Injection Sight Cancers

[AlmostThere]

My daughter's cat has had a bump on her left hip and she finally took her in for a check on it. After a surgical biopsy it turned out to be devastating news. A fast spreading cancer. They suggested removing her entire leg but with no guarantee that the cancer hasn't already spread. Just thought I'd pass this along as it is actually quite common to felines and certain injections given in the left hip.

About 1 in 10,000 cats have a tendency to develop fibrosarcomas (cancer) at injection sights. Vaccines are the most common trigger, but we see them after antibiotic injections too. The FELV vaccine is the biggest offender and it is usually given in the left hip/leg. Fibrosarcomas are firm, rapidly growing masses. If it is a fibrosarcoma, simple removal of the mass is surgically difficult and ineffective because it comes right back. Amputation of the entire leg is usually needed to get all of the tumor. Amputation provides a cure in about 75% of cases. In the other 25% we find that the tumor is already spread either up the leg or to other parts of the body. If money is not a concern then it is best to do an MRI before surgery to determine how deep the tumor is invading.

[VickieP]

Lenora, such sad news for your daughter's family. I know this will be especially hard for your sweet granddaughters.

[AlmostThere]

Lenora, such sad news for your daughter's family. I know this will be especially hard for your sweet granddaughters.

Thank you, Vickie. Yes, it is heartbreaking for them. The cancer has already spread as another tiny lump has appeared so they have opted to let nature take its course but will put her down when its time.

[Olive600]

Lenora, I'm so sorry to hear this news. My prayers for you and all your family and kitty.

[mitch5252]

..
That's really sad news, Lenora.
And something I never heard of before.
..

[avalen]

such sad news, hugs for the family

[Bethers]

So sorry to read this. Big hugs, especially to your dgd's.

[Redwahine]

Really Sad. Hugs to your family

[BirdbyBird]

((((( HUGS ))))) to your family..... And wishing them strength as they support their furry companion on this special journey ahead. Injections sites are also known to create abscesses in both cats and dogs. Some protocals have been changes over the recent years to try to minimize potential but it is something that needs to be monitored closely and another reason not to over vaccinate when unnecessary.... (Many vets will try to give yearly boosters $$$ , when research on titers show that they are uncessary.... )

[Liz]

I've never heard of that. So sorry it happened to your dd's kitty. (((Hugs)))

[sharon]

So sorry to hear about the kitty. Hope the grands are gonna be ok, but it seems kids can be easier with animal crossing than we adults are. So sad.

[Acadianmom]

I think it was last year that our vet said something about changing vaccinations for cats because they thought what they had been using was causing cancer. He didn't say where and I didn't think to ask. We lost a couple of cats to cancer a few years ago but in was in their abdomen.

Martha

[BayouLady]

Cancer is such a vicious disease, my dobie has sts. Is the metronomic chemo an option? It's the daily pill and might slow the tumors down or better yet, stop them from growing.