly, 6 months later, 2 tiny tumors showed up and the cancer is now in her lungs. I am so angry. It's not fair. My cat is basically starving for 2 days until the vet clinic opens. Like you, I love and adore my cat.I am so depressed.

So, the lesson is if your kitty is older and you cannot afford the surgery or don't want your pet to go through such extensive suregery, don't feel bad or guilty. Your pet's cancer may come back. I did the impossible. Had I known, I would not have put my kitty through all of this.

Jul 10, 2011

Simba
by: Anonymous

Three days ago we had to make the very difficult and painful decision to put down our beloved Simba who was diagnosed with mammary cancer. The fact that she was not spayed at a young age played a very large part in her demise and for this we are truly sorry...The vet explained that it was very far gone, in her lungs, and not only did she have a very nasty tumor coming out of her gland, she had also others forming beneath her skin. We were not to prepared to part with our 14 year-old best buddy, but we had to do what was right for her. Please consider your pet's quality of life while making these difficult decisions.

RIP little Simbaroo...you are so missed.

And please have your cats and dogs spayed or neutered.

Jul 07, 2011

Is there any cure??
by: Anonymous

My almost 15 year old cat has recently been diagnosed with mammary cancer. She has a tumor right by her front left arm. It is very small, under two centimeters. The vet said that she has six months or less before we will have to put her to sleep. Is there anything we can do to cure her cancer or help slow it down?

Please submit your questions for the doctor by completing a new question form, as the comments area is reserved for comments directed toward the original poster's story and discussions with other readers.

In various pages throughout this site, you will learn the various treatment options available for cats with mammary cancer. There is hope!

Jun 23, 2011

RIP Precious
by: Anonymous

it truly is sad I just had to put my cat down for this yesterday. We had the operation done twice to remove the cancer/tumor within the last 3 years but the cancer came back again and this time it spread to her lungs. She lost so much weight and was having problems breathing and would not eat much. I couldnt stand to see her that way but I wanted her to be with me longer but she needed rest and no more pain no more. She was my baby and I love her, her name is Precious and she lived a long good life for 18 lovely years that I will never forget.

I think the surgery was worth it I just wish the cancer would never have came back she was doing great for over a year after surgery both times within few weeks back jumping up onto things acting like a normal cat but that persistant bump just kept coming back. Maybe the vet missed a small piece I dont know I dont want to blame anyone they always been great to me and my pets but if anyone plans on doing this for there loved one make sure you go somewhere thats done this type of surgery alot.

I'm very sorry for your loss. Please know that my thoughts are with you during this difficult time.

With sympathy,
Dr. Neely

Jun 20, 2011

My cat has a mammary tumor but it is under 2cm
by: Anonymous

My cat has a mammary tumor that is small. We took her to the emergency vet for cat asthma and they found the lump. They told us to do everything through out vet due to the expense. Our vet wants to do x-rays AFTER surgery? Only remove the lump? Not the whole gland? They didn't x-ray for cat asthma but plan to treat it. Hope they show me how. I don't know if this sounds right. My cat is Claire and she is 8 years old. She had to have an emergency spay at the emergency vet do to very large infection when she was 5 years old. Any advice?

I would recommend bringing your sweet Claire to a veterinary oncologist for the best possible treatment for her. In terms of treating feline asthma, however, an x-ray is the only way to definitively diagnose asthma in cats.

In the future, please submit your questions for the doctor by completing a new question form. The comments section that follows each question and answer is reserved for conversation and comments directly related to or directed toward the original poster's question. This is to be respectful of the original poster, and to ensure that your question will be seen and answered by the doctor.

Jun 02, 2011

It plain is terrible!
by: Anonymous

One of our cats, Angel, is going to be put down tomorrow. She was a stray that shot in our house about 9 1/2 years ago and would never leave. She was diagnosed with a huge tumor only 3 weeks ago. It had split open and now looks as if someone tried to filet her leg and stomach. NASTY! Poor kitty. She has labored breathing, but acts as though nothing is wrong. I was hoping she would go peacefully in her sleep, but if not, tomorrow it is. Damn, this is the worst thing about having pets and how much we love them. I have had to put down my beloved dog Pilot and cat Cocoa previously and I wish it did not have to come to this.

I feel for anyone who has to make these agonizing decisions.

Apr 22, 2011

Speed of progression of cat mammary cancer?
by: Ziggy's owner

Hi

I have a question about the speed of cat mammary cancer progression. I have just been told that my beloved cat Ziggy has died of this while at a cat kennel. I am working abroad for two months, and Ziggy had a lump under the skin around her front armpit for a year or so before I left. I had taken her to the vet twice, once when the lump was very small, and again when it had grown a bit. They both advised not to operate given that the lump wasn't causing her any discomfort and because of her age (17), and the vets didn't think it looked dangerous - the lump was loose under her skin and not attached to anything around it. Ziggy has never shown any signs of aging, she is a happy 'garden cat' who runs up and down, eats normally and has never been ill otherwise. The reason I'm writing with this question is that I'm not sure I believe the story I got from the kennel. I called the owner to ask about Ziggy two weeks ago, and she informed me that the lump had suddenly begun to grow very fast and she was going to take the cat to the vet. The vet apparently said that the lump was cancer and that it was in the most dangerous spot for cats. But she said Ziggy was fine, eating lots and purring and running around and looking completely normal, as she had the whole time. She told me to call back in a week, and when I did she told me Ziggy had suddenly stopped eating. Three days later when I called again she told me she had found her dead in the morning, and the vet had told her the cancer had 'gone into the blood' and when that happened it was very quick.
After reading others' posts about feline mammary cancer this seemed very sudden to me. I wondered if others have experienced that their cats pass very suddenly, from seemingly perfectly healthy despite the lump. Does this fast progression sound realistic? I'm especially worried as I have since discovered that the kennels in question has a record of cats running away and I'm worried this is what really happened - the owner claimed she paid vets bills herself (i.e. no documentation for me) and won't tell me what she has done with Ziggy's body. I'd really like to hear your thoughts. I'm broken-hearted about losing her, but being away and not being sure what really happened is just awful. Thanks, and sorry for the long post. Ziggy's owner

