Our cat of 8 years of age was briefly sick with a skin irritation and we took her in and everything checked out ok - until they took an X-Ray. It showed a mass on her lung.
We were immediately concerned and we took her in for blood test and needle biopsy and it came back as "probably carcinoma". We then decided to follow the doctors' advice and do a CT scan and they said there are too many areas on the lung - so surgery is not recommended. They want to do chemotherapy. Apparently the pain and trauma after surgery of that extent could be very very discomforting for the cat.
We are cat lovers and we can do whatever it takes to make her better. But we feel that this is a terminal disease and maybe we should let her live her last few months of life without pain and suffering from testing, surgery and/or chemotherapy.
We are beginning to believe that the doctors are after money, and are using our love for our beloved pet as leverage to get money out of us...
2006-12-02 10:48:15 · 22 answers · asked by rizwan602 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
We want to do what is right for our family member. We feel that surgery, chemotherapy, etc. is one way for us to extend her life for OUR BENEFIT and we are putting her through unnecessary pain and sickness as a result.
Her life will only be extended a few more months as a result, but it would be a life of pain I think.
We want to know if its humane and reasonable to let nature take its course in this terminal disease? We think the best way may be to wait till she develops symptoms and when she is exhibiting signs of sickness and when her quality of life is diminishing we will put her to sleep.
We intend to spend more time with her during this time of extra care and attention and so that we can say our goodbyes to her over a period of time and not just on one day.
She is our baby.
Please help us make the right and decision of love.
Rizwan
2006-12-02 10:52:23 · update #1
This is a sad time and a sad diagnosis for your family. Have you ever known a human who endured chemotherapy and endless, sometimes painful testing, for cancer?
I think, if it were my cat, I would just let her live as comfortably as possible, as long as possible. Vets have good meds for pain, if she needs them. Then, one day, when it seems like it is getting hard for her, I'd just take her in for one last vet visit and let her rest in peace.
We know a lady, who put her dog through a bunch of terrible surgeries for breast cancer. The tumor kept returning. She held on to that dog out of pure selfishness and the dog died, in great agony, on her kitchen floor when the tumor ruptured. Something like that is being selfish, not loving.
It isn't easy, but it is a part of having pets. The day does come when we have to say goodbye for a while.
2006-12-02 11:37:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
I understand your pain and confusion. Our oldest cat (my husband's baby) was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer 3 years ago and lost her eye to it. The cancer spread to her lungs and we had to make a decision much like yours.
We decided against chemo because it is brutal and while a human can understand what is happening a cat cannot.
We are very lucky with our vet (who we love). After discussing it with him we decided to do a steroid treatment to try to slow the growth. So far it has worked. The mass is growing, but very slowly. The treatment we are doing costs about $20 a month for medications and then cost of x-rays every 6-8 weeks (which varies).
She still has some quality of life. She sleeps a lot in her kennel (we removed the door), but she comes out and sits with us when we watch TV and lays in the living room watching the other cats. She also cuddles with my husband every morning for her daily brushing.
When her quality of life disappears and the pain gets to be too much we will put her to sleep.
It's a hard decision and there are always people who want to second guess you, but at the end it is up to you and your spouse to decide what is the right way to go. And because you love your cat I'm sure whichever route you choose will be the right one.
2006-12-02 19:59:44 · answer #2 · answered by Shannon S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you have to weigh up what the prognosis is after surgery and chemo. You also have to take into consideration the amount of pain or discomfort she is currently in. If I were you, I'd take her to another vet and get a second opinion then weigh up the options. I am not a believer in putting animals down so I would lean towards attempting a cure but your fear that you would put your "baby" through some uneccessary pain without improving her quality of life is an extremely valid one. I commend you on being a caring cat owner! I wish you and your kitty all the best.
2006-12-02 18:54:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to hear that is really sad and upsetting. I used to work in a hospice and i think it is nicer to go peacefully and relaxed without people pulling and pushing you around. The Carcinoma sounds like it is very extent and chemo will just add a few weeks to months but chemo can cause alot of distress and pain itself. Its a hard discission but one you need to make personally. It depends on how you feel if you can see your cat go through the treatment, or if you can just help her through giving her all the love an care she needs.
Vets do like to money grab and will pull on heart strings i believe!!
Just make the right choice for you and your family and remember you can always get a second opinion.
You never have to do what the vets want its your choice.
