Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Philip on August 02, 2010, 18:21:45 PM

Title: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Philip on August 02, 2010, 18:21:45 PM
I found one of Delphi's mammary glands to be swollen last night and found a small lump.

It wasn't there two weeks ago when I gave her a bath.

The vet suspects its a tumour. I have just done some research and it appears around 80% of feline mammary tumours are malignant. but if the tumour size is 2cm or less at time of excision, that the prognosis is good and there is a possible survival time of up to 4 years. I have just measured the lump as being just under 2cm at it widest point.

So she is going back on Friday for xrays and surgery. Although if the xrays show metastases (lung most likely), I will have the lump removed as it could ulcerate and is small at the moment and then allow her to live the rest of her days with lots of love and fussing.

Right now she looks like she is enjoying life and isn't suffering so I feel I'm making the right decision. She is eating well again and  I'm hoping I have detected it early enough.

So please send lots of healing purrs and vibes for Delphi.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Janeyk on August 02, 2010, 18:36:58 PM
Poor girl, ishe eating any better now?

I'll keep everything crossed for her Philip  :hug:

Best of luck for Friday xx

Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Philip on August 02, 2010, 18:42:52 PM
Yes she is eating better at the moment and showing signs that she wants to live.

I'm hoping the blip in her appetite was down to the heat.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Janeyk on August 02, 2010, 19:55:48 PM
That's good, yep hopefully was the heat as many cats don't eat much when it's hot like it was.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: sheryl on August 02, 2010, 21:19:30 PM
Sending lots of love and positive vibes for beautiful Delphi - so glad that she is eating again x

Big  :hug: for you Philip and I will be keeping everything crossed on Friday x
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Kay and Penny on August 02, 2010, 21:29:14 PM
I do hope the suspect tumour will also turn out to be a blip, after suitable treatment

 
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: ianthi on August 02, 2010, 23:52:48 PM

Just to let you know my cat some years ago had a mammary lump some years ago, which turned out to be just that!

Best of luck with it and hope Delphi's is the same!

PS   I couldn't imagine being able to give any of mine a bath!
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on August 03, 2010, 08:09:30 AM
Fingers crossed for her,  - I would rethink putting her through an op if it has spread to her lungs though (unless that was a typo), as once it has spread to the lungs, the prognosis is very bleak, and you could be putting her through the pain of an op and the subsequent recovery for very little. Have you read the article I wrote about mammary cancer, I am sure it is a sticky in this section?
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Kirst on August 03, 2010, 10:00:47 AM
Sending lots of vibes for Delphi xxxx
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Liz on August 03, 2010, 12:54:36 PM
We have all paws crossed here at teh Clan for Delphi and our rescue raggie Minmin sends lots of purrsxx
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Dawn F on August 03, 2010, 17:55:05 PM
fingers crossed for lovely delphi
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Philip on August 03, 2010, 23:17:22 PM
Thanks.  :hug:

Just taking things one day at a time right now.

Giving her lots of love and cuddles at the moment.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Zenith (Liz) on August 04, 2010, 09:57:59 AM
I hope she's ok Philip  :hug:

My beautiful girl had lumps appear all over her belly and the vet thought they were mammary cancer.  She was 16 when she went in for an operation to remove them and was fine after, they were just cysts fatty lumps.  She lived till she was 19 years old!
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Teresa Pawcats on August 04, 2010, 10:23:22 AM
I actually watched my vet operate on 2 of my rescues 17year old hyper T Devon Rex brothers Ainsley and Jenson, several lumps were removed and those wonderful boys recovered so quickly it was unbelievable.

Philip sometimes having nursing experience/ too much knowledge can do us more harm than good as we worry too much  :hug:
Hoping Delphi will be just fine.


Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Philip on August 05, 2010, 00:09:02 AM
Well... after trying several different foods this morning to no avail and leaving for work feeling the world was on my shoulders I came home tonight and decided to cook madam some cod.

To my utter amazement madam ran up to said cod and devoured a bowl and a half full.

Then decided to purr loudly and ask for tummy tickles.

I guess I have to savour moments like this. I may not have many more.