Due to the lack of space in a comment area for a question and answer, please see your answer at This Page

Apr 11, 2011

cat with mammary cancer
by: Anonymous

Hi

My cat had 2 lumps removed he had mammary cancer. He lived for 1 year after the operation. He was fine eating until the last day when I took him to vet. She was going to sedate him as he was distressed she put him in the basket and when she went to take him out he was dead. He was 13 and a half and I miss him terribly.

Mar 03, 2011

10 Year Old Kitty with Mammary Adenocarcinoma
by: Amy

Hi, My Kitty Spot was diagnosed with Mammary Adenocarcinoma almost two weeks ago. I am lucky to live in a big city (Chicago) where we have excellent vet care. I took my cat to an oncologist and he gave me a lot of hope for a good prognosis. Her tumor was on the left side and the size was around 2cm. Two days ago, I took her for an x-ray and ultrasound to make sure the cancer has not spread to her lungs. The oncologist saw some changes in her lungs which could be due to cancer or undiagnosed asthma. He sent the x-rays to a radiologist for a diagnosis. Provided that the x-rays are OK, we are planning to do a chemo session with Doxoribicin followed by two separate chain mastectomies. I am struggling with the decision to treat my cat. I am not ready to say goodbye to her but I am trying to balance her pain and discomfort against my wishes.

Any feedback would be appreciated.
Amy

Hi Amy,

I am sorry to hear about your cat's diagnosis and the struggles you are having. It sounds like you are handling this very difficult situation quite well.

In the future, please note that this Comments area is reserved for addressing the initial poster's thread only to provide comments, feedback, and share your thoughts directly with that person. If you would like more feedback regarding your particular story, please post your story and any questions you may have about your kitty's treatment as its own thread by submitting your question in the Ask The Cat Doctor forum.

Best Wishes,
Dr. Neely

Feb 28, 2011

Need help
by: Anonymous

Hello! My 10 y.o. cat got a mammary cancer. Unfortunately, I am from a third world country and vets from my town do not perform cancer surgery. (Cats die even from fixing or castration). My cat is almost 10 years old. The tumor burst recently and I brought our kitty to the vet again. I thought he would clean the infected wound. However, he said that I should clean myself the wound with hydrogen peroxide. The wound looks really bad: it is clearly infected, it is more than 6-7 sm in diameter, with bad odor and green puss, blood is slowly draining. I wash it twice per day with hydrogen peroxide but it does not help much. What would you advise to do? Should I use other solutions or any antibiotics? Our kitty eats well and goes to the restroom normally. However, she does not let us touch her wound unless my dad holds her by her collar(so she does not bite) while I am cleaning the wound with the help of a syringe from the safe distance. (So she will not be able to scratch me with her nails.) It is impossible to put anything on the wound to protect it from her tongue (she leeks it very often). Please, help us what else should I do to stop the infection?

I am very sorry to hear about what you are going through with your kitty. Comments are reserved for addressing the initial poster's thread only, so, please post your story and questions as its own thread by submitting your question in the Ask The Cat Doctor forum. I will be happy to answer your questions there, but need to reserve this area for comments regarding the original poster's story.

Regards,
Dr. Neely

Feb 15, 2011

Listen to the Vet
by: Mac

The doctor is right. Do what is best for the cat you love. Please get your cat to the vet to deal with the infection. You will not stop the cancer, but you can give relief from the infection. I dealt with this for over a year with my beloved LB, and so long as she was enjoying life, playing with string and chasing lizards on the patio, we simply covered all of the arms of our chairs with towels and accepted the fact we had to wash things a lot where she got discharge. I gave her pain medicine twice a day during this time, but when the antibiotic no longer worked, and she clearly had lost interest in things, and felt bad, we did the kind, and very hard thing and had her put down.

Feb 15, 2011

My little Lucy
by: Anonymous

My 2.5 year old exotic (Persian short hair)has just been diagnosed with mammary cancer. Though I caught it early we can tell it is in both chains and appears to be in at least one lymph node. At just 6.5 pound my little girl is one of the sweetest cats I have ever know. This is breaking my heart! The vet wants to do a radical bilateral mastectomy of both chains and all lymph nodes. Chemo has been mentioned. She is so full of life and just bounces everywhere--

Jan 31, 2011

Cat with mammary cancer
by: nabisco54

My approximately 12 year old cat, Holly, has mammary cancer. She was diagnosed last April (2010) and had surgery to remove the lesion. It was the bottom right. She came through the surgery fine and her lungs were clear.

About two months ago, she developed another lesion in the same place. I took her to the vet and they x-rayed again. She did not recommend more surgery. She said the x-ray shows some changes and she said if they did more surgery, it would come back even faster. She recommended a collar to keep her from licking it.

I probably waited a bit too long to put the collar on. She has a large area licked raw. She seems to be able to reach part of it even with the collar.

She doesn't seem to be in any pain, is eating well, but the area has developed an unpleasant odor. I feel awful. She's a very affectionate and sweet cat, but the odor keeps everyone away. I was thinking of calling the vet and seeing if I can make an appointment to have it 'cleaned up' somehow.

Yes, by all means, Holly should go to the vet. The odor is likely a sign of infection, and she may need antibiotics to help resolve the issue.

