Talk Cancer

Question:

Hello all, been a while since I have been here. I would like some advice, please. My mother’s cat has just been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth, and the vet told us there is nothing he can do for her. The tumor is in her lower front jaw, next to the "canine" tooth. My question is, how long will it be (approximate) before she is in pain? When that time comes, we will have to make a terrible decision, one that will devastate Mom. Help, please, in order to help her I need some idea? Thanks so much….Sherry

Sherry, I am sorry about your mother’s cat.  Squamous cell carcinomas are the most common type of malignant oral tumors in cats.  Older cats tend to be more prone to squamous cell than younger ones.  Sadly, the prognosis is almost always poor unless the cancer is diagnosed early (even then, the prognosis for cats is not real great).  Possible treatments include resection/removal of the tumor, radiation therapy (unlikely if the vet believes prognosis is poor), and supportive therapies.  In cats, oral carcinomas have a high rate of reoccurrence, which may impact what treatments your vet recommends. I have personal experience with this condition.  Megan was 17 when she was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma.  It was in her gum, in a similar place as it is in your mother’s cat.  (Oral squamous cell carcinomas commonly occur in the gum line in cats.)  I remember how gaping and angry her ulcerated tumor looked.  To me it seemed like it appeared over night; I know that’s not true, but I remember thinking, "When did this happen?"  Megan’s prognosis was poor.  As much of the tumor as could be was excised, but it was not possible to remove all of it.  Her other treatments were supportive. Lucky for me, Megan decided to be a cat who wanted to be with me when she was sick, rather than hiding.  She slept on my pillow plastered against my head night after night.  She hadn’t done that since she was a kitten.  We immediately switched from dry food to canned food.  Baby food (e.g., turkey 2d foods) was next, followed by "if you’ll eat it, I’ll give it to you."  The baby food bought her some time; she would have quit eating completely but for the baby food. Eventually, though, Megan stopped eating much of anything.  Between that and her overall appearance and changes in behavior, I knew it was time.  I have always been thankful that the right time was obvious to me.  I never felt I waited too long or acted too soon.  I stayed with Megan while she was euthanized and watched a wonderful, dear friend slip away.  While you should not compare your mother’s cat with Megan (meaning, we have no way of knowing how the medical situations are alike and different), I am sorry to say that only one month elapsed between diagnosis and Megan’s death. I will be thinking of you.  Please keep us posted.  Susan

Response:

Hello all, been a while since I have been here. I would like some advice, please. My mother’s cat has just been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth, and the vet told us there is nothing he can do for her. The tumor is in her lower front jaw, next to the "canine" tooth. My question is, how long will it be (approximate) before she is in pain? When that time comes, we will have to make a terrible decision, one that will devastate Mom. Help, please, in order to help her I need some idea? Thanks so much….Sherry — http://donsherr629.tripod.com/

Response:

Hello all, been a while since I have been here. I would like some advice, please. My mother’s cat has just been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth, and the vet told us there is nothing he can do for her. The tumor is in her lower front jaw, next to the "canine" tooth. My question is, how long will it be (approximate) before she is in pain? When that time comes, we will have to make a terrible decision, one that will devastate Mom. Help, please, in order to help her I need some idea? Thanks so much….Sherry

Sherry, I am sorry about your mother’s cat.  Squamous cell carcinomas are the most common type of malignant oral tumors in cats.  Older cats tend to be more prone to squamous cell than younger ones.  Sadly, the prognosis is almost always poor unless the cancer is diagnosed early (even then, the prognosis for cats is not real great).  Possible treatments include resection/removal of the tumor, radiation therapy (unlikely if the vet believes prognosis is poor), and supportive therapies.  In cats, oral carcinomas have a high rate of reoccurrence, which may impact what treatments your vet recommends. I have personal experience with this condition.  Megan was 17 when she was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma.  It was in her gum, in a similar place as it is in your mother’s cat.  (Oral squamous cell carcinomas commonly occur in the gum line in cats.)  I remember how gaping and angry her ulcerated tumor looked.  To me it seemed like it appeared over night; I know that’s not true, but I remember thinking, "When did this happen?"  Megan’s prognosis was poor.  As much of the tumor as could be was excised, but it was not possible to remove all of it.  Her other treatments were supportive. Lucky for me, Megan decided to be a cat who wanted to be with me when she was sick, rather than hiding.  She slept on my pillow plastered against my head night after night.  She hadn’t done that since she was a kitten.  We immediately switched from dry food to canned food.  Baby food (e.g., turkey 2d foods) was next, followed by "if you’ll eat it, I’ll give it to you."  The baby food bought her some time; she would have quit eating completely but for the baby food. Eventually, though, Megan stopped eating much of anything.  Between that and her overall appearance and changes in behavior, I knew it was time.  I have always been thankful that the right time was obvious to me.  I never felt I waited too long or acted too soon.  I stayed with Megan while she was euthanized and watched a wonderful, dear friend slip away.  While you should not compare your mother’s cat with Megan (meaning, we have no way of knowing how the medical situations are alike and different), I am sorry to say that only one month elapsed between diagnosis and Megan’s death. I will be thinking of you.  Please keep us posted.  Susan

