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11903618 tn?1422227666

Any have any experience with Extranodal lymphoma

Hi all,
My cat Bella has just been diagnosed with extranodal lymphoma.
A few months ago she sounded quite wheezy and had trouble breathing so we took her to the vets.
Her xrays showed her passage way was swollen but bloods came back clear and they couldnt figure out what the problem was but they put her on prednisolone which seemed to sort it all out. This happened 2 more times over a few months and she has been on prednisolone every day.This week she was well enough to put a scope down her to have a look and do a biopsy and its come back with extranodal lymphoma.

Our vet says its in too dangerous a place for surgery and that we can continue with the prednisolone and she may have a few months or we can try chemo which could give her up to a year. But they cant tell if theres cancer anywhere else.


Bella is about 7, and on the pred she's behaving like a perfectly healthy cat.

Does anyone have any experience with this type of cancer? We are devastated with the news and want to make the best decision for our cat. We want to give her her best shot but dont want to put her thru misery without any real benefit.
34 Responses
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874521 tn?1424116797
that is awesome news about our dear little Bella....I am so over the moon happy for her and for you too....keep us updated, I think of you both often :))
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I would just like to thank you all for all your comments and messages I feel a lot better I adopted a baby kitten treated like a baby bottle fed have to go pee pee in pool she had an accident and was hit buy a refrigerator door she is hardly eating and is getting Little seizures any suggestions
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Take her to the vet.
11903618 tn?1422227666
HOORAY all around then!!
Helpful - 0
506791 tn?1439842983
Hoo Ray!!!!

I am going through chemo, too and my recent CT scan came back clear.
Helpful - 0
11903618 tn?1422227666
Hi all,
just letting you know we've had some wonderful news that Bella is cancer free and in remission.
We had been wondering about her progress for a while and opted to go for a CT scan - it cost as much as a month of chemo so thought it was worthwhile to check and see if she could stop. The scans came back clear!

Shes going to have her annual vaccinations today and then we are finally letting her outside... her first time since Feb!
We cant wait!!
thanks so much for all your good thoughts and wishes!!
BellasMums
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
thank you so much for updating us...poor little Bella is dealing with alot right now, perhaps the chemo was too aggressive? if the white count continues to be low I really like to see her Vet decide to wait awhile and give her some time to recoup a bit before continuing.
What a little trouper....yes my fingers are indeed crossed, I am hoping and praying those xrays show some very positive results...
keep us posted♥
Helpful - 0
506791 tn?1439842983
My thoughts with you and Bella.
Helpful - 0
11903618 tn?1422227666
HI,
just a short update. The chemo is taking a bit of a toll on Bella. Her hair around her face has thinned out quite a bit and after one session of chemo she lost all her fur around a patch on her mouth/nose. It was totally bare.
Its grown back around there thankfully but she does have a few worn bits.

Her tummy has been a bit off for a few weeks and only now getting settled. Her white count has been a bit low but not dangerously so .. Im concerned as shes due for chemo this week. If her white count is too low they wont proceed. They are also going to do an xray this week to see how the cancer is doing.

fingers crossed for my battler.
Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
YAY to Bella and her Mom!!!!

Great job! You have done your best for Bella No wonder she is happy to be an indoor cat only cat. She knows where she has it good!!
Please keep us posted and thanks for the update.
CML
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
Thank you so much for that update.....I am soooo happy to hear how well Bella is doing, thats just awesome news!!!!
I sure do have my fingers crossed that the tumor is being reduced, keep us informed...we are all rooting for this little girl:))))
Helpful - 0
11903618 tn?1422227666
HI all,
just an update. Bella is doing really well. She's been able to have her regular chemo sessions cos her white blood cell count has been pretty good. Our vet says shes the poster child for chemo.

We dont know if its reducing the cancer but she hasnt had any breathing issues.  I dont think we will know until she has an MIR. But for now its not worth putting her through or us paying for an MRI to see if its reduced until the course is over.

So far so good.. and she seems relatively happy being an indoors cat. On her chemo weeks shes can get a bit down but bounce back in a few days after.

fingers crossed it all continues.

cheers
Rashne
Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
Love hearing this kind of good news. She is going to be fine being indoor only. Cats realize their own limitations, and she knows she is in a weakened condition and not in fighting shape.

As long as she has you , your love, and wonderful care --well that all she really needs.

YAY BELLA!!!

Stay in tough, please.
CML
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
Oh thk you for the update, really appreciate it:) especially when it's good news, give her a big hug from me and my fur kids.....we are rooting for you sweet Bella
Helpful - 0
11903618 tn?1422227666
hello,
just an update. Everything seems to be going well. Bella has chemo ever 3rd week but blood tests weekly. The break makes a huge difference in her white blood cell count and she recovers well.
Shes still not allowed outside but has seemed to adjust to being an indoor cat. She doesnt eat as much as she did before or play as much but if you didnt know she had cancer youd never realise.