I know you're in a difficult place having to weigh wanting to have your sweet kitty around as long as possible against the fact that she will likely have to wear an ecollar and spend her life fighting infections for the rest of her life, although she may stop licking once the infection is cured. Evaluating quality of life can be quite difficult for all of us. I encourage you, despite how hard it is, to try to look at the situation through you cat's eyes instead of your own.

My thoughts are with you.
Dr. Neely

Dec 27, 2010

Cat with mammary cancer
by: Shan

I found a very small lump on my cat (Sadie's) belly about a year ago. I was alarmed and called the vet and they scheduled an appointment for just after the new year. I was devestated when I found out that it was mammary cancer. At first, they thought that it had spread to her lungs and that surgery would not be possible, but that turned out to be an error and they went ahead with a very aggressive surgery. I felt horrible for her after the surgery, as it looked extremely painful, but I continued to give her the meds and she gradually got better. It has been one year and she is acting completely normal. She eats well (probably too much, actually), she plays, and is sweet as can be. She is due for her one year checkup soon and I am so scared to take her in but I know I have to. She is about 10 years old or so and I just want to have as much time with her as possible. I know it will never be long enough, but I am willing to do everything I can to keep her with me as long as I can. So far, she is doing great, and I hope that all of your kitties are healthy as well!

Oct 17, 2010

My baby Whiskey
by: Anonymous

I am having a hard time with letting my baby go. She has had 4 surgeries in the last 2 years. This weekend I have noticed she is breathing a little harder than before. I think I will have to let her end her battle this week sometime. I love her so much I can't stand to see her suffer....but it is so hard.

Oct 07, 2010

Let her live as long as she can
by: Mac

I recently lost my cat to mammary cancer, and I sympathize with you. Based on my experience, I recommend that you accept the reality that she is not going to survive, regardless of the surgery and other treatment you give her. Any of the treatments will assure that she will be ill for the remainder of her life, and this is not something you would wish on an animal that you love. A little over two years ago, my baby had a recurrence of adenocarcinoma, and it appeared that the cancer had spread. While she only had a lump, it was clear that the only treatment was a radical surgery to remove all mammary organs plus chemotherapy. At the end, the prognosis was maybe a year and a half. We elected to simply treat the symptoms, and she had over a year of really good life before one nipple swelled and she licked it off. After that, we treated her with a combination of metacam and buprenex to control pain, and she lived almost another year. Eventually, she developed infection in the open sores, and we gave her convenia to fight the infection. That worked for a while, but eventually, she was going down, so we made the hard decision to give her relief from all pain. We loved this girl enormously, and are glad for the good days she had before the end came. I think you should make sure you have pain medicine, cover the arms of chairs with towels you can wash to get blood or other fluids out, and let her live as long as she can have good days. Best of luck.

Oct 01, 2010

Go ahead with surgery
by: Anonymous

Hi there

My partners cat was recently diagnosed with mammory cancer on the one side, we decided to go ahead with whatever the vet suggested (this was at the Blue Cross Animal Hospital in London, a charity for people on benefits) they wanted to give the cat who is almost 12 years old a chance and decided to operate, but let us know the risks as she has a heart murmour, we thought it was worth the risk as our only other choice was to put her to sleep. The surgery was a success, but we were told the cancer could come back. This was at the end of August, unfortunately it has came back in the opposite side and again we risked surgery and she has now had both mammory strips removed, the second surgery was yesterday, she is home and although she is moving a little gingerly you would never know she had surgery, all we can do now is pray it doesn't come back, but we are making the most of every extra day with her. So I would say go ahead, its a 50/50 chance but thats better or putting her to sleep and wondering what if, good luck and God Bless x

Aug 15, 2010

Mammary Tumor Cancer Fight
by: Anonymous

I have to post my experience that might help others. At least I hope. My cat was diagnosed with Mammary Tumor Cancer and had surgery early in May of this year. They said she would have about 6 months because of the size. You would have never known she was sick. Never showed any signs, so it was hard to believe but we went right into treatment to help her. Went for chemo that was suggested by our vet. First visit the oncologist didn't sound optimistic but said they can try to treat it because even though the chain was removed, it was in the lymph glands and within 3 weeks, another tumor on the other side. After the first chemo, the tumor grew larger, but not by much so they changed chemo and tried that. Waited the 4 weeks to return for the 3rd and it more than doubled in size. Oncologist gave us maybe 2 months and said chemo is not working. We rushed to a nutritionist that day over an hour away to see about any supplements that might help as we heard they knew of holistic's which didn't seem to be the case and they didn't hurry to get back to us (Dr. has baby sitting issues). So we went with a holistic vet Smith Ridge in NY after reading their book Dr. Goldstein and all the hype with Vitamin C therapy and spent over $1000 more - my cat returned in worse shape after being there 3 days. We took her there for help and they said this therapy would help boost her because she wasn't eating much. Then as she deteriorated, I called to see if I could get any help in what I can and cannot do as my regular vet knows she was on holistic so we had to check with them first for further care. They wanted to charge us over $55 to answer a question. Needless to say, we lost our cat last weekend. Watch who you choose! Even though Mammary tumor cancer is extremely aggressive and you will do anything that offers a chance, these people know it and take you for every dime!

