My kitty has a tumor :(

[soccerballtux]

She's only ~8 years old.

It's pretty hard; gets denser (whiter) as you get to the center of it (calcified? Never heard of tumors doing this, but what do I know.).

I should have asked to see the X-ray, didn't think of it.

The operation to remove would cost $500; no thanks.

You all have any thoughts? I'm not familiar with methods of determining if it's benign/malignant; thought the doctors were supposed to know.

Aside from feeling it every month and making sure it's not giving her any pain, is there anything else we can do to make sure she's not experiencing pain from it? We had another tortoise shell once and she ended up having tumors all over the place, as well as rampant arthritis.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

They would have to do a biopsy right?
I would set up a payment plan and have it removed.
As for pain, I'm not sure if the tumor would cause pain or just cause problems.

 

[Anubis]

without testing it there really isnt a way to know, if its not giving her any probs i woudl ignore itm if it starts to get to her id have her put down and then get a kitten from the humains society, all that woudl be like 400$ cheaper then removeing it

 

[Capt Caveman]

Where is the tumor located?

My two older dogs have a number of fatty tumors(lympomas) and b/c they're benign and not causing my dogs any discomfort, I'm leaving them on my dogs.

 

[Xavier434]

I was under the impression that they could determine more info about the tumor by using a needle to extract some fluid from it. However, that procedure is very expensive too. I had a cat which recently had cancer. I spent a lot of money to make sure there was nothing I could do to save him since he was only 6 years old and I wanted to extend his life by a lot. After all the money was spent finding out for sure, I still had to put him down. I have no regrets when it comes to the lost money. My pets are a part of my family. I love them like I love my kids. Spending the money may not be worth it for some people but it was worth it for me and I know my cat definitely appreciates it if there is something which could be done to save him.


In any case, I HIGHLY recommend you check out info on pet medical insurance for the future. It is very cheap and can put your mind at ease for all of your future animals at the chance that they develop something serious early in their life or get hurt to the point of requiring surgery. I use The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) as my provider. I chose them because they actually care and they are affordable. The plan I chose is the Primary Plan because it is covers enough to assure me that 80% of anything major and unexpected will be covered. While you will not be able to use this on your current cat since the cancer is a pre-existing illness, it is perfect for future pets or pets that you currently have without an illness. Even if the cost of the insurance adds up to not justifying the need over many years, at least you can spend all of those years without having to worry which is one of the main things that I am paying for when I put my younger pets on it.

ASPCA Insurance

 

[Capt Caveman]

OP - are they not able to aspirate the lump to determine if it's benign/malignant?

 

[OdiN]

I once had a cat which was hit by a car - broken leg - my mom took it to the vet. It cost us $600 to have him all fixed up. He got hit again a month later and died.

 

[1sikbITCH]

Originally posted by: soccerballtux
She's only ~8 years old.

It's pretty hard; gets denser (whiter) as you get to the center of it (calcified? Never heard of tumors doing this, but what do I know.).

I should have asked to see the X-ray, didn't think of it.

The operation to remove would cost $500; no thanks.

You all have any thoughts? I'm not familiar with methods of determining if it's benign/malignant; thought the doctors were supposed to know.

Aside from feeling it every month and making sure it's not giving her any pain, is there anything else we can do to make sure she's not experiencing pain from it? We had another tortoise shell once and she ended up having tumors all over the place, as well as rampant arthritis.

When I met my wife she had 9 cats and they all died within a 5 year period. We've had several dogs since then (no more freaking cats) and it's the same for both.

If the animal is eating, playful, and gets around ok, it is still enjoying at least a semblance of a decent quality of life.

Once it is no longer is interested in eating or playing, and for cats a big tell is when it doesn't want you to touch it anymore, it's time to put it down.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: OdiN
I once had a cat which was hit by a car - broken leg - my mom took it to the vet. It cost us $600 to have him all fixed up. He got hit again a month later and died.

sounds like that cat was on a mission.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Well, I'm willing to do anything by my means to ensure that my pets have an enjoyable life. One of my dogs was diagnosed with cancer at 10 months old. An veterinarian oncology specialist didn't think she'd live past five. Well, after surgery and a round of chemotherapy she'll be ten years old in February and still has the spunk of a puppy, though she tires fairly quickly.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
Well, I'm willing to do anything by my means to ensure that my pets have an enjoyable life. One of my dogs was diagnosed with cancer at 10 months old. An veterinarian oncology specialist didn't think she'd live past five. Well, after surgery and a round of chemotherapy she'll be ten years old in February and still has the spunk of a puppy, though she tires fairly quickly.

Cheers to happy endings :beer:

 

[lokiju]

We had a cat a few years ago that we had for 15 years and he kept devolving tumors between his shoulder blades basically.

We had it removed 3 times and it took a lot out of him each time but each time he recovered then it came back the 4th time (this all took place over a span of a few years) and he was just getting to old and there was no way he could have made it through another one and sadly we had to put him down

I still miss him from time to time, we got him when I was maybe 8 years old and he was my family member.

