Any have any experience with Extranodal lymphoma

[BellasMums]

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.

[opus88]

I'm so sorry to read this, and for the hard decision you are facing. I have absolutely no experience with this type of cancer so can't comment on that. I have read that most kitties tolerate chemo very well, if it would buy her another good quality year with you than perhaps it's worth a try...see how she's feeling after each treatment hopefully the side effects won't be severe, if they are than I would really reconsider continuing.
Good luck to your Bella and some (( hugs)) for mommy too, post anytime, we may not have the answers but are always here for support. Plz keep us updated, we'd appreciate that.

[BellasMums]

Weve decided to go with chemo. We did some research online (my wife has a  medical background so thankfully can understand a lot of the lingo) and it looks like theres a decent chance with this type of cancer and location that treatment will help. Some studies show that cats that have lived for another 2 years but saying that the remission time varies quite a lot.
I feel like the prednisolone hasnt been working as well as it was previously so we have to do something. So her first session is this Wednesday.. I'm pretty nervous about it. Im hoping side affects arnt too horrendous.
Fingers crossed.

[opus88]

Oops guess I should hv sent the hugs to Bella's daddy as well. Thx so much for letting us know yr decision, even though the replys were few it doesn't represent the thousands of pet owners who are dealing with these same decisions and find medhelp looking for some reassurances. All the posts are read around the world!!
I'm glad for the decision you've made, like I said I've read chemo is tolerated well by most cats and it's certainly worth a go to see how she does with it, especially when given good statistics like you got.
I wish Bella my best wishes and pray too that she'll have many more months of quality time with you both
PLZ keep us posted, I for one will anxiously watch for updates:)

[BellasMums]

Shes got chemo booked in for tomoro. I'll be watching her like a hawk after to see how well she manages.
Her other mum (Bella has 2 mums) and I have decided if shes too miserable then we wont put her thru it.

[opus88]

well I'll get it right yet won't I......lucky Bella to have two mums!!! I can tell she is very well loved.
keep her on a high protien diet, NO meat by-products, NO carbs...such as potatoes or other starchy gravy based foods.  a diet that preferably that has NO grains either, since grains are only cheap fillers and are no nutritional value to a cat.  I would also suggest very highly that her diet be canned foods as opposed to dry foods.....the better her diet, the better she'll be able to rebound from chemo and fight this evil cancer!!!

If the chemo affects her appetite, talk to your Vet abt giving B12 shots to stimulate appetite, she must keep on her food!!!

we sure are pulling for her here too.......♥

[CML2014]

Wow , I have been so busy with HUMAN ills have kinda neglected reading some of our posts. Yours is very interesting, as I sometimes believe my kit may have some type of more severe problem with her nasal cavity than just her colds.

I am assuming this is a form of nasal lymphoma, right?  This is rather rare and hard to find indo on, but it does happen quite a lot. Chemo is a good way to go for now. Just as Opus said you will know if it is right when you see her response to it.

Bella is a very lucky little girl to have such caring parents willing to go to such length's to help her live out a quality life with less pain.

Please keep us posted , Bella's progress will help a lot of people on this forum who may not know what to do for their kit who may have a similar problem. Few of us would think of Extranodal Lymphoma---this is a new one for me I know.

Thank you so much for sharing this experience on this forum, you have given me something (ELSE) to think about.....but then I am a HYPO-CAT-Riac who just looks for problems, LOL1
All my best and prayers to you and Bella
CML

[BellasMums]

Shes at the vet right now so will post tomoro about how shes doing.
Thanks for the info about the food, shes currently on canned wet food as I thought the dry food she was on previously would irritate her throat . Its what they call 'casserole' style , so soft meaty bites in a sauce, but I'm extra paranoid so I smash those bites up for her too.

The cancer is in her throat and had caused it to swell up once before the the point where she was struggling to breathe Thats what kicked all this off.

Bella loves her food so it will be clear if she goes off it - thanks for the info about B12!

[BellasMums]

Hi there,
Bellas lymphoma is actually in her throat, not her nasal cavity.
My understanding is that it causes a swelling but then that swelling closes off her air passage way.

My vet did heaps of xrays to try figure out what was wrong. It was only when they did a biopsy (and according to my vet it was very hard to spot) that they found the cancer. I think we were ' lucky' to find it. My vet did comment that she wondered how many other cats have been misdiagnosed with asthma or something similar...

When we did research ourselves online there wasnt much info about Extranodal lymphoma so hopefully we can be a success story.

FYI, we dont have specialist vets here, we are just with our regular vet

[BellasMums]

Heya,
Bella had to stay the night at the vet as part of her treatment.  Her treatment protocol is COP, a combo of vincristine, cyclophosphamide and pred.

She had the vincristin yesterday and the cyclophosphamide is scheduled for today.
She could have come home last night but she had a line in and an IV of saline going so I thought it would be better for her to stay overnight cos she would have had to keep the cannula in at home and she was walking funny with it in her. Better she stay comfy at the vets where she wont hurt herself.

I spent some time with her there and gave her lots of cuddles. She was really good. Hadnt had any adverse effects. I was so relieved.

My understanding with COP treatment is if she was going to vomit etc she would have done it pretty soon after. The things to look out for are low white cell count and any blood in her pee... tho not sure how we are going to keep an eye on that.

We'll be taking her to the vets for this for the next 2 weeks and then if its all going well she will have treatment every few weeks. Tho I think blood tests need to happen every week.

Hopefully today will go aswell as yesterday. Ive been so wound up about it all this week I just want to have her home.

[opus88]

GREAT NEWS!! I've been anxiously waiting for an update...
so relieved to hear that she tolerated that first treatment as well as she did.

In truth I had to search out the meaning of COP treatment and found an interesting site. I'll include it incase you wish to do some reading..

http://felinelymphoma.org/docs/ChemoProtocols.pdf

So Bella is home now? or does she have to stay tonight as well...I'm confused, but I guess its now morning in NZ? here in Canada its near supper time, so forgive me for the silly question.

get the lightest color clay litter you can find, than you would easily see blood in the urine if it was present in great amount, otherwise I suspect the Vet would have to extract some to test.

give her lots of cuddles and some from me too.....sure rooting for her!!!!

[Piparskeggr]

Good Luck for the treatment giving Bella the best possible outcome.

[CML2014]

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

[opus88]

How is our little Bella doing??? we are all wondering how she is and keeping our fingers crossed for her, let us know okay.....♥

[BellasMums]

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.

[opus88]

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

[CML2014]

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

[BellasMums]

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.

[opus88]

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

[CML2014]

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

[BellasMums]

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.

[BellasMums]

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.

[opus88]

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

[CML2014]

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

[BellasMums]

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