Aug 14, 2010

Patchouli
by: Erin Crissey Lord

My boyfriend found a lump on my 10+ years old maine coon Patchouli. That was three days ago. We just moved to Nashville and did not have a Vet here. The cat only clinic was closed on Wednesday's so the following day we made an appointment. My fears were confirmed when she was diagnosed with a mammary tumor. The tumor is not ulcerated - it's about 3 cm long and 3.5-4cm long. We immediately took her to for chest xrays (the first set was hazy so we drove to the other side of the city to get a better image. At this time, her chest looks clear. We are opting for an immediate, full chain removal of the left side of mammary ducts and surrounding tissue. After everything I have read I can't imagine waiting on a biopsy or simple lump removal. Everything on that side needs to go. My initial thought was to remove everything - but my Vet feels it's better to just do the one side for now and aggressively attack what we know is an issue. Patchouli is my child. I need to know how successful chemo/radiation is and whether or not it is worth making her "feel sick" - even though she is sick. I want to fight this but everything I've read seems to suggest the chemo/radiation isn't very successful...and I don't to make her last months miserable just for my sake. At this time is is completely normal - a little chubby but happy. She was spayed by her previous owner at approx 9 months of age and she was pregnant at the time of spay. She is also a calico - which I have read is a higher risk for mammary cancer only proceeded by siamese. I'm a student and don't have much money - I don't to say cost is a factor, but I only have so much and I want to treat her as best as I can with what I have. Any advice or possible treatments would be greatly appreciated.

To those of you who suffered through this disease along with your cat - you have my respect and admiration.

Jul 06, 2010

jen(skye)
by: lorna (mitsy)

i am truly sorry that skye lost her fight it is such an ordeal for all our little kittys to go through there fight with cancer, my heart reaches out to you jen , i know i have just been through it not that long ago , hopefully her and mitsy will look after each other and enjoy there sprit life free from that horrid disease , well you did the right thing to let her go i know they would have thanks us , my thoughts are with you and remember the good old days and all your wonderful memory's of your beloved skye so so sorry ,,,please take care x lorna

Jul 05, 2010

Don't Give Up Hope
by: Kris

Hi all,

I lost my beloved Spooky yesterday morning after a three and a half year battle with mammary cancer. Although my heart is broken and the pain of losing my best friend is gut wrenching she was able to last three and a half years with this terrible diease. My oncologist informed me that she lasted 27 months past the medium survival rate. I did have the mastectomy surgery and round of chemo. Unfortunatly after her surgery it was discovered that it had spread to her lymph nodes and after the chemo she lasted 17 months before it went to her lungs. I had to put her down as she was going into respiratory failure and she had a week left before she would die on her own. For what it is worth I would not wait on this diease. I would treat it ASAP as days count. This diease is evil and fast spreading and I sometimes wonder if I had not waited three months after the inital removal of her mass to have to mastectomy she would still be here. Some vets told me that she did not need it but if you love your cat and has not spread yet get the mastecomy ASAP. It gave me three years with my poor sweat cat. My heart goes out for all of those who are battling this diease. I know how painful it is.

Jun 28, 2010

Skye b3-10-98 d6-8-10
by: Jen

I am heartbroken to say that Skye lost her 11 month battle with advanced mammary cancer on June 8th. The cancer finally won. She had pleural effusions from the cancer so it was time to put her to sleep. I really appreciate everyone's support. Skye would have been dead last September without treatment, and I don't regret treating her for a second. She thanked me every day for treating her. But she also let me know when it was time to go.
Jen and Angel Skye

Jun 27, 2010

Cat Mammary Tumors
by: Anonymous

I am so sorry to hear all of these stories. My cat of almost 9 years old was diagnosed and we had the surgery about 8 weeks ago. I was told if I wanted to pursue this with an oncologist and I did. She had chemo 2 weeks after the surgery and was due back in 3 weeks for another dose. The first dose didn't help, it got bigger and she tried a different type of chemo. Now we have to wait 4 weeks and see from that date. Has anyone known of holistic treatment? I see many on the websites and even though it might not help, I don't want it to hurt either. She has been fine. Not sick, plays, eats and you would never know. I want to give her any chance possible to enjoy as much time as possible. Does anyone know of any holistics that are NOT good for cats? Any help is greatly appreciated! I don't want to wait until she starts feeling ill and then too late.

May 30, 2010

Angel Mitsi
by: Jen and Skye

Thank you Lorna.
Our Oncology appointment is Tuesday. I have spoken to the Dr. on the phone and he says that Skye will meet criteria for this Phase II Clinical Trial. I think we will try it.
Again, I am so very sorry about Mitsi.
Jen

Please keep us posted. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Skye.

Best,
Dr. Neely

May 25, 2010

skye
by: mitsy (lorna)

my thoughts are with you im glad to hear all is well i would give any thing to hear mitsy purr but like you said she is up there braging to all the other cats , plaese keep me informed about your little kitty , lorna

May 24, 2010

Mitsi
by: Jen

I am so deeply saddened to hear about Mitsi. I just know she is up at the Rainbow Bridge bragging to all the others about how she had the best human that there ever was on earth. She was very lucky to have you.
Jen

May 24, 2010

Skye has had a recurrance
by: Jen

Skye is now 10 months into her battle with mammary cancer and has had a local recurrance. Chest xray is normal so far. She had 5 lumps recur along her old mastectomy site. These have been removed. The Oncologist is offering me an experimental chemotherapy called masitinib.
Meanwhile, except for a 24 hour bout of vomiting/diarrhea a few days ago, Skye is living a happy life. She is currently next to me and purring away. Her BUN and creatinine have normalized since she has been on enalapril for her blood pressure and all her other bloodwork is fine.
Skye turned 12 years old in March. She still wants to fight so we are fighting together.
Jen

May 24, 2010

Dr. Neely
by: mitsy (lorna)

thank you for your kind words, there realy appreiciated , i will smile and hold her memorys close to my heart, always remembered and never forgotton, it was nice to have some where to turn when your in your darkest hours and to read how well the cats are doing , once again thanks lorna