I've never cried when someone I've known has died or when I've been to a funeral but I cried like a baby the day we had to put him to sleep


Everyone is entitled to their own opinions but to me $500 is a very small price to pay for the well being (or attempt at) for my animals.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: OdiN
I once had a cat which was hit by a car - broken leg - my mom took it to the vet. It cost us $600 to have him all fixed up. He got hit again a month later and died.

sounds like that cat was on a mission.

More like a parent that sends their toddler to roam the neighborhood.

Anyway...a vet should be able to tell if it's malignant if you warrant the testing. They should also be able to tell you 'ballpark' if it's worth testing or just remove or not.

Animal insurance is also not really a good investment yet. They don't really cover the needed things if you aren't willing to shell out bucks and most I found that elected insurance get pissed off what they don't cover and choose selfishly.

 

[Jadow]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
They would have to do a biopsy right?
I would set up a payment plan and have it removed.
As for pain, I'm not sure if the tumor would cause pain or just cause problems.

It's a cat, not worth $500. Just do your best to make it comfortable and if the cat appears to be in pain or discomfort, put it to sleep. That's what you do with pets.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: OdiN
I once had a cat which was hit by a car - broken leg - my mom took it to the vet. It cost us $600 to have him all fixed up. He got hit again a month later and died.

sounds like that cat was on a mission.

Car hit him the first time. After he was taken to the magical human doctors, he was good as new. Cat winds up thinking, "Aw sweet, I'm invincible!!!"

 

[XZeroII]

I'm sorry to hear that.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: OdiN
I once had a cat which was hit by a car - broken leg - my mom took it to the vet. It cost us $600 to have him all fixed up. He got hit again a month later and died.

sounds like that cat was on a mission.

More like a parent that sends their toddler to roam the neighborhood.

Anyway...a vet should be able to tell if it's malignant if you warrant the testing. They should also be able to tell you 'ballpark' if it's worth testing or just remove or not.

Animal insurance is also not really a good investment yet. They don't really cover the needed things if you aren't willing to shell out bucks and most I found that elected insurance get pissed off what they don't cover and choose selfishly.

Better than one who cages up their kid and doesn't let them leave. Fucking moron.

We lived in the middle of cotton fields way the hell out in the middle of nowhere. Our cats roamed as they pleased - hunting gophers and field mice and having a good time. There was very little traffic, but there was of course traffic out there. And if you know anything about cats, you would know that they always think they can beat cars when they run across the road. I would rather let the cats have a better life able to run around in a large open space than keep them caged up in a house. GFY.

Out of probably a good 15 cats over the years, this one was the only one which was ever hit.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Jadow

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
They would have to do a biopsy right?
I would set up a payment plan and have it removed.
As for pain, I'm not sure if the tumor would cause pain or just cause problems.

It's a cat, not worth $500. Just do your best to make it comfortable and if the cat appears to be in pain or discomfort, put it to sleep. That's what the poor do with pets.

Fixed, hope you never reproduce.

 

[Blieb]

Originally posted by: Jadow
It's a cat, not worth $500. Just do your best to make it comfortable and if the cat appears to be in pain or discomfort, put it to sleep. That's what you do with pets.

You're a winner.

We just spent a fortune on Mogli. In the end, we couldn't save him. It wasn't about the $.

$500 is a drop in the bucket. Use a few bucks from your tax return ... Get them to clean your cats teeth while she's under for the operation.

 

[NanoStuff]

Originally posted by: Jadow
It's a cat, not worth $500. Just do your best to make it comfortable and if the cat appears to be in pain or discomfort, put it to sleep. That's what you do with pets.

I would pay $500 to save a cat over you. If a cat isn't worth $500, you must be penny candy.

 

[JohnCU]

i'd pay 5 grand to save my cat, she's no different than any other family member to me.

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: Jadow

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
They would have to do a biopsy right?
I would set up a payment plan and have it removed.
As for pain, I'm not sure if the tumor would cause pain or just cause problems.

It's a cat, not worth $500. Just do your best to make it comfortable and if the cat appears to be in pain or discomfort, put it to sleep. That's what you do with pets.

I consider our cat a member of our family and we don't judge the "worth"" of family members in dollars and cents.

 

[Throckmorton]

It's not a tumah

 

[Throckmorton]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe

Originally posted by: Jadow

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
They would have to do a biopsy right?
I would set up a payment plan and have it removed.
As for pain, I'm not sure if the tumor would cause pain or just cause problems.

It's a cat, not worth $500. Just do your best to make it comfortable and if the cat appears to be in pain or discomfort, put it to sleep. That's what you do with pets.

I consider our cat a member of our family and we don't judge the "worth"" of family members in dollars and cents.

Would you pay $100,000 to save your cat?

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton

Originally posted by: Geekbabe

Originally posted by: Jadow

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem
They would have to do a biopsy right?
I would set up a payment plan and have it removed.
As for pain, I'm not sure if the tumor would cause pain or just cause problems.

It's a cat, not worth $500. Just do your best to make it comfortable and if the cat appears to be in pain or discomfort, put it to sleep. That's what you do with pets.

I consider our cat a member of our family and we don't judge the "worth"" of family members in dollars and cents.

Would you pay $100,000 to save your cat?

would you pay $100,000 to save your mom?