Conference misery::feline

    Andrea,
    I don't have any books with me to look this up, but I want to wish you
    good luck!  If Bigfoot feels fine, that's what is important!
    Karen

    
    A centimeter is about half an inch.
    
    A cyst is just a mass of tissue that "doesn't belong".  Sometimes
    they're hollow.  Sometimes they form when the body encloses something
    it doesn't like, sort of like fencing it off.  Usually they'll grow
    to a certain size and then stop.  Unlike tumors, they're not malignant,
    i.e., they can't spread to other parts of the body.  Usually a cyst is
    not something to worry a lot about.  They're usually more of an
    annoyance than a serious threat, but because they're hard to
    distinguish from tumors without a biopsy or other invasive procedure,
    they're cause for concern until fully diagnosed.  Sometimes, once
    surgically removed, they grow back, but if benign, it may be best just to
    let it be.
    
    Last year Merlin developed a cyst that resulted in a distended nipple.
    I had it removed and biopsied, because Wabbit had a similar distended
    nipple that turned out to be an aggressively invasive malignant mammary
    tumor.  She lived for five more years after a mastectomy, despite the
    fact that the prognosis from her biopsy was very bad - the vet's best
    guess was that she had maybe six months before the tumor spread
    throughout her body.  Merlin's biopsy was benign.  So, some lumps
    don't matter, some do, but it's not obvious. 
    
    Sounds like your vet is on top of things and Bigfoot is being well
    cared for.
    
    I'll look up pancreatic cysts tonight and either Karen or I will report
    back tomorrow.
    
    len.
    

    
    I looked up pancreatitis and pancreatic cysts in the Cornell book and
    in the Complete Book of Cats; in neither was there any discussion of
    pancreatic cysts (other cysts yes, but not of the pancreas), and both
    said that pancreatitis is so rare in cats as to not be an issue.  Not
    very helpful.
    
    len.
      

         Gee, Bigfoot would be insulted that his condition isn't considered
    important ;^) .
    
         Three years ago, the cyst on his pancreas was large, so they had
    to remove that, a part of his pancreas (to make sure they got it all)
    and his spleen (normal operating procedure? I've heard they sometimes
    do this with people).  The cyst had apparently "leaked", as there were
    brown "spots" all over his abdominal cavity.  The surgeon removed as
    many as she could, but they were too numerous to remove them all. 
    Perhaps this new cyst is starting from one of those "spots".
    
         We're hoping that this cyst isn't like the last one, because poor
    Bigfoot displayed all the signs of pancreatitis (nausea/vomiting,
    fever, couldn't hold anything down, grumpiness) and we don't want him
    going through that again.  Also, at 15, we don't know if he could
    survive another surgery like that; he was in the hospital for a solid
    week before he could come home.  We're weighing a lot of options,
    especially if his kidneys start kicking up; we don't want to put him
    through unnecessary surgery, especially if he starts developing kidney 
    disease.  In fact, we're leaning toward leaving the thing alone as 
    long as Bigfoot feels good; we'll see what it looks like in three
    months.
    
         I guess not being a medical-type person, I just was curious
    exactly what these things were.  From Bigfoot's previous experience,
    they seemed scary to us, so when the vet didn't seem to be too worried
    we started wondering.
    
    					- Andrea
                         

    Note 572.0 has been keyworded PANCREAS and CYSTS.
    
    Jan
    Moderator, FELINE

    Andrea...I don't have much knowledge on cyst...but just wanted
    to send you my best!!   In my opinion....you have the best vets in
    the world!!   
    
    Keep us posted...
    
    Sandy

         Thanks, Sandy.  Bigfoot's acting his normal, wonderful self, which
    gives me hope that this thing isn't going to be a problem.  Just have
    to sit tight 'til October ...
    
    					- Andrea

    Hi,

         I am very upset about my vet at Tufts.  After the ultrasound
    during Bigfoot's dentistry, we did another ultrasound in October.  The
    results?  "Well, it's big, but we don't know if it's grown because
    we're not sure what angle the last one was done at, but maybe we should
    do a needle biopsy now ...".  After this, we decided to go for a second
    opinion.
    
         We went to Westside Animal Clinic; the vet there has been
    wonderful with our bunnies and she treats cats and dogs too.  We've
    been impressed by her, so we decided to have her do the second opinion.
    
         We brought Bigfoot in, and she had no trouble with him.  No
    "vicious"ness or any such thing, Dr. Trom said he was a doll.  She did
    the x-ray and found a hernia, from which he could have died from a
    rupture, so she scheduled surgery to repair it.
    
         It turns out that he had another mass, which was secreting
    digestive enzymes and ate at the abdominal wall.  The hernia was in the
    abdominal wall, and he could have gotten it from something as simple as
    jumping or stretching.  She took out a huge mass, which she sent in for
    testing.
    
         Bigfoot's doing great in recovery.
    
         But, the mass they removed was, indeed, malignant.  It's a type of
    cancer that cannot be treated with chemotherapy or radiation, as it 
    spreads through the blood.