May 22, 2010

skye
by: mitsy

thank you for your concern , there was no hope for mitsy,i had noticed that her breathing had changed and she didnt look very well in her self so i took her to the vets again they kept her in and there was fluid around her lungs ,then to discover there was a big mass in her chest and also she had heart disease that was due to her age , so they drained the fluid and put her on lots of medication , mitsy health faded so quick with in the week she lost 80 percent of her body mass and i noticed she had trouble swallowing so the mass was lying close to her throat , i could see by looking at her her soul had given up its like she was telling me to let her go , i had to in the end tube feed her it was not nice to do or to put her through , i was so proud she had come so far , because she was nearly 14 yrs old , but as a responsisble owner and pet lover i could not let her go on and have no dignity, so on the 30th of march i kindly let her be put to sleep , im heartbroken but i know she would thank me . It was one of the hardest decision to make and i think about her all the time , i had her cremated and she still in her favourite place in the bedroom , i have a few video of her that i play when she was herself before she got ill, it puts a smile on my face , thanks for all your advice i hope every ones little kittys are doing ok ...

Thank you for your update, but I am so sorry for your loss. You did the right thing, not to let her suffer further. My thoughts are with you. Keep smiling over the memories. You will have them forever.

Sincerely
Dr. Neely

May 19, 2010

Fritzi
by: MelinDallas

Hello. My 16 yr old cat Fritzi has mammary tumors. She has had a couple of small ones removed, but she now has 2 large ones. She was to have surgery yesterday to remove them but when the vet shaved her belly he said he could feel small ones all over her belly. He didn't want to do the surgery because he thought she might not heal. She has an appt with an oncologist on 6/7 to see what our next steps should be. So far she is acting normal and doesn't seem sick at all. I keep reading on here about having all of her mammary glands removed. Is this something that would be safe considering her age? I want to do what is best for her. Any advice would be much appreciated.

That is really difficult to answer. Cats can live to be 18 or 19 or 20 or more, however, 16 certainly is elderly. Her best chance of long-term survival is certainly to remove everything, but only your vet and oncologist can determine if she is strong enough for surgery, if her lungs are free of disease, if her bloodwork is good, and what her chances are. Good luck to you. My thoughts are with you.

Dr. Neely

Mar 02, 2010

From Skye to Mitsi
by: Anonymous

Dear Lorna,
Are you doing or planning any chemo? Are you checking chest Xrays for recurrance? Some types of chemo are incredibly inexpensive but some Vets won't tell you that. Many Vets don't know the costs off the tops of their heads and leave the finances to the office folks.
Best of luck to you. I hope Mitsi is cured.
Jen

Mar 02, 2010

Skye
by: Anonymous

Dear Dr. Neely,
Thank you so much for your encouraging words now and when Skye was first diagnosed. Skye thanks me every day for treating her and I have no regrets. She has other issues too. She has high blood pressure (on enalapril) and her renal function is deteriorating a bit. She drinks and urinates more, but her BUN is slowly creeping up (about 35) while her creatinine remains normal. I hope this doesn't become an issue. I am going to enquire about whether she needs subq fluids after her next set of labwork.
Jen

Mar 01, 2010

mitsy my baby
by: lorna

since mitsy operation she has made a full recovery, its been nearly 5 mths and she has put weight on and is back to her normal dominant self with the dog , i can say it was the hardest choice that i had to make regarding her age and what was involved with the removal of the mammary strip and if I had to do it again I would, I couldn't afford a private vets so i took her to the rspca and they were brilliant and i would trust them again with any of my animals . The only thing that worry s me now is the fact of the cancer attaching itself to her lungs and they did say there was a 32 percent it may have, but while she is still here with me i give her all my love and do the best by her,she is my life . so i know how it feels to love some thing that much and being in a crisis to do what is best for them ,,, take care of your baby's and go with what you feel is the right decision for them ,, thanks alot for your support lorna

Feb 27, 2010

Skye is still in remission!
by: Jen

I'm sorry I didn't see these last 3 posts until now.
Skye had her mastectomy 8-12-09. It is a long incision from armpit to crotch to take all 4 teats on that side. Skye had 8 tumors. I had the Vet put a fentanyl pain patch on her before her surgery. These last 5 days then I changed it for a new one. That way I didn't have to wrassle her for meds when she was sore. She healed perfectly well. The surgeon was just wonderful.
Skye has had 5 doses of chemo and remains in remission. No signs of cancer. She is very happy and thanks me every day in her own kitty way for saving her. She has never been this friendly before.
Mammary cancer spreads to the lungs, then most of them pass away from that. It is not a painful thing, but they just get short of breath, more and more tired, etc. Skye's doctor suggests a chest Xray every 3 months after we complete her chemo (which is mitoxantrone and cytoxan). If Skye has recurrance, the doctor will offer us another chemo called cisplatinum. I am planning to add ceenu to the regimen at the end of her 6 scheduled doses. This is entirely experimental.
Jen
There is also a Yahoo group on Mammary Cancer that is very good.

Thank you very much for your update! I'm sure it is inspirational to others in the same position. I am SO happy for you and Skye!

Sincerely,

Dr. Neely

Feb 26, 2010

So many questions.
by: Sarah

Four days ago my 15 year old cat, Sadie, was diagnosed with mammary carcinoma. I saw that she had a ruptured mass on her lower abdomen when she was 'lounging' on her back with with her feet in the air. Upon taking her to the Animal ER we were told it is cancer and they were going to have to do surgery to remove the lump and biopsy it, which we adhered to. When we retrieved her the next day she was sent home with a 4 day dose of Metacam for pain. (Upon reading up on that I hear it contains it's own risks.) I feel as though I haven't had my questions answered with the vet. I do know the biopsy showed it was the fastest type of cancer there is but the tumor was removed by a small margin. They say nothing else needs to be done but routine check-ups to feel for lumps. Seems contradictory to me the more I read. No X-Rays? He said it could be months or it could be over a year. She seems to be healing fine but the thought of her suffering later is almost unbearable. Any information would be appreciated and good luck to all of you and your kitties.

