I was clipping my cat's nails yesterday and noticed a HUGE lump on her nipple and its BRIGHT red; also it had ulcerated(looks like puss and is leaking). I also noticed that it is very tender to the touch. She acts "ok" but she's just been laying around~~still eats... I was kind of just chalking the laying around part to her getting older b/c she wasn't "acting" like she wasn't feeling well. So, needless to say now I'm wondering if I should have noticed this sooner...?
I'm taking her to the vet this afternoon to see if it really is cancer or just a tumor/cyst. If the vet tells me its one of the final stages of cancer, I'm really torn as to what to do... She I put her out of her pain/misery or let her live out her life?
What would you guys do?
2007-09-17 04:41:56 · 9 answers · asked by whatuthink? 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
aside from the one big mass and ulcerations, there are a at least a handful of other smaller bumps in the same area. this is what made me think it was breast cancer... I just don't want my poor cat to suffer, I love her too much for her to have to live like that. As much I as don't want to loose her~~
2007-09-17 05:15:50 · update #1
well, i took her to the vet. she definitely has cancer... malignant... and there is basically no hope for her to get better(couple of weeks tops I was told) And on top of the cancer she has a very concerning mass covering the area in which you should be able to see her heart(in an x-ray)... Needless to say, I was sitting there crying at the vet's not knowing what would be the most humane thing for my poor, sweet kitty!!!!
I brought her home.. With some antibiotics for now... I just couldn't bring myself to put her to sleep.....
I know the time will come when I have to, but that doesn't make it easier.....
2007-09-17 11:26:48 · update #2
Nobody can answer that one for you. Either choice has pros and cons. There are 2 questions you need to ask:
Is her life going to have enough quality if I treat her (or don't treat her for that matter) to make it worth her while to live? If she's miserable and in pain and there's nothing you can do to relieve that - then do you keep her alive to suffer?
Do you have peace about whatever decision you make? If not, put it off a bit. Eventually you'll KNOW what you need to do - even if it's an unhappy choice.
Edited:
I am so sorry to hear it truly is malignant. One thing though, you now know it doesn't matter if you "keep her healthy" so do everything she loves, even if it isn't good for her in the long run. Like, you can feed her frozen yogurt, if she likes it. Or regular yogurt. Actually yogurt would be good for her if she's taking antibiotics. Or little pieces of fish or chicken left from your own dinner. Cuddle her even when she stinks. Do what ever you can to keep her happy. That will make her last days easier for you. And you WILL know when it's time. People tell you that and you think they are crazy, but it's true. There will come a moment when you have peace. In the meantime, know we are thinking of you, and hurting for you.
2007-09-17 04:53:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
My 14 year old cat had breast cancer! It started like you with a lump. I took her to the vet and she was operated! The vet found 2 other lumps while she was operating her and took them out. The operation gave her 1 year more to live and it started again and started having little lumps everywhere. The cancer had spread and I had to let go! It broke my heart because I was really close to her. I cried for two months, I saw her everywhere in the house! It's been a year now and I still think about her alot! I adopted 2 other calicos just like her and I love them as well but they will never replace her! I wish you the best of luck because it is very hard to loose an animal that you love! I really hope for you that it is not cancer!!
2007-09-17 05:12:42 · answer #2 · answered by CTU 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If the lump appeared suddenly, it probably is not cancer. The only way to be sure is to take her to the vet, though. Whatever it is, it needs to be treated before it gets any worse.
The vet will determine what the lump is and how it should be treated. If it is cancer he will help you make the decisions you are worried about. But mammary cancer is not an automatic death sentence in cats (or dogs)...I work at a vet hospital and I have seen cats and dogs live happily for many months, often years, after removal of their mammary tissue for cancer, if they are spayed animals. Mammary cancer is much more dangerous in unspayed females.
Let us know what the vet says.
2007-09-17 05:54:42 · answer #3 · answered by Kayty 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm glad that you're taking your cat to the vet. Don't get all worked up emotionally and decide that your kitty has cancer without having the vet examine her!
She is probably sick - either with an infection or with cancer, or maybe something else. Let the vet do blood tests and maybe a biopsy on the lump before you jump to any conclusion about her condition. Chances are whatever it is, there is treatment available for your kitty.
Be sure to voice all of your concerns to your vet. That way, you will know of all your choices in the treatment of your kitty.
Good luck.
2007-09-17 04:49:58 · answer #4 · answered by Angelica W 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A lot of people have successfully treated cancer, and in my opinion cats deserve the same as humans in regard to being treated for illness and not just "put down," at least not until the end. Many people don't want to bother with the cost of care. It paid off for me when vets said my cat had two weeks to live. With treatment for kidney disease she recovered to be symptom free for two years before she suddenly passed away peacefully. I would go to the cancer yahoo group on yahoogroups to get some advice, but there has been a lot of success there. That said, at the end sometimes it is more peaceful to pts. But at this point it sounds like your cat has few symptoms. I hope it's a minor thing that can be taken care of easily. Take care.
2007-09-17 04:49:06 · answer #5 · answered by boncarles 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm sorry for you. At least you have a few more weeks with her. I had to make the decision right then and there last Wednesday on my Fred who had heart disease, I thought he was breathing hard from an upper respiratory, but no, it was fluid compressing the lungs, filling the chest His was inoperable. It was awful standing there having to say goodbye as they gave him the injection. Then having to go home and tell my sig. other that Fred was gone.
Enjoy the time you have left. Make sure she knows you love her.
2007-09-17 12:14:23 · answer #6 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
2
2017-02-26 00:09:27 · answer #7 · answered by Stewart 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1
2017-02-16 23:13:55 · answer #8 · answered by bliss 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't *sound* like cancer.
By your description it sounds like an abscess that needs to be lanced.
2007-09-17 04:48:58 · answer #9 · answered by chicki 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