Do you ever have moments when you look into the eyes of a cat and feel this warmth coming back at you. Its moments like this that I will miss with Delphi when she's gone.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Janeyk on August 05, 2010, 07:18:45 AM
So glad she enjoyed her cod  ;D that's great news!
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Philip on August 05, 2010, 22:59:06 PM
Well Delphi didn't eat as much as I would want as her last meal before the anaesthetic tomorrow.

I'm on a night shift so have to go home in the morning to pick her up.

Really hoping the xrays are ok.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Janeyk on August 05, 2010, 23:06:38 PM
Best of luck for tomorrow xx
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: clarenmax on August 06, 2010, 11:04:39 AM
Hope all goes well  :hug:
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour - She's home
Post by: Philip on August 06, 2010, 18:31:30 PM
Got home with the lovely Delphi.

Her chest xray was completely clear  ;D. She has had a radical mastectomy - all the teats on the affected side have been removed as they are all supplied by the same part of the lymphatic system.

There was a lot of blood around the mass but its gone. Have to await the pathology results now.

When they brought her out to me she was so bright and when I got her in the car she was purring and there were lots of chin rubs against the carrier door.

She has just eaten two bowls of cod and most of a bowl of dry food.

She just seems so much happier again. Its like I have brought a different cat home right now.

I cant thank my vet enough. I have been so torn about whether or not to go ahead with all this but I know I have done the right thing.

She wasn't showing any signs of wanting to give up so I wasn't going to give up on her.

I am so pleased.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Janeyk on August 06, 2010, 18:35:13 PM
 ;D great news! so pleased, and that she's filled her tum too.

Giver her a big hug from me  :hug: and best of luck with results.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Philip on August 06, 2010, 19:54:11 PM
She seems so happy.

I want some of what she's had.  :rofl:
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Dawn F on August 08, 2010, 10:37:54 AM
she certainly looks well!  hope the tests come back soon
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: clarenmax on August 08, 2010, 21:38:17 PM
 :Luv2: :Luv2: :Luv2: :Luv2:
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Philip on August 12, 2010, 22:46:21 PM
Just a little update.

Delphi continues to be doing ok. She's eating what I feel is enough for her needs and appears content.

Just hoping it continues now.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Janeyk on August 13, 2010, 07:09:35 AM
 ;D Fingers crossed xx
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: clarenmax on August 13, 2010, 09:15:58 AM
;D Fingers crossed xx

Me too  :hug:  ;D
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on August 14, 2010, 16:45:16 PM
So pleased her chest x-ray was clear, good luck for the biopsy results. Pleased she has got through the op so well.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: puggy1975 Zoe on August 14, 2010, 17:11:28 PM
So pleased things are looking up for Delphi and the op went well.  she looks so relaxed lying upside down  :Luv2: :Luv2: what a lovely cat

Zoe
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Philip on August 17, 2010, 12:43:47 PM
Have got pathology results back.

The lump was malignant and a particularly aggressive carcinoma.

The good news is that there was a margin of normal tissue around the tumour so the whole tumour was removed.

Also, the lymph tissue that was removed showed no evidence of infiltration of cancerous cells which suggests there hasn't been any migration to the lungs. This doesn't mean that there are no secondaries, but hopefully means it is less likely and was caught in time.

So time will tell to see if there are any further signs of other malignancies.

If I hadn't had it removed though, I know that Dephi probably wouldn't be here anymore.

So hopefully its good news.

 :crossed:
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Michelle (furbabystar) on August 17, 2010, 13:09:54 PM
Thank goodness it was caught in time
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Janeyk on August 17, 2010, 19:25:29 PM
Glad that it was caught so soon, sending love and hugs for her  :hug:
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Kay and Penny on August 17, 2010, 19:30:22 PM
so glad to hear the good news, and let us hope that is the last of it

and well done you for spotting it so soon
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on August 17, 2010, 23:02:59 PM
Pleased it was caught in time, give Delphi a gentle :care: from me and the boys
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on August 17, 2010, 23:20:57 PM
Sending lots of cuddles to Delphi and hope that all the dangerous stuff is gone  :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: clarenmax on August 18, 2010, 08:54:57 AM
Glad you caught this so early  :hug: :hug: lots of healing hugs to Delphi too  :hug:
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Shiroi-Neko on August 18, 2010, 15:12:50 PM
I am glad it has been caught in good time, wish you and Delphi the best  :hug:
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Philip on August 21, 2010, 14:30:10 PM
Delphi continues to be doing fairly well.