I am sorry that you and your kitty have had to go through this.

If this were my case (or my own cat), I would want chest x-rays, I would want a much wider margin around the tumor, and in fact, I would want to excise the entire mammmary chain on that side. I would want the x-rays prior to the surgery to find out if there has been spread of the cancer to the lungs. If there has been, I would not do the surgery.

Many also believe that the tumor removal should be followed by chemo as well. If you are anywhere near a veterinary oncologist, that would be the best choice for a second opinion or to get the answer that has the best chance of extending your cat's life.

Good luck,
Dr. Neely

Good Luck,

Dr Neely

Oct 30, 2009

my baby mitsy
by: Anonymous

Im totally scared for mitsy now, she had her bloods done they were normal, as for the lung xray it showed a bit hazy but they said it was due to her age being 13 yrs old, so they did the biopsy and now i have to wait for thr results, i now what there going to say because with cats there always milignat,she was spayed when she was 2 after having kittens, im not to sure of what happens in this operation to remove the mammary strip ,ect like how long is it, do they have a big wound, the after care ,and im unemployed so what is the cost of the op, so its all decission on what to do and whats best for mitsy, so can some one please help as this is breaking my heart thanks lorna

Oct 30, 2009

my baby
by: Anonymous

I Wrote the other day regarding my cat who had the mammary cancer, the blood work came back normal and so did the xray, so the vet was happy to remove the mammary strip, she woke up very bright and alert and was hiding under her blanket they was going to try to give her a bit to eat, so im going to be colecting mitsy today , im a bit worried about giving her any type of tablet as she fights me ,but i dont want her to be in pain, fingers crossed that i will have her a bit longer in my life , i feek so sorry for the ones who have lost there cats its so sad i have been so worried about my baby , anyway just thought i would let some one now, thanks alot lorna .

Oct 29, 2009

Tasha (Siamese)
by: Jay

I do have a question, I've been looking around to see if i can find information regarding mammary cancer. I have been unable to find out exactly what I need to know to cope with my loss. Once the cancer spreads to the point where it the cat has had massive weight loss and no appetite what then does the lump do? Since I was not with Tasha when she passed I just want to know whether she was in pain or or peacefully past in her sleep. Obviously she was feeling pretty ill the previous week. I know she was having difficulty breathing, does the cancer obstruct the air way eventually causing asphyxiation? I am assuming that since the symtoms are somewhat similar in every case then the end result would be aswell. You're comments are much appreciated.

Oct 28, 2009

Monthly update on Skye
by: Jen

Skye is doing great. Her blood counts finally came up and she got her 2nd course of chemo last week which was cytoxan. She had to be syringe fed for a day and a half, but otherwise tolerated cytoxan well. She constantly was digging (at the carpet, the bed, my coat, etc.) so I think her tummy was upset. Her bloodwork yesterday showed that she tolerated the cytoxan well. Her counts are quite acceptable, but not normal of course. She will get mitoxanthrone again in 2 weeks but in a lower dose because it wiped out her white blood cells last time.
Skye continues to thank us for treating her every day and we are sure we made the right decision.
Jen

Oct 28, 2009

Tasha (Siamese)
by: Jay

Well I guess its true what they say about Mammary cancer, we tried saving our little Tasha but unfortunatly it led to no prevail. She was diagnosed in August of this year, she was 10 years old and wasnt spayed. She did have the surgury done, it was was pretty harsh to see her in pain during her recovery. All we could do from that point was sit back and prey. If she wouldve been as strong as the prissy attitude she had then she would've beat this thing. Today I layed my little Toosh to rest, i will miss her deeply. I just wish i knew about this mammary cancer years ago. After reading the above posts i do not want to discourage anybody, i really hope you all have a better prognosis. Tasha was totally normal up until after the operation, she took time to heal and then she was fine for about two weeks before the new lump showed up. This was the finisher. This one grew way larger way faster, eventully i suspected she was in pain because she just dissapeared, she was always hiding, sleeping, not eating much, I was very concerned. I also knew that the vet would just opt to put her down saying the operation failed and theres nothing left to do for her. Last week she was in the roughest shape, she seemed to be stuggling to breathe and just wanted to sleep, She was mere bones and fur. She wasn't eating or drinking anything. I don't want to scare anyone but rather would like to prepare those who are facing the same situation. While Tasha was battling this disease i searched the net long and hard, i wanted to know what was in store so perhaps it wouldnt have been so hard. RIP Tasha, you will always be on a pedastal in my heart.

I am so sorry for your loss. I know how painful this has been for you. Thank you for sharing your story. I would reinforce what you said about it not always going this way. Your kitty's recurrence was extremely rapid and rare in my experience.

The most important point I can share about mammary cancer in general is the strong association with a cat not having been spayed. If a cat is spayed before their first heat, it is almost certain they will never get mammary cancer. After the first heat, the odds get worse. For those of you who didn't know this and are reading about mammary cancer and want to prevent this for your cat, get your cats spayed early!!!!

Again, you have my deepest sympathy. My heart goes out to you.