So far so good.
Helpful - 0
11903618 tn?1422227666
Hiya
Shes seems a bit more energetic today. We gave her some roast chicken last night and this morning and she seemed to enjoy it. We seem to be trying a new food every week to get her to eat. Last week it was human version Tuna in spring water.  
Shes due for chemo again on Thursday and from then on only has it every 3rd week.. tho blood tests weekly.
Her blood tests thus far have been pretty good. The vet has asked me to record her sleeping breathing rate. Last week she had an average of about mid 30s but a typical healthy cat is around 2- 30ish, low 20s is better. Saying that we dont know whats normal for Bella or whats normal for a cat going thru chemo but its def something to keep an eye on.
Hopefully this week goes well so she can enjoy a bit of a break.


Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
HI Mum,

Chemo is so very tough on the body for humans , so think how hard this is for a little kit. I am sure Bella is just feeling the effects of the chemo and there re many. She is not interacting with the other cats because her energy is zapped and could not keep up with them.

She needs to be YOUR special girl for now. As long as she knows you are there to comfort her and love her she will get through this. You are her playmate for now.

Ya know it is funny how cats--all animals actually--can sense weakness in other   animals, and will sometimes pick on them. Bella probably just does not want them to sense that weakness right now until she is a little bit stronger.

Bella is in the best hands--yours, and she is very lucky to have your love and caring. Hang in there mum.

....and keep us posted on her progress.

Sincerely all the best to Bella,
CML
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
Thx for the update, I understand yr concerns....if only they could tell us how they were feeling and what they wanted eh. But like with children we parents have to just watch for even the smallest of changes, good as well as bad ones. She is probably feeling nauseous, just as people going through chemo do, speak to yr Vet abt an anti nausea med. not sure what's avail but  I know there are some.
Perhaps the dosage is also a bit stronge for her and needs to be tweaked, you and yr Vet need to monitor her closely and treat the issues as they arise in order to make this as well tolerated as possible
Keeping my fingers crossed for this little sweetheart xoxoxo
Helpful - 0
11903618 tn?1422227666
hi all,
Chemo seems to be going ok though I have some concerns. Bella's interest in food has waned and she doesnt seem interested in interacting with our other cats.
Shes not really the cat she was before, I'm not sure how much being kept inside plays a part of it but it i think it is definitely affecting her.

Im quite torn. I want her to be well but not miserable.
Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
Hi MUm,

Bella's chemo care can be put in a credit card called CareCredit. Ask if your vet takes this, he should. This will allow you to pay each month part of the total with NO interest......but lets just hope the first quote was the one you will be working with.

Sounds like Bella is in good hands. We love to hear about our kits, so please keep us posted.

Thanks
CML
Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
great to hear that she is tolerating the chemo so well...I hope the appetite part can be sorted out and is just temporary.

and I sure do hope you get the costs sorted out too...that certainly would be a concern if the costs were 4x higher than expected. sure hope not

she'll do just fine on a leash and harness....just takes some getting used to. I've used this system for 9 years now for my one boy. now I've gotten a new kitten that will have to be trained too in the spring

keep us posted on what the Vet says...etc. good luck on all fronts
Helpful - 0
11903618 tn?1422227666
HI all,
Bella seems to be doing ok. It took her a day to settle after being at the vets but is relatively happy now.. until we take her for the day this Wed I suppose.

I think the worst part for her is that she has to stay inside until her treatment (25weeks) is over becos of a reduced white cell count. If she got in to scrap with another cat and got an infection it could be very serious. We have other cats so she gazes quite sadly out the window.

We've bought a harness and extendable leash and all sorts of toys and trying to keep her entertained as much as possible. Shes not loving the leash but at least this way she get to spend some time outside in the sun.
I also  think shes not eating as well as she normally does so I'll mention this to the vet tomoro.

I'm giving her Pred everyday by syringe (it doesnt taste horrible) but shes not too happy with that lately too. She tries to swat it away from her mouth and a little of the pred always ends up on the carpet..so shes getting a tiny bit less than she should. This is also something I'll discuss with my vet.

For my part I'm a bit concerned that the price my vet quoted for a  month of treatment was what I paid last week alone.. We can manage the $ she told us but 4 times that much will be a stuggle. Hopefully we can resolve all this tomoro.

Thanks for all your concern, it means a lot. Bella will have a full blood check tomoro and every week for hopefully her outside behaviour matches her insides.

Helpful - 0
874521 tn?1424116797
How is our little Bella doing??? we are all wondering how she is and keeping our fingers crossed for her, let us know okay.....♥
Helpful - 0
7052683 tn?1392938795
WELL YAY TO THE "BELLA"!!!

As you can see many are keeping her in their thoughts and prayers --her moms too!

Keep us updated if you can, Thanks
CML
Helpful - 0
506791 tn?1439842983
Good Luck for the treatment giving Bella the best possible outcome.
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