my much loved cat Rosie aged 14, one of four, has recently developed a lump under her chin on chest, quite large. She is not herself, not grooming properly but eating ok.

Took her to vet and she said thought it was thyroid, would do blood test to confirm at cost £150. Rang next day it is not thyroid. There are white blood cells present which she said are trying to fight something. She said liver and kidneys ok no sign of cancer, tho kidneys have a little urea, she is generally a healthy cat for her age. Suggested could take sample of lump at cost of £160 while she is awake.

I asked, if it is cancer, could you then treat it? No, due to where it is, they couldnt remove it all. If benign, could possibly remove it.

I'm sorry to say money comes into this, can't afford more than a few hundred, but don't want her to suffer, want her to be with us for years.

Any advice please? We don't have insurance and realise with 4 older cats we will have to pay out in next few years and accept this.

She doesn't seem right, tho she still goes out hunting a bit, I know she is not herself. Do I get biopsy done, then pay maybe £1000 if it is benign, and presumably some risk with op too - or leave it. I'm worried it is cancer, if so, what can I expect and how long? I don't want her to be in pain.

Please be honest with me. Thankyou anyone who can help.

I think first of all you need to get the biopsy done and get her some pain meds and take it from there. Yo can't second guess what it might be.

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What size is the lump and did it appear suddenly? Firm or soft?

Since increased white blood cells do point to infection/inflammation depending on which ones are elevated, has the vet ruled out an abscess? In your postition I would definitely have some of the tissue sampled or if needs be, a biopsy. At least this way you'll know exactly what you're delaing with. Not all masses are malignant thankfully-this could also be a cyst or a benign growth though these are also best surgically removed.

Hi there,

I don't want to scare you - just give you an honest answer based on our own experience.

Our 14 year old cat, Lancelot developed two tumours in his stomach area, which the vet did successfully remove. That cost £1200. Sadly it was cancerous (lymphoma), so we had this operation done with the understanding that it would come back, but we had no idea when or how.
Lance recovered from the operation surprisingly well considering his age, and I do not regret this decision - it was either have the op or he was put to sleep immediately.

Following this, the option to have chemo meant, in our circumstance, an injection once a week that would cost around £100 each. We couldn't afford this and didn't like the idea of it from Lance's perspective, so went down the route of starting him on steroids. This meant blood tests I think every month, which is about £150 I seem to remember (it was a while ago now so I can't quite remember how often/how much) plus the cost of the pills (which was hardly anything really)

Lance was with us for nearly spot on 5 months following the operation, and during those 5 months he was fabulous. He was happy, leaping around, eating, sleeping and doing everything he has done all his life. His kidneys coped fine with the steroids (there was a risk that the high dosage would kill them off) and ultimately it was another tumour that ended his life. It was a very sudden and dramatic downward turn, which made the decision much, much easier for us to be honest. We knew it was time, and already knew that there was nothing more we could do.

I hope this sheds a bit of light on the sort of decisions you may face.

Good luck.
x

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