Sincerely,
Dr. Neely

Oct 27, 2009

my baby
by: Anonymous

my cat is 13 yrs and i noticed these lumps situated by her hind leg so i took her to the vets and they said it was mammary tumor i think she has not had them long so now she is about to have surgery tomorrow to remove the mammary strip,there also cheecking her blood and an xray for her lungs and then the tumor to be sent away, i feel so sick and she is so tiny but she is full of life , i just praying that she will come through it as the little fighter she is, i owe my life to her as she saved me in a fire , i would like to think i have still got her around for a few years yet, but after reading alot from others i think a year if luckey,my god luck after her , i love her so much xxx

Best wishes to you. Please let us know how it goes. Thank you for sharing. Dr. N

Oct 20, 2009

Satin's Mammary Cancer
by: Janet

I am a 22 year breast cancer survivor who was horrified last week upon learning that Satin, my beloved Siamese, has mammary cancer.

I adopted Satin 7 years ago and don't exactly know her age. I'm betting she is 10 years old.

I brought her in today to a Special Animal Hospital and she was operated on and she tolerated the procedure well.

The Surgeon told me they have her on fentanyl and will layer it with another drug to make sure she is kept comfortable and quiet.

Satin had the entire mammary chain removed - bith sides. The Surgeon felt that this was possible because Satin is quite large and there was a lot of skin to work with. Apparently tension on the wound is an issue.

Since this was today; i don't know of the prognosis for Satin but my Family made a choice to try these radical mastectomies.

I think it's a personal choice if the Cat should have this surgery or not. I do worry Satin is in pain. I can't imagine she's not. I was in great pain with my mastectomies. But it has bought me 22 years of life now. At the time I was told I would never see my 30th birthday; now I am 48.

I do feel that the choice for Satin to have this surgery was right for Satin and her family - regardless of pain.

I am hoping the Hospital she in in will allow me to see her tomorrow. I will report back.

Janet in New York

Thank you, Janet, for sharing your experience with us. Dr. N

Sep 28, 2009

Follow up on Sky
by: Jen

Skye had a mastectomy 6 weeks ago and the margins are clear. The Oncologist wanted alternating doses of mitoxanthrone and cytoxan then to return to ceenu. We gave one dose of mitoxanthrone but her neutrophil count dropped so she can't get more chemo and is on clavamox.
She is is great spirits.
For surgery, Dr. put a fentanyl pain patch on her the night BEFORE surgery so that it would be fully effective by the time I took her home. He used dissolvable stitches. We never had any problems with drainage or redness, but we did have swelling which he said was normal and was to be treated with warm compresses.
Skye is more friendly than she has ever been in her life. I am so glad I got her treated.
We bought a huge cage 5x4x3 feet with a cat tree inside to keep her away from the other cats and she loves it. Now we let her out, but she still likes to go back in there on her own. The other cats are jealous.
I always address the issue of pain meds with the vet before my animals have surgery. The recent post where the kitty didn't get pain meds horrifies me. I would FIRE that vet immediately. Please take your kitty somewhere else. By the way, $1000. is CHEAP for a mastectomy. I paid $2800. at the Animal Cancer Center.
Now my only dilemna is whether the chemo is too toxic for Skye. We did the mitoxanthrone instead of the doxyrubicin because Skye doesn't behave at the vet and doxyrubicin is horrific if it goes outside the vein... The Medical Oncology specialist says she finds the mitoxanthrone just as good...
Jen

Thank you for your story and Best Wishes for Skye's continued recovery and good health. Sometime this week, I will have a new section started here on the website about pain issues in cats. You can look for it on the Navigation Bar, at first under CAT HOLISTIC MEDICINE.

Dr. Neely

Sep 27, 2009

Botched surgery
by: Anonymous

My 12 yr old Ragdoll was operated on 10 days ago for cancer. They took out the one mamary gland and surrounding tissue that had the lumps. X-rays showed lungs and chest clear and they took alot of tissue to try to get all of it. The down side is the wound did not look good to me even the day I brought her home. No pain meds, nothing topical to help it heal, just Clavamox 62.5mg 1 tab every 12 hours. No bandages, the wound is exposed to whatever dust or germs are on the floor or where ever she lays down. I've had her back there twice and she is getting worse. It's ozzing and red and some of the sutures look like they're going to pop. They put her in a collar so she won't lick the stitches. If she does not improve by tomorrow, I'm taking her somewhere else for a second opinion which I really can't afford after the $grand they charged. I can tell she is in pain more now than ever and and the collar is really making her have a nasty attitude. She tried to bite me and she has never done that before. I feel so bad for her... she is miserable and I can't even comfort her now. I sure hope this gives her some time as it's alot for her to go through. So I guess my advice is to ask around and make sure the vet is a good surgeon. My other cat went to a different vet for teeth cleaning a few years ago and came back brain damaged or traumatized, I don't know what happend to her. They deny any wrong doing but her personality was 100% different when she came back - and not in a good way at all. She is afraid of everything and walks in slow motion and jumps at the slightest sound or movement - will stare at a wall and meows at nothing and does not want to be petted. I did not want that to happen for the cat that needed the cancer surgery and so went somewhere else. Can't win it seems.

Jul 26, 2009

Cat-Mammary-Cancer
by: Jen

My Skye was also just diagnosed with Mammary Cancer. Her biopsy shows adenocarcinoma with solid and tubular areas. There is necrosis and lymphocyte infiltrate with up to 13 mitoses per HPF. She has a 2.5 cm thoracic gland tumor but has a chain of 7 0.2 to 0.4 cm bleeding nodules sticking out of her skin over the thorax in a line going towards the axilla. We gave one dose of ceenu while waiting for path and there is improvement in the skin nodules which have shrunk. Now only one weeps and bleeds. My question is, "Is this picture mean that she has systemic involvement or would surgery be beneficial? If there is no benefit to surgery, we are considering cryotherapy to dry up the weepy nodules since they upset her.

