helen99 | Results (Sithreal Update)

Sithreal's results are back. It was an aggressive feline mammary carcinoma. The surgery the vet performed was for skin cancer, not this type of carcinoma, which is rare in male cats.

I should have taken him to the vet when I first noticed that the nipple was abnormally swollen, and not waited until it became a lesion. If I'd been quicker, he would have a better chance, since more cells would have been contained. It would not have changed the treatment (since some cells still might have gotten into the system), but it would have increased the odds. That said, the vet said this is the earliest detection he's ever seen and that there is still a chance he can beat it.

It's a very aggressive type of cancer, so cells from it could have metastasized to his lymph nodes, lungs, abdomen, or more. I will be taking him in to get his stitches out Friday. He will have some x-rays at that time to determine if it has spread to the lungs or abdomen. If all seems to be well otherwise, I will make an appointment for him to remove the entire chain of nipples on that side, as well as the lymph nodes (the recommended treatment). If the x-rays show any spreading, then chemo was advised.

However, one sentence in the above article is now staring at me:

"The size of the mammary tumor determines prognosis and survival times. Cats with a tumor less than three cm in size may live up to 21 months after diagnosis, and those with bigger tumors have an average survival time of a year."

It was much, much smaller than three cm - I don't think it was even 1 cm. But even if it was smaller, only 21 months? And what kind of 21 months would those be? I think the above sentence refers to cases where the cancer has become systemic. If by some miracle I caught this before it became systemic, maybe that doesn't apply. I will talk to the vet once the x-rays are back. I will weigh Sithreal's quality of life, the extent of the cancer, and prognosis against surgeries, chemo, and suffering, and I will make a decision which way to go.

If there's no sign of it anywhere else and the second surgery heals well, and his quality of life is good, we will take it from there with frequent exams. If it has gone systemic and the prognosis is "21 months with chemotherapy", then I will have to do more research and figure out what I should do. If it gets too bad and he stops enjoying life...

But that isn't a decision I have to make yet. I'm still hoping the x-rays come back negative and we caught it in time.

So that's the news.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I've seen what aggressive cancers can do. I really hope you have caught it in time, and that Sithreal can be healed up of this. Also, you had no way of knowing this would be the result. The swelling could have been from anything and then gone away. I think you reacted better than most would have, and therefore there is a chance. And I know you'll make the right decision.

Even if it was swollen from something else, I should have taken him to the vet after it didn't go away for one week. I waited too long. How would I like it if someone didn't take me to the doctor if I had an abscess (even if it was benign). A vet could have alleviated the discomfort. Once that was done, the vet could have had it analyzed and we would have known much earlier.

That said, this may be only one instance. If he has other instances internally, we're hosed.

That's 20-20 hindsight talking, though. It's always "obvious" from that perspective what you should have done. You acted when you did, which was when you noticed there was a serious problem and that might very well save Sithreal's life.

I hope so.

Results (Sithreal Update)

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