Response:

Hello all, been a while since I have been here. I would like some advice, please. My mother’s cat has just been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth, and the vet told us there is nothing he can do for her. The tumor is in her lower front jaw, next to the "canine" tooth. My question is, how long will it be (approximate) before she is in pain? When that time comes, we will have to make a terrible decision, one that will devastate Mom. Help, please, in order to help her I need some idea? Thanks so much….Sherry — http://donsherr629.tripod.com/

Response:

Hello all, been a while since I have been here. I would like some advice, please. My mother’s cat has just been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth, and the vet told us there is nothing he can do for her. The tumor is in her lower front jaw, next to the "canine" tooth. My question is, how long will it be (approximate) before she is in pain? When that time comes, we will have to make a terrible decision, one that will devastate Mom. Help, please, in order to help her I need some idea? Thanks so much….Sherry

Sherry, I am sorry about your mother’s cat.  Squamous cell carcinomas are the most common type of malignant oral tumors in cats.  Older cats tend to be more prone to squamous cell than younger ones.  Sadly, the prognosis is almost always poor unless the cancer is diagnosed early (even then, the prognosis for cats is not real great).  Possible treatments include resection/removal of the tumor, radiation therapy (unlikely if the vet believes prognosis is poor), and supportive therapies.  In cats, oral carcinomas have a high rate of reoccurrence, which may impact what treatments your vet recommends. I have personal experience with this condition.  Megan was 17 when she was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma.  It was in her gum, in a similar place as it is in your mother’s cat.  (Oral squamous cell carcinomas commonly occur in the gum line in cats.)  I remember how gaping and angry her ulcerated tumor looked.  To me it seemed like it appeared over night; I know that’s not true, but I remember thinking, "When did this happen?"  Megan’s prognosis was poor.  As much of the tumor as could be was excised, but it was not possible to remove all of it.  Her other treatments were supportive. Lucky for me, Megan decided to be a cat who wanted to be with me when she was sick, rather than hiding.  She slept on my pillow plastered against my head night after night.  She hadn’t done that since she was a kitten.  We immediately switched from dry food to canned food.  Baby food (e.g., turkey 2d foods) was next, followed by "if you’ll eat it, I’ll give it to you."  The baby food bought her some time; she would have quit eating completely but for the baby food. Eventually, though, Megan stopped eating much of anything.  Between that and her overall appearance and changes in behavior, I knew it was time.  I have always been thankful that the right time was obvious to me.  I never felt I waited too long or acted too soon.  I stayed with Megan while she was euthanized and watched a wonderful, dear friend slip away.  While you should not compare your mother’s cat with Megan (meaning, we have no way of knowing how the medical situations are alike and different), I am sorry to say that only one month elapsed between diagnosis and Megan’s death. I will be thinking of you.  Please keep us posted.  Susan

Response:

Hello all, been a while since I have been here. I would like some advice, please. My mother’s cat has just been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth, and the vet told us there is nothing he can do for her. The tumor is in her lower front jaw, next to the "canine" tooth. My question is, how long will it be (approximate) before she is in pain? When that time comes, we will have to make a terrible decision, one that will devastate Mom. Help, please, in order to help her I need some idea? Thanks so much….Sherry — http://donsherr629.tripod.com/

Response: