My brother sent me this email today and I am sharing it here in hopes of receiving any advice. Georgie has cancer and they are looking for any insight into healing, surgery and/or helping him cope with the pain of this illness. It reads as follows:
... ' I wanted to let you both know that we found out last week that Georgie has inoperable cancer. It is a large tumor (and growing) above the left shoulder that the vet told us was probably the result of our agreeing to give him the Leukemia shot (above that same shoulder) about 3 years ago. The vet told us that they have since learned that these shots are causing these tumors in cats with certain genes that make them susceptible to getting the cancer as a result of the shot. Very, very frustrating to say the least, especially because it was an optional shot that we did not need to give him.
I will let you know that Georgie is the coolest cat we have ever known. He is an indoor/outdoor cat (because of being clawless) and he loves to roam over to our next door neighbors, on each side of the house, and across the street to Rusty’s (a McKinney policeman). They all say that he is awesome and they love to pet him and spend time with him on their own porches. Georgie has been a survivor all of his life (the farm in Indy that he came from, the neighborhood cats with claws, the coyotes in the open field behind our fence, the copperhead snakes coming in off of our creek, and the owl that sometimes perches on top of our roof). Although he has survived them all up to this point, we are being told that this form of cancer is the most aggressive, painful and visibly troubling to watch, and will soon end up in a negative outcome.
I went on line and bought some herbal drops for cats with cancer, which are supposed to help ease the pain and provide comfort. We are just at a loss for words with regards to the whole thing. Georgie doesn’t deserve this!
I wanted to let you both know and see if you had any ideas, thought, recommendations (surgery vs. not; possible medicines;). I know you both have a vast knowledge of pet care and the like, so wanted to get your expert opinions. Any advice at this point would be helpful ' .
21 comments:
Vaccine sarcoma is awful. Mom doesn't vaccinate because of it since none of us go outside. We're sorry that your brother's kitty has it. We've known a few kitties who had the surgery but, unfortunately, it came back. We think Georgie's Dad will need more info from the vet about prognosis.
We'll purr for Georgie.
The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie
How devastating for your brother! Georgie sounds like such a fantastic cat.
Unfortunately I don't have any experience or advice to add, just my sorrow at the unfairness of things!
Oh dear, I'm sorry I have no idea. I am so sorry to hear this happened to your brother's cat. Maybe someone knows and can help. We certainly will purr for him.
If you have a naturopathic vet they can do marvelous things to help cats with quality of life which often translates into longer quantity. I would definitely check into that if there is someone in your area.
Maybe could try acupuncture to help ease pain. Is this type of tumor inoperable? I pray Georgie doesn't suffer to much. And I pray for you too.
Terrible news and that it was from a vaccine makes it even worse. I am sorry not to have any suggestions but do send love and am keeping you in my thoughts.. Hugs GJ xx
Oh, what a horrible outcome from giving George a shot to try to protect him. We don't have any advice to offer but we want to send purrs and tail wags to George and your brother.
We'll purrrr for Georgie.
We are very sorry to hear about Georgie. We know your Brother ans family are devastated. We have no experience in this so have nothing but Purrs.
Wish we had some good advice, but all we can offer are healing purrs for sweet Georgie.
Vaccines are scary - my human only has us get shots when absolutely necessary (the last time was when we had to be boarded at the Cat Hotel). I think the suggestion about going to a naturopathic vet to help Georgie's body cope with his sarcoma is probably the best thing your brother can do. And of course, we will all send him lots of purrs and good thoughts.
Unfortunately no advice but we are sorry. Mom had no idea the shot could cause trouble so that was very helpful to learn, but very sorry it had to happen to Georgie.
Oh, such sad news about Georgie and his vaccine associated sarcoma. They are bad, and the prognosis is not good. But there are good pain meds that we use in the cat hospital where I work--buprenorphine most frequently, and sometimes fentanyl patches. It sounds like they have already searched the web for info, but here's a couple of links:
http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00109.htm
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_vaccine_associated_fibrosarcom.html
http://www.feline-vas-support.org/
My Mojo had Fibrosarcoma...they are not sure if it was vaccine induced or not, but was behind his right shoulder. We opted to not to go to heroic measures to treat him, except for pain management and let him enjoy life as a cat. We tried one round of a palliative radiation to try and slow growth and offer pain management, but it just made him sick.
Near the end of his life, he was taking pain meds (buprenex) two to three times a day to remain comfortable. He still played and ate some up until the end. Once his breathing changed, due to tumor growth, we knew it was time to let him go...
Feel free to stop by our blog and read about Mojo. This is a good story with photos...
http://fourcrazycats.blogspot.com/2010/02/mojo-one-year-angelversary.html
Most Vets do not vaccinate In the shoulder anymore. Rather they do it in the hind leg. That way if the cat does develop vaccine sarcoma at the the leg can be amputated. I am so sorry this has happened to your brother's cat. My prayers are with you.
I am really sorry about Georgie. I do not have any advice, but I wish him well.
We don't have any advice, but are sending tons of purrs and headbutts to Georgie.
Luf, Us
This is very sad. Poor Georgie. Good pain management and the help of a naturopathic vet sound a good way to go forward with this. Also to minimise the stress that Georgie experiences. If he's indoors/outdoors and sadly declawed then he needs to be kept out of the way of any conflict with other animals and that may mean keeping inside as he's unable to defend himself. Stress is a serious issue with any type of cancer. Sending rumbly purrs to Georgie
Whicky Wuudler
We are VERY upset by this. that vet should've known about that vaccine- every vet i know of, says to be careful of the vaccine. you only need that shot IF You go outside, and, if you don't, you don't need it.
AND- they are supposed to give it in a hind leg, because THEY KNOW ABOUT THE TUMORS. it's not a new thing! It's been going on for years! That's why HONEST vets don't tell you to get the shot unless the cat goes out, and they know better.
IF You put it in the hind leg you can REMOVE the leg and save the life. So we suggest getting a second opinion and seeing if a vet will remove the leg and the tumor. At least try!
by the way, if you remove the leg (if they could) most of the time they live for a really long time afterward.
Post a Comment