It's impossible for me to know, as I'm sure you understand, what the outcome will be. Metastasis from mammary tumors is most often to the lungs initially, thus we always do x-rays of the chest before surgery. Also, my experience with Ceenu has been remarkable. The nodules would probably indicate that there has been metastasis from the original tumor to others and/or the lymphatic system. However, if the chest x-rays are clear and complete removal of the mammary chain and associated lymph nodes is performed followed by Ceenu, there is a chance she could be cured or have a significantly improved life span. Talk this over with your vet. I wish you the best.

Dr. Neely

May 11, 2009

Cat just had left chain removed 6th Apr 09
by: Anonymous

My 10 yr old cat just underwent surgery to have the whole left chain removed. Everything that the Dr. described to you is exactly my experience. Unfortunatly, the prognosis for my cat is poor as the lab work showed several tumors in the chain and surrounding tissue samples that were sent. It's been ome month since surgery and although she has lost some weight, she is still playing with her toys, enjoys several treats during the day and is loving being spoiled. I would still have made the same decission as the bloodwork, lung xray and ultrasound all showed clear..so until the surgery is done you can't be sure if it is cancer. As for pain, I had the same concern as you but we were sent home with a cream pain medication that I rubbed on the inside of her ear and antibiotics to prevent infection and she didn't seem to be in any pain as she still wanted to eat and play and lots of cuddles. I'm just hoping that by removing the larger tumors it may give her more time than if we didn't do surgery. Good luck and I hope it all works out for the best for Cleo.

Apr 24, 2009

I understand...
by: Anonymous

I'm sorry to hear about your baby.

My cat is 12 years old and she was diagnosed with Mammary Cancer. She had a HUGE tumor that went unnoticed. When we noticed it it was bleeding and discharging brown fluid. The doctor said with no sugery she had TWO WEEKS to live and with a complete chain removal she had six months. I decided that six months was better than nothing so I went ahead with the surgery, but after having a second and third opinion I was told that a complete chain removal was not nesessary now so the dr removed a gland that he said was full of tumors and another 'suspicious' looking gland. She did VERY well after surgery but tumors returned within weeks. We did three more surgeries withing the next three months for more tumor removal. It sounds like I put her through a lot and she has been through a lot but after surgery she ran around and ate and played even with bandages on. I figured she could take it and she has beautifully.

After being given just 6 months it is now a year later. No tumors had returned until last week. She had another surgery a few hours ago and my husband is chasing her around the house trying to get her to stop playing. (She is wrapped in a TIGHT bandage and that can't stop the kitten in her)

Everyone's situation is different but I am sooo happy that I decided to do the surgery because she went from having just two weeks without sugery to a year later still kicking.

She also gained weight. (2 1/2 pounds when she was diagnosed with the cancer and 7 pounds now!)

Apr 03, 2009

Mammary cancer
by: Anonymous

My cat, Cocoa, had mammary carcinoma that was successfully treated. She died three years later at the age of 18 of an advanced oral cancer which could not be cured. I miss her every day.

Jan 09, 2009

Not True - Procedure Very Painful
by: Darlene

What the vet said about cats showing little discomfort after surgery is ridiculous. Cats feel the same kind of pain we do and taking out a whole chain is a very very painful process. My 12 year old cat was just diagnosed with mammary cancer last week and of course, my heart sunk when I heard the news. But, when I discovered the lump next to her top mammary gland (by her arm), I took her in right away and they took it out. They gave her a pain patch and kept her overnight for two nights to make sure she was not in any pain. And my beautiful cat, Sunset, was discharged from the hospital with two kinds of pain relievers. One was a liquid through the mouth and the other were pills. She was comfortable throughout recovery and is now growing fur again. If my cat had to go through surgery again, I would just focus on the lump and not put her through chain removal. That is just plain insane and whoever responded to your email has no clue what she's talking about as far as cats feeling pain. Good luck to your Cleo.

I'm not sure how you got what you did out of my reply. I was trying to be reassuring about the positive aspects of having the surgery. I know exactly what I am talking about. I have been a feline only practitioner for over 18 years, graduated from one of the top 3 vet schools in the country, have had cats since I was born and have performed surgery every day for 18 years. Next to my kids, I love cats more than anything in this world and cry daily over any discomfort they may experience in any way.

If you read back over my answer, you will see that I said experience little discomfort followed immediate by "make sure you use a vet that gives pain relief".

Often, the reaction cats have to the types of anesthesia vets still use is what you may see as discomfort. I have for 18 years used an anesthetic protocol that allows the cats to wake up showing no effect from the anesthesia within seconds to minutes. We also give pain relief injections during surgery so it will be onboard when the animal wakes up and give whatever further pain relief is needed in the following hours/days.

I also happen to be a darn good surgeon and know from experience that surgical technique can have a lot to do with whether a cat is extremely painful or not.

If you remove only a lump, you may as well remove nothing. The cancer will occur again, fairly soon, in the other glands. I believe some of your concern should be about that and multiple surgeries and the risk of metastasis to lungs.

I am far from "insane", and I have far more than "a clue" about how cats feel. I always do what is best for the animal and best to me means living the longest, but only if that life is a quality, comfortable life. I don't perform surgery unless it is going to help the cat and I don't perform surgery ever without pain relief. You twisted my words and you are misinformed about lumpectomy vs. mastectomy.

Dr. Neely

Oct 03, 2008

mammory cancer
by: Anonymous

Im sorrey to hear about your cat, my 13 yr old cat was diagnosed with same thing in August this year, she had surgery but it was not succesful, she,s only got weeks left, im watching to see she does not suffer greatly, she,s lost weight lots, starting to have difficulty breathiing slightly it s spread to lungs, i no it will be soon, and im so sad, so its a hard one it may work it may not but i wish you luck. cheryl uk xxx

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