cancer suspected

my kitty Mor Mor has suspected cancer...I am almost out of funds and would like to know if his enlarged bladder could be a sign of cancer seen on ONLY an xray...he is peeing without obstruction although his bladder appeared "too large or full on xray"...vet expelled urine...my question: ..all vets are saying ultrasound is next diagnostic "step" but I have been told that perhaps a CT scan would be better at finding out....I cant afford the MRI...does anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

I wish I could help you, but I don't have any answers. But I am sending tons of vines and prayers for Mor Mor and you.

 

An ultra sound is the next step but just one of possibly many. Both Nigel and Hannah had needle biopsies which involved only a local and mild sedative and were done while I waited. I used to use PetMD a lot but the site has really slowed down. This is where I came to suspect our dog did not have cancer and that it may have been a cyst, they both look the same on ultrasound in her case only. In the end I was right, two vets and an oncologist got it wrong. Always be ready to accept bad news but doing some research on your own can't hurt.
https://www.petmd.com/
I really wish vets would not try so hard to scare the crap out of us while reaching into our wallets.

 

It might help if you told us what symptoms he was presenting that made you take him to the vet in the first place.

 

Sending tons of prayers, vines and hugs to you and Mor Mor

 

symptoms Mor Mor has had for about two months...started one night withe strange slight muscle /body tremors and twitching...marked decrease in appetite. .signs of pain (sleeping in strange positions ...specifically wanting his head to be elevated with throat stretched out....unresponsive to petting...eyes moving too slowly...lethargy)....
definitely signs of nausea but no vomiting...lost interest in favorite treats and foods...weight has fluctuated (cerenia has been helping his appetite)...the tremors and twitching have subsided alot since he has been getting 100 cc's per night but they do return and seem to diminish after his Bupe (he is on .2ml every twelve hrs)...

so these are his symptoms...waiting on second urynalysis (first one a month ago was clear)...xrays found enlarged bladder....vet said this could be an obstruction but that was two weeks ago and he is peeing normally with no straining...pooping normally

six different vets...differing opinions...hes in stage 2 ckd...

 

There is something else we should know. Allison recently lost Bubbles not long after joining our group. It's in Grief but I know a lot of people like me find that a painful forum to look in. Sorry for bringing that up Allison but that emotional loss will affect how things go with Mor Mor.
Maggies Mom Debby is right, we need more information. How old is Mor Mor, any family history you can provide, previous medical conditions (even things you think might not matter), any oddball thing he has ever swallowed or gotten in to, diabetic or not.
What exactly did the vet say? I ask this because over many years I've had vets say vague things like "This doesn't look good/I would recommend a super-expensive test" and I've even had an oncologist who was in tears and never actually said the word cancer. When I said "So treat her like a Princess and let her eat whatever she wants" she just nodded and promised to fax the files to my vet.
Diagnosing cancer requires either a slide of cells under a microscope or actually seeing something unmistakable through a scope or invasive surgery. Just because there is a 90% chance of something does not mean that's what it is.
An enlarged bladder could be caused by a lot of things. An enlarged bladder can be felt by hand if the vet is experienced and seen on X-ray. Moving beyond your vet's X-ray (I hope it's digital, some vets still use film) there is ultrasound, SPECT scan, CT scan (sometimes still called a CAT scan) and MRI. All of these scans still require someone to interpret them, it's not just a yes/no thing. One good thing about ultrasounds is that they are portable and in my Noah's case the tech came to my vet's office and there was no need for sedation. CT and MRI require full anesthetic because Mor will have to be perfectly still and MRI's are just incredibly noisy. I've had four of them.
Money is a touchy subject. Don't fall for a guilt trip "Well if you really love your cat..." because we put Jasper through an MRI and a spinal tap, almost $4,000, and it was all for nothing.
Now, I've said some things that are speculation on my part. If anyone wants to correct me please do so, this is not about me. A 90% chance of cancer means a 10% chance it's not. There's a good reason we're not supposed to dispense this kind of advice so I wanted everyone to see this. These are things that have happened to me, my wife and our cats and dogs but obviously I'm not a doctor.
One more thing. Did Mor get X-rayed again after your vet expelled urine? Was his bladder still enlarged? Does anyone know if the expelled urine should be examined for cancer cells?
I'm honestly trying to help and I know you've just been put through Hell with Bubbles. Thoughts anyone?

 

I should have included this
https://www.google.com/search?sourc...y-ab..2.20.2473...0i131k1j0i3k1.0.zG34rsRWgNw

 

Thanks Dickson...I might be overstepping here by even asking folks for medical opinions...I guess I am more or less asking for experiences ppl may have had with their cats tremblng and twitching as it seems vets have not seen this too often...the word "neurological " has come up with nearly every vet...the last vet told me I should see a cat neurologist...another vet said "I know he is hiding something " another vet said he only sees this behavior in cats with "advanced medical conditions "...another vet is convinced it is toxins in his body not being filtered out by his kidneys... I just font know where to turn...my main vet is not suggesting anything other than to continue giving him pain meds ...Bup and cerenia for his nausea...noone seems to be searching to get to the bottom of these ongoing tremors that are sometimes quite noticeable and I wonder if it is pain ...one vet suggested anxiety??...He is 16 ...ckd for four yrs...stage 2...no family history...no injestion of toxins (which another vet was convinced of)...it is too coincidental that this odd behavior decreased ny 80% after a week of iv ringers ever night...no diabetes...I feel maybe this isnt the proper forum to be asking for advice...I am confused between different websites I am on bc the "rules" differ so forgive me if this isnt appropriate... just need someone to help me...as I am spending a ton of money on Bup and meds but I need answers more than symptomatic treatments...
All his bloodwork was normal but for the his amylase was 1300 which is on the high side...he is still very active and does not look sick all the time except when these trembling and twitching behaviors start...then he looks ill and in pain...

 

I'm no expert, but that was my first thought.

When Alex developed renal disease I asked my vet what to expect, among other things. Trembling and twitching... possibly seizures as the disease progressed... these were some of the possibilities he brought up.

Here's a link to CRF symptoms, specifically "trembling" and a little further down the page, ""twitching": http://felinecrf.org/symptoms_treatments_index.htm#T.

You might want to take a look to see if you think any of it applies to Mor Mor...

 

Thank you Jill.
Allison, I just got more bad news. I'm just a wreck and I can't contribute anything meaningful here.

 

Dickson...keep in touch...hope you are ok...take the rest you need ...we will wait for your return when you are feeling better...well wishes and hugs to you and Noah and family!