Weight is up from 2.55kg to 2.68kg.

Sadly madam has developed loose stools at present. I had put it down to possible effects of the antibiotics but they have been stopped for a few days now. So hopefully that will settle down.

I must post a picture of her playing with the cat fishing rod toy I have. Its hilarious.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Dawn F on August 23, 2010, 17:49:52 PM
glad she is putting on weight
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Janeyk on August 23, 2010, 17:57:05 PM
Really glad to hear this, like you say probably is the abs. 

Good to hear she's playing too  ;D
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Philip on August 24, 2010, 02:13:44 AM
Her weight is now 2.71kg.

 :Luv:
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Janeyk on August 24, 2010, 06:59:49 AM
 ;D
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: clarenmax on August 24, 2010, 09:38:49 AM
 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: alisonandarchie on August 24, 2010, 21:41:52 PM
Great news and hope Delphi continues to make good progress ;D
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Philip on September 01, 2010, 22:00:53 PM
Delphi has gone downhill over the last couple of days.

She isn't eating enough and has really runny diarrhoea.

So another visit to the vets tomorrow morning.

I have to admit to starting to feel emotionally drained with all the ups and downs lately.

Have given her subcutaneous fluids today to try and give her a boost.

She is still playful and enjoys a good fuss and she isn't hiding away so I don't feel its time just yet to make any decisions. I guess I will have to wait and see. I'm hoping she may have a tunny bug due to going through the op and maybe that can be treated.

When I prepare her food she jumps down and meows like she's interested but only eats a few mouthfulls.

Her weight is down from 2.71kg to 2.62kg.

Please send healing purrs and hugs this way.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Janeyk on September 02, 2010, 06:47:19 AM
Are the others ok Philip?

I wonder whether she has a food allergy?  it's odd that she keeps going like this, I hope that she starts to eat again soon, the good thing is that she seems ok on herself.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: alisonandarchie on September 02, 2010, 07:31:40 AM
All the best at the vets and sending healing thoughts :hug:
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on September 02, 2010, 08:07:12 AM
Good luck and hope it is something simple
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: clarenmax on September 02, 2010, 09:27:19 AM
Hope all goes well at the vets and its just something simple like a tummy upset  :hug:
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Philip on September 02, 2010, 23:17:44 PM
Thanks all.

The others are fine.

Vet agrees with me that she probably has a tummy upset. It was a big op.

I have been feeding her cod and my vet has told me that it isn't good to keep a cat on just fish for a long time as it contains a substance that isn't good for cats. I need to find out more about that. I should have asked, but I had just finished a night shift that ended with a cardiac arrest with me intubating the patient and then doing a few rounds of cardiac compressions so felt a little tired so I forgot to ask.

So she's in a nother course of antibiotics and probiotics and I'm going to give her 50ml of subcutaneous fluids daily.

She is a little brighter this evening.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Sootyca on September 03, 2010, 09:36:50 AM
Hope Delphi is feeling better soon and starts pulling through this.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Philip on November 25, 2010, 21:40:32 PM
Well Delphi is still with me and seems content.

Her weight fluctuates, but remains stable.

With the cold weather she is getting a runny nose so sometimes she doesn't want to eat, but she appears happy.

So I hope she will be here for Christmas. That would be a nice present.
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Dawn F on November 26, 2010, 08:56:58 AM
I was only thinking about her last night, glad she is doing well
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: madamcat (Edd) on November 26, 2010, 16:32:06 PM
Good to hear that your beautiful Delphi is doing well  :hug:
Title: Re: Delphi has a suspected mammary tumour
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on November 26, 2010, 19:12:37 PM
So pleased Delphi is doing well  :hug: :hug: