Cancer Discussions - September 1st, 2009 - 7 Comments
Cat diagnosed with oral cancer, how long can I expect to have left with him?
I recently found out that my 10 year old cat was diagnosed with cancer. It was to the stage where he was drooling and bleeding out of his mouth. The vet removed the cancerous tissue, but said they couldn’t give me a estimate of how long. So I was wondering if any one could please tell me how much time they think I have left. Anything will help.
I think that the oral cancer in cats is one of the cruelest and most heartbreaking. My rescue cat Alexander died from it ten months after his diagnosis a year ago. He was treated by a homeopathic veterinarian and his quality of life was excellent throughout and though the tumor grew slowly he did not lose weight nor lose his ability to eat well. He never had a bloody or odoriferous discharge from his mouth. In the last three weeks the tumor "took off" and the vet said it would break his jaw and cause him a lot of suffering so, sadly, I made the choice to euthanize him. He was 17 and I only had him for a year. A wonderful year – he was a great gentleman and a terrific cat.
I don’t think anyone can tell you how long, not even your vet. Just treasure your time with him and face the reality of his end for whatever time there will be.
One of my cats had surgery on his mouth for cancer…it healed up nicely, and she thought she got it all, but it had spread to his lymph system.
Usually when cancer is diagnosed in cats you get maybe 6 months, depending on what kind and where it is and how far along it is. We were able to get a year and a half more with him.
In another cat, we only got 4 months from when the problems showed up to when it reached critical. Hers was by the colon and bladder, though. Not in the mouth.
If your cat is eating and drinking, and not in pain or starting to show the water gain in the body, you’ve got some time yet. But it depends on the cat and where else the cancer is or where it’s spread to. So…..it’s not known how long you have.
My dog had to be put to sleep, because an oral tumor ruptured. This was of course after the misdiagnosed it, biopsied her nose, and gave her a different antibiotic for an infection-since they couldn’t find a tumor. I found it approximately 6 months after they started biopsies and meds. It ruptured the week the gave it the new antibiotic-claiming they weren’t sure if it was the infection or a tumor. How long (since they did remove the tissue), would depend on a lot of factors. If it spread to other areas, such as organs. How bad it was. If they removed all of it. If it caused any damage in that area. Which is why the vet probably can’t tell you when. If he is able to eat, is playing again, and he isn’t bleeding: I would spend time with him. Enjoy him. And hopefully he will be ok for a long time. I am sorry he has oral cancer.
I know what you are going through. my dog was diagnosed with stage 5 lymphoma in november 2008. her prognosis is 8-10 months…but she could die at any time.
honestly…no matter the prognosis, it all depends on how well you take care of her. Give her supplements that build her immune system to help her fight off anything else. keep her away from cleaning products (don’t even let her in the room while you are cleaning). feed her a natural diet. commercial cat and dog foods have so many toxins in them, which means more things she will have to try and fight out of her system.
it’s not always the cancer that kills, it’s organs failing. I have to give my dog liver supplements, because cancer affects the spleen, liver, and kidneys (i haven’t found anything to help her spleen and kidneys yet)
with oral cancer that had already gotten far i would say around 3 yearsmaybe even five the the tissue removed
By the time I discovered my cat Spenser had mouth cancer, it hadn’t gotten to the drooling and bleeding stage yet. I don’t know where your cat’s cancer is, but Spenser’s was under his tongue and he very quickly lost to ability to lap, let alone eat. As his was under his tongue, the vet said it would be impossible to remove any tissue without removing the entire tongue, so I had to let it be, save for a small portion the vet lasered off just to relieve the pressure in his mouth for a while. I tried to force feed him, and hold onto him as long as I could, but he was starving and beginning to choke not able to get breath. From the time I discovered it to the time I couldn’t put him through any more misery was a mere three months, 12 days, and 10 hours. That your cat had cancerous tissue removed might give him extra length because he will be able to eat and breathe better.
Try and put on a good front, because your cat will pick up your stress and sorrow. Treasure the time you have left and spoil him shamelessly. Give him every decadent food you would never normally give a healthy cat. Lavish love. You will never regret it.
I’m so sorry. My Spenser was 11 — way too young for such a wonderful cat, and I am sure you feel the same way.
Can the cat eat normally? I’d keep an eye on how he eats and behaves. If the cats can’t eat, losses weight and is sick i’d consider putting him to sleep to save him from pain. Only time will tell. It seems that the cancer was advanced if the mouth was bleeding and he was drooling. Hopefully, with medicines and good care your cat will be with you for years to come.