Hope all goes well and you spend the last few months together happily. All the best Suzi
2006-12-02 19:08:33 · answer #4 · answered by Suzan D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is so heartbreaking to have cancer diagnosed in your cat. I am on the Yahoo group: felinecancer. Do join the group as you will most likely find others who have faced the same cancer in their cat and can learn what measures they have taken and what success or lack of it they have had. Many have had success with chemotherapy which is apparently much easier on cats than humans.
I know all of this can leave you very bewildered and suffering as much as your cat. And I know how expensive diagnosis and treatment can be. Believe me the vets are not just after your money - most sincerely want to do what they can for the animals they treat.
I personally made the decision to have surgery for my cat's bladder cancer (a rare cancer in cats) and it was a small tumor, easily removed with no recovery problems at all. I do not choose to do any other treatment. He has been healthy and happy for six months now and if the cancer returns (it's reportedly a very aggressive kind) than I will euthanize him when his quality of life is so diminished it would be cruel for him and me to go on.
2006-12-02 18:59:30 · answer #5 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, my, this is a question only you and your family can answer, but having done somewhat the same thing with my cat, who was nearly 20, I wouldn't do it again. He did suffer, we spent a lot of money, none of which helped him at all. He had surgery, chemo, until I simply couldn't do it any more. I still miss him, after all, he was a big part of my life for nearly 20 years, but I sure wouldn't put another animal through that. The cat will suffer from chemo also, don't let them tell you she won't. If chemo makes human's hair fall out, think what it does to a small aminal.
Love her, comfort her, but be ready to let her go when it is obvious there is no more quality of life, and trust me, you will know when that is. When she can't eat, she can't void, she can't walk, see, sit on your lap without pain. then it's time to let go, folks.
Another cat lover!
2006-12-02 18:57:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hi there...so sorry to hear your cat has been diagnosed with lung cancer. At 8 years old you have to ask how would the cats' quality of life will be affected during chemo. It is difficult for an animal to understand why they are so miserably sick during treatment in order in hopes of becoming better or cured--they live in the moment. I believe the vets are sensing you would like to do whatever is possible to help preserve your cat's life rather than for the money. This is a difficult decision to make and you would need to weigh the pros vs. cons with this type of treatment and it's successfulness. Depending on the severity of the cancer and if it has metasticized it may be in the best interest to consider letting your cat go out of compassion. If necessary you could always consider another opinion if you are questioning your vet's ethical process.
2006-12-02 18:54:12 · answer #7 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
cancer is not always terminal. But the treatment can be very painful, and make the animal very sick. It is totaly up to you what to do. Can you imagine the kind of pain it will have to deal with, and do you think it will be able to handle it. Has he had a long full life, and know you love him? If so he might be able to deal with it. Or if you think the treatment will be to much for him it might be better to put him to sleep and save him a lot of pain and sickness. This doesnt mean you love him any less just dont want him to hurt like that.
2006-12-02 18:55:12 · answer #8 · answered by wchwa2go 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The big question to ask is:
Can the cat take the trips necessary for the treatments or will she be more stressed out with that alone?
We had a cat with that diagnosis and given the cat's personality, we opted not to do the treatments. She lived another year before she could not breath comfortably and stopped eating. We feel that she enjoyed life right up to the time she stopped eating.
The vet couldn't tell us that she would have had any more time if given the treatments.
We think we did the right thing in her case.
2006-12-02 18:53:59 · answer #9 · answered by Wags 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The doctors are just giving you all the options then letting you make the decisions. I don't think it's money, they just want you to understand all the options.
Some people will desperately try everything to save a pet (or a person). Many times, all they are doing is making the last part of their life miserable.
I agree she is terminal. Let her be happy at home until she is uncomfortable or in pain. We can only hope someone will do that for us if we are unable to make our wishes known someday.
2006-12-02 18:58:35 · answer #10 · answered by honey 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to do what's best for the cat. Will extending her life really improve it? Cats don't understand quantity of life, they only understand the here-and-now. The cat will be in pain and discomfort; unless that type of cancer has a really good prognosis with chemotherapy, I wouldn't do it. I believe that she'd be happier with just pain meds to make her comfortable, and getting to live out the last few months in peace with family that loves her, rather than getting shuttled from appointment to appointment and forced to endure endless pokes and prods.
That's just my opinion. You need to do what's right for you.
I'm sorry that you are going through all this, and I hope that everything works out for the better...
2006-12-02 18:52:20 · answer #11 · answered by rita_alabama 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