This morning I found a lump the size of a golf ball to one side of my 14yr old cats throat. The vet says it's too hard to be an abscess and feels it could be sinister due to the size and speed at which it appeared. The vet is going to try and remove the lump but says it may not be possible as it's quite deep and could affect the windpipe etc.

Unfortunately I feel certain there will not be a good outcome and I'm not sure whether I should let the vet attempt the lump removal. Could it make things worse? What are the alternatives? Are there any alternatives?

My cat is quieter than normal but still eating and drinking and purring.

Any advice appreciated. :-(

Don't want to sound a pessimist but it sounds awfully like Lymphoma, has your Vet checked the other lymph glands. The speed that Lymphoma comes up is astonishing.

Hello Alison, thanks for replying. The vet said the lump is below his glands so does that mean it wouldn't be Lymphoma? He did check him thoroughly (listened to his heart, took temp etc.) but didn't mention his other glands.

Well that would be good news. Lymphoma is in the glands so it musn't be that. This is when we really have to rely on our Vets isn't it. Have a really good discussion with your Vet and see what his recommendations are. Surely an X-ray could help or a biopsy. I am going through Lymphoma with one of my dogs at the moment and she is on Chemo and is really tolerating it very well. I don't know how well cats tolerate it though. Is there nothing he can give her to see if the swelling goes down i.e. Prednisilone? I do not have any Veterinary experience but I certainly have learnt a lot over these past 3 weeks!

The vet did mention doing a biopsy but said that he felt it would only result in the need to remove the lump anyway - so he felt it would be better to go straight for the lump removal. The lump is very hard - a hard mass - so it doesn't feel as though it's something that could do down, if you see what I mean. I'm glad to hear that your dog is doing well on the chemo :-)
Thank you for your reply, much appreciated.

Lymphoma is also very hard but within one full treatment of Chemo the lumps not only went down but became very jelly like  when feeling them.

Ahh...I see. I really hope this lump can be reduced too.
Thank you Alison.

Was the vet sure it wasn't the thyroid? Quite common problem in older cats, right area for it, and can be fixed.

He didn't mention thyroid Marianne.
I am thinking of getting a second opinion before I send him for his op.
Thanks for your reply.

He didn't move off the sofa for 15 hours yesterday. That's not normal for him. I hope he feels better after his op. :-(

sorry to hear this. i would be surprised if it was a thyroid gland, they arent usually that big, owners tend not to notice them, its usually other symptoms they are brought in with. did the vet do a fine needle aspirate of the lump? (basically sticking a sterile needle in and out a few times and examing under a microscope?) my vets would do this before any op so they knew exactly what they were dealing with? may be worth asking for, less invasive and painless, and would at least allow to know what it is.

Thanks for your reply Suz1985.
He had the lump removed yesterday. The vet said although we need to wait for the lab to confirm exactly what it was, he feels that it did not look good and thinks they will probably say it's a spindle cell carsinoma or similar :-(
The cat seems better in himself today so I'm glad we went ahead and removed the lump. I think it was beginning to affect him swallowing. Just got to wait and see now. Poor old boy :-(

my thoughts are with you and fingers crossed its something harmless.

Thanks - have got everything crossed too.

Hi Rachel,
Any news?

Hello Skyblue,
I took him back today and the results were back. He has a particularly nasty sarcoma which has already spread to his lymph glands and possibly his lungs. The vet thinks he may have another 8 good weeks left in him before it's time to say goodbye. I'm gutted :-( I know he's quite old, but he (and his littermate) were the first pets I ever bought myself, and I 've had him nearly all my married life. He's such a lovely cat too. I hate goodbyes but I wont let him suffer. Poor boy.
Thank you for asking after him :-)

so sorry to hear this. thoughts are with you, my cat is 15 now and every day i look at him and feel how much of the old man look he has about him.
make his time fun, loads of treats, tuna and salmon every night! remember, cats are the ultimate survivors, he may go on for a while and surprise you!

Oh I am so sorry. :(

Oh Rachel, I'm so very sorry. This is such a time of heartache and heartbreak.
Make the most of the time you have left, and when the time comes, know that he is going to better place of no pain and sickness.
((((hugs))))) to you and your cat,
Sky

Thank you for your kind messages.
Suz1985, I think you could be right about him carrying on for some time yet - to look at him this morning you wouldn't think there was much wrong with him. He's stretched out in the sun looking very content :-)

Just caught up on this, so sorry to hear the bad news.

> He's stretched out in the sun looking very content :-)

thats the important thing, at least he;s happy.

really sorry to hear your sad news.

So sorry.

Hi Rachel,
How's he doing?
Don't forget to take some photos while the weather's good.
Sending positive thoughts,
Sky x

He seems ok but I'm a little worried about his breathing, and when I pick him up I can feel his heart beating, which is unusual. It could just be the warmer weather making him breathe faster I suppose. The area around the scar where the lump was removed feels like it's hardening into a lump again. I'm hoping it's just swelling and scar tissue. He's still eating and walking about so I don't think he's in pain. He's enjoying all the fuss and all the treats though :-) and we've taken lots of pics in the garden over the weekend.
Thanks again for your messages :-)

Hi again Rachel,
Yes, I think the hot weather takes a toll, especially on the elderly. It won't last anyway, but the sun can help with healing too.
I'm glad to hear he's still enjoying life, that's the main thing.
Take care of yourself too,
((((Hugs))))

Thank you Skyblue :-) :-) :-)

Hello Rachel,
I just wondered how you and your cat are doing?

