The success of radiation/chemo/surgery to combat fibrosarcoma in cats

About 4 years ago I took in a beautiful long-haired calico stray and gave her a home.  She was pregnant at that time and I found all of the kittens homes, had her spayed and she has stolen my heart.  The vet thought she was under a year old when I found her, so she is aproximately 5 yrs old.

Late this spring I noticed that she had a HUGE lump in her side.  The bump didn't bother her, but I was advised to have it removed  In late June our regular vet opened her up to remove the bump and to her surprise found a massive tumor that was woven through her body wall.  To try to give my kitty the best chances, my vet removed the tumor and a piece of her muscle tissue (body wall).  Given the circumstances, there is no way that the vet got all of the cancer cells.

Following this, I took her to an animal hospital with an oncology dept.  We opted to give her 4 weeks (20 treatments) of radiation along with chemo (I think she will have 5 chemo treatments total).  Right now we are in our 3rd week of radiation and she has had one chemo treatment thus far.  She is doing excellent.  I don't think she even knows she is sick.  She eats, plays, purrs, and is her usual mischievious-self.

My question is simple.....after going through all of this.....how likely is it that she will live a long normal life?  What will her life-expectancy be?  It seems that the answer I keep getting is that the "average" cat with cancer and these kind of treatments will live another 2 yrs.  While two more years with my little girl, Mungo would be a blessing...it is also really upsetting.....after all she seems so HEALTHY now and she is only FIVE years old.  

Everything I read about fibrosarcoma seems to emphasize how aggressive this type of cancer is.....

As of her oncology consult, her lungs were clean and free of cancer.

Any advice and answers about what I can expect will be most appreciated.  She is my family and I don't know what I would do without her.

Please help!

[opus88]

hi Nicole I am so sorry to hear of Mungo's CA, fibrosarcoma is such a worry with all us pet owners, there are a few on here that have battled this and I do hope they will see you're post and come back with some replies.
She sounds like a fighter and that and her young age will work in her favor.

I will keep searching and see what I can dig up, in the meantime I have a site for you that outlines all the new protocols/research, by the DVMA, CVMA  and AJVR
I'm not sure if it also gives answers as to the life expectancy for you but I hope so.

best of luck to the both of you, please keep posting so we know how she is doing. and we will continue to try and help you with some of you're questions.

BTW forgot to Welcome you to our forum, tho not under the best of circumstances..we cat ppl come here for many reasons, answers, grief support and fellowship, I hope you will stay.

[Sarajmt]

I can't answer your question but just wanted to give you a big pat on the back for going the extra mile for your kitty.  Many of us, myself included, wouldn't financially be able to do that.  I'm so glad someone could.  Please let us know how this comes out.
Sara

[opus88]

nicole, I checked the archives (click on topic at top of this page) and I found one posting with good news. perhaps you could try posting this person (if she has remained current) and get an update....the post she gave was very encouraging.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Cats/Fibro-Sarcoma-question-for-my-cat/show/522242

[Nicolek3]

Thanks to everyone for their nice comments and support for Mungo.  She starts her 4th week of radiation tomorrow and is doing really well thus far.  I'm going to check out the site one of you suggested and thanks to another of you for the link to the positive post from another kitty owner that dealt w/ this horrible cancer.  
My husband, dog, other cat, and surely Mungo thank you all!

[Nicolek3]

I didn't see the website you mentioned in your first post....do you happen to know it?  Thanks so much for all of your help :)

[opus88]

I think I found it again?????

www.geocities.com/~dremersark/protocol.html

move the mouse around each different study...some will click on and lead you to some interesting data others are useless, but Its a start.
keep us updated please.
. heres another site, don't know if I'm repeating myself here or not? I answer so many posts and try to locate the info than I forget who I've sent what to....so if I'm duplicating please forgive.

http://www.vetinfo.com/cencyclopedia/cefibro.html

♥Opus