         Hopefully, the  surgeon got it all; the blood tests came back 
    perfect, which is encouraging.

         However, it could spread; he'll get sick and weak if it does.  The 
    prognosis is four months.  They are going to take an x-ray and blood 
    tests a month after the stitches  come out next week, and monitor from 
    there.  If we get four months with *no* recurrence, there's a possibility 
    that we might have beaten this, but the surgeon is not too hopeful.  He 
    has seen miracles like this happen, but he's understandably trying to 
    stay on the fence.

         He didn't want to come right out and say it, but he implied that by 
    waiting from June when this showed up on the x-ray until now, it might 
    have encouraged this mass to become malignant (because of the time
    factor).   Our doctor at Tufts, her superior, and anyone else we can 
    think of in that organization, is going to hear about this; because of  
    her  "let's wait and see attitude", we will probably lose Bigfoot to this 
    cancer.

         Now I guess all we can do is make Bigfoot's days comfortable, enjoy 
    him as much as we can, and pray and hope.

					- Andrea

    
    My Wabbit beat an aggressively invasive malignancy for five years.
    The prognosis was just as bleak after the biopsy - maybe six months
    at the outside.  I think she knew I couldn't go on without her, so
    she lived another five years until her kidneys gave out on her.
    
    So let Bigfoot know how much you love and need him, and we'll all
    think positive thoughts at you, and we'll see how things turn out.
    
    len and Merlin and Rocky and Robin and Blueberry.
    

    start pumnping him full of anit-oxidants and shark's cartaliage; I
    swear that gave Pip an extra 6 months (she had a prognosis of 2 weeks).
    
    good luck, and make every day count.
    
    Deb

    Deb,
    
         Where would I find that?  In a health food store?
    
    					- Andrea

    I had to go into Cambridge to get the Sharks cartalidge at
    Cambridge Natural Foods (between Harvard and Porter Square). I don't
    know where you live, but I would suggest calling the stores listed in
    the yellow pages under health food stores; very few of them carry it.
    
    Deb

    
    	Herb Shops tend to carry Shark's cartilage, or can readily 
    	get it.If you're in the Fitchburg area there is a Victorian
    	Herbal Shop on Summer Street that I believe stocks it.
    
    	Heidi
    

    
    I don't want to throw a wet blanket on someone's hopes, but sharks *do*
    get cancer, shark cartilage is *not* a cancer cure/preventive, and the
    scientist upon whose work these claims are based recently appeared on
    national TV bemoaning the misinterpretation of her work and especially
    the false hopes it had raised.
    
    Please, let's not get into a debate about alternative medicine, but I
    thought an alternative perspective was appropriate.
    
    len.
     

         I'm going to ask our vet about this (Bigfoot goes in for stitch
    removal - he's healed very well except for one small spot); I was just
    curious where this stuff could be gotten if she thought it was an
    appropriate therapy.  I never heard of it before.
    
         BTW I live/work in Shrewsbury.
    
    					- Andrea

         Just to update everyone; Tuesday Bigfoot went in for another x-ray
    and then surgery.  He had two masses, a small, non-malignant one near
    the chest, and a larger, malignant one near his abdominal region.  The
    rear one was trying to eat its way through the abdominal wall into the
    intestinal region (it was between the wall and the outside skin).
    
         His x-ray looks perfect - no signs of cancer in his lungs/chest/
    abdomen/intestines.  The vet is cautiously optimistic that maybe, just
    maybe, we've gotten it all.
    
         She was great - she let us take him home Tuesday evening (after
    afternoon surgery); his stitches were seeping a little blood, and he
    was super-groggy, but he wanted to get on the couch ;^) .  We put him
    up there and he slept, then we put him on our bed that night and he
    slept all night.  By Wednesday he was doing much better (no more
    seepage) and yesterday he was able to jump on the bed himself.  We had
    a stool there for him to make it easier, but stubborn him said no way,
    I jump.
    
         What a strong kitty!  We're hoping that this is it for him as far
    as surgeries; he is so strong we couldn't deny him this one.
    
    					- Andrea

    my thougths and prayers are with the big guy!!!!   He's come a long
    way...and I hope for the best.
    
    Sandy

    Huzzah for Bigfoot. Pity he is so abused and neglected at home. As his
    Auntie, who gets to take care of him when Mom and Dad are away, I can
    testify as to his great courage in the face of adversity. He only has
    three or four cushions on the floor for him to snooze on. And he gets
    to have his dinner served in front of the TV only on demand and not as
    a matter of course. There are fewer than two dozen toys on the floor
    for him to enjoy. Amazing he clings to this life.
    
    Auntie Sari

    I sure hope that everything turns out OK; after loosing 2 to cncer, and
    then having to watch Pip loose to an inoperable one (her size, age and 
    history made her a poor surgical candidate), I want very much to hear
    of an older cat that survived this horrible condition.
    
    Deb 

         The stitches came out yesterday and no masses were felt.  The vet
    wants to see him again in two months, unless he develops problems.  So
    far he's doing great!
    
    					- Andrea

    Great to hear!!!
    
    Deb