Hi Skyblue,
I'm very pleased to say that at the moment he seems healthier than ever. He's got a good appetite and seems happy and content. His neck feels like it has completely healed now. Before I could feel hardness which we thought may have been the mass returning, but now it feels absolutely normal. I really can't believe he'll be leaving us anytime soon :-)
Thanks for asking Skyblue :-)

I'm so glad Rachel, that's lovely news!! :-))

I think I spoke to soon :-(
I think he may have had a stroke. Last night he was very vocal and acting strangely. This morning one eye is droopy and the pupil is small, he's falling over and staggering around, and he can't jump up. Also the lump is back :-( It appeared from nowhere but is quite a size - although not as big as the original. Poor old boy. I'll let you know what the vet says.

It's an ear infection! :-)
The vet agreed that the mass has returned - but said he's not in pain with it and it's not affecting his swallowing and his heart and pulse are great. Once his ear is sorted out they are going to reassess the lump and see what can be done :-)

Thats a huge relief. :-)  Glad the lump is not affecting him  (hopefully they can sort that out soon as well).

Poor old boy, ear infections are horrid, and they look so frightening! A friend's little boy had one once; he started acting autistic! But it soon cleared up...what did they do before antibiotics?

PS Did the vet ever take a sample from the lump and test it to see what it actually is?

Yes, the original lump that was removed was sent away. It was a grade 4 tumour which had a scientific name but I'm afraid I don't remember what it was. It was a sarcoma of some sort, I think. I never seem to be able to take all the information in when I'm there - and it's only when I'm home I think of lots of sensible questions etc. Typical!
He's looking much better today and is slightly better on his feet. His eye is still droopy and the pupil is still small though.

I'm glad he's feeling better, perhaps his eye will pick up as the medicine works (is it antibiotics?). Rachel, have you thought of asking the vet to write the basic details of the sarcoma down? Then you could look it up on the internet?

That's an idea. Or I might ask for a copy of the pathology report. Thanks :-)
Had a check up today and saw our usual vet. There is a second tumour pushing into the ear which has caused the infection which is now ulcerated :-( He is so much better in himself now though and his balance is fine now. He's still eating well so we'll see what hapens over the next week.

Glad to hear he's eating and feeling ok, but v sorry to hear about the second tumour...You're coping really well Rachel. xx

Hi Skyblue and anyone else still following our story - just a quick update....
Poor old boy took a turn for the worse yesterday. He couldn't walk, had flickering eyes, and was being sick. He has vestibular disease where the tumour has now infiltrated his ear and possibly his brain :-( The vet suggested either PTS or steroids. We decided to go with the steroids and see if he responded. He stayed in overnight and has come home this evening. He can walk again but is constantly swaying (and head bobbing) and he's very wobbley, although the sickness and eye flickering has stopped. I'm not sure he has much quality of life as he has to be confined to one room for his own safety and is constantly dizzy. I'm going to see if he improves at all over the next few days but unless he improves considerably I think it will be time to let him go. I hate the thought of having him PTS but I hate to see him this way with little hope of a better life. 
Thanks for listening xx

Oh....so sorry for you, it's no choice at all is it.
My old boy (cat ) had a facial tumour and we had to let him go to the bridge...I honestly didn't think a cats passing could hurt so much.
Thoughts with you.

Karen

<<<<hugs>>>>

It's never easy to play God for whomever and whenever.

Thoughts are with you

Oh Rachel (((Hugs))) it sounds he might be nearing the end, I'm so sorry. But you've done all you could, and he's had a good couple of months with you.
Love to you both,
Skyblue
PS My mother had the vet come to the house; it was much less distressing than going to the surgery; just a thought.

Thank you for your messages.
Boxacrazy, yes it's the playing God part that's hardest isn't it. How can you know for sure it's the right time? I mean if nature deems he can carry on living then how do I know it's the right thing to help him pass now? He's much the same this morning but still eating and purring.
I'll definitely ask if the vet can come to us, thanks Skyblue.

Well, if he's still eating, that's a good sign isn't it? Does he seem to have any pain?

No, I don't think so. He seems quite relaxed in his basket at the moment so I'll just see how things go. He still likes being stroked and having a chin rub so I don't think he can be feeling too bad. :-)

Oh good, I am glad...I cried when I wrote that last post! Give him a little chin rub from me.

awww....bless you! I cry at just about anything at the moment. It doesn't take much to set me off. I'll keep you posted if there's any news xx

Sorry to hear about your old boy poloaussie :-(
I think any animal that shares your home and your life with you is hard to let go. Thanks for your message x

I'm taking him this afternoon :-( :-( :-( :-(
I'm heartbroken and so are my kids but I think it's the right thing to do. He doesn't look like my cat anymore. He's off his food and withdrawn and he's very unsettled. I hate seeing him like this so I'm going to let him go :-( I had no idea it would be so hard. :-(
Thanks for listening.