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Radiation for cat with tumour

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  • 20-07-2011 2:13pm
    #1
    laney1979xxx
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭


    Sorry if im posting this in the wrong thread. the vet opened my cat up today and could not operate due to the size of the tumour in his stomach. Does anyone know where in dublin i can enquire about radiotheraphy? does anyone know if it could be sucessfull to possible shrink a tumour enough so it can then be operated on? any info is appriciated.

    Thanks

    Elaine


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    #2
    robinph
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,086 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    Moved from Long Term Illness


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    #3
    RealEstateRant
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭RealEstateRant


    laney1979xxx wrote: »
    Sorry if im posting this in the wrong thread. the vet opened my cat up today and could not operate due to the size of the tumour in his stomach. Does anyone know where in dublin i can enquire about radiotheraphy? does anyone know if it could be sucessfull to possible shrink a tumour enough so it can then be operated on? any info is appriciated.

    Thanks

    Elaine

    Hi Elaine,

    As a cat owner, i'm sorry to hear your news. I'm not a vet but am in the medical end of things and radiotherapy would probably be your cats best chances at prolonging survival. I would recommend contacting the dspca and finding out what your options are from them. In humans, radiotherapy can shrink a tumour considerably to the point that they can then be operated but every tumour is different and you won't know until you try. Best of luck


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    #4
    Zapperzy
    Registered Users Posts: 2,524 ✭✭✭Zapperzy


    Sorry to hear about your cat, you must be devastated. Did your vet discuss any other options with you at all? Did he recommend any specialists he could refer you to? If not I would go back and ask him what your options are now. And if your not happy then go elsewhere for a second opinion.


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    #5
    scaryfairy
    Registered Users Posts: 388 ✭✭scaryfairy


    hi

    very sorry to hear about your cat.

    When our vet could not help our cat anymore we were referred to the UCD Veterinary Hospital - I do not see radiotherapy among their services but I would think that they must be the best equipped to deal with these sort of things in Ireland.

    NB: your vet has to facilitate the referral (ie. fill out referral form, send test results etc). When we were dealing with this, we were given an appointment 6 days later so if this is what you want to do, would be worth acting on it soon...


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    #6
    laney1979xxx
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭laney1979xxx


    Thanks so much for the feedback guys. The vet said its not even the size of the tumour...its the areas it has spead to. At the moment she has started him on steroids. I dont want to prolong it where it gets to the point where he is suffering but im willing to try anything to try and get him better. I know cancer cannot be cured but i just keep hoping for a miracle. Id be so heartbroken if we lost him :(. I think ill do a bit of research on radiation fo it. so far the vet has been surprised at how well he is doing and that he is still eating. hes a little fighter :) thanks again for your comments x x x


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    #7
    doctor evil
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,114 ✭✭✭doctor evil


    No offence to you laney1979xxx I'm sure you love your guy very much but would it be fair to put him through it?

    I mean humans can understand the effects of it and can look to long term goals but pets don't, they are in the here and now.

    Is he a very old cat?


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    #8
    laney1979xxx
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭laney1979xxx


    No offence taken :) hes 7 years old. I hear what your saying, im just looking into it thats all. At the moment were just seeing how he gets on with the steriods. if i see any signs at all that hes in pain or suffering i will do the right thing and get him put to sleep but for now im just hoping and praying. Hes a strong little fella and the vet was really surprised by him still eating and how alert he was after she opened him up to look at the tumour. i guess im just trying to see what my options are for him. i wouldnt put him through any unnessicary stress though. Its horibble knowing hes only 7 years old. when i got my last cat put to sleep 7 years ago he was 13 years old so i knew i could not let him go on being sick. its heartbreaking though when a pet is sick x x


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    #9
    Discodog
    Registered Users Posts: 15,849 ✭✭✭✭Discodog


    I suspect that UCD are the only option. If there is anyone else in Ireland offering it then they will know. There is some good information here but not for Ireland:

    http://www.liv.ac.uk/sath/services/radiotherapy.htm

    Regrettably I suspect that radiotherapy would be very expensive.


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