? tumor on pancreas, anyone with similar experience?

[Georgiana & Perlutz]

Perlutz has had a dental and ultrasound on Wednesday. He has had 3 extractions and despite that and his new pearly whites, the BG is still very high. The ultrasound has shown an 8mm tumor on the pancreas, right in the middle (I’ll attach a lil drawing the vet did).

We are now being referred for CT scan and surgery, potentially on June the 10th. For UKers, this is in Marlow at The Ralph - has anyone been there? Thoughts? It’s a very new place but seems to have gathered lots of positive reviews already.

The vet has suggested we do more comprehensive blood tests before we go there, ACTH (Crushing’s) and something cortisol that I can’t remember the exact name of.

Just looking to hear from people who’ve been through something similar. How was it (the surgery, after etc)

EDIT: should mention that the vet said they don’t know whether the tumor caused diabetes or diabetes caused the tumor. Also said that if the tumor is successfully removed, the best case scenario is that diabetes will go away or at least be better regulated. I feel like he is sheltering me a little about worse case scenarios but feel free to share any thoughts, I’d rather be prepared (or at least informed) for everything...

 

[Georgiana & Perlutz]

Here is the drawing from our vet, I circled the tumor in red.

 

[Julie and Honey]

I saw you had not gotten a response on this.

You may want to edit the title “tumor on pancreas, anyone with similar experience?” Or put the question mark from the drop down if you go to edit thread to get more attention.

Sorry I cannot give any advice on the situation itself.

 

[Georgiana & Perlutz]

Thank you for the suggestion @Julie and Honey, I've updated the title here and in the PZI forum as well

 

[AliceMeowliss (GA)]

I’m sorry, as I cannot offer any helpful advice, but I’d like to follow this. Dealing with my first kitty tumor with Alice but we believe it is mammary. I still think it is keeping her from being regulated as well though. Best wishes for Perlutz! It’s scary. :\

 

[Georgiana & Perlutz]

Oh I'm sorry to hear that I have a similar post on this in the PZI forum as well, I'll tag you in it just in case there will be more replies there.

Paws crossed for Alice and you, hope you find out what tumor it is and that it can be treated!

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Not all pancreatic tumours are cancerous.
I am no vet, but I think the fact they have found it early and are talking about operating is a positive sign, but only a scan or biopsy will tell you definitely.
Did he have the ultrasound because you were concerned or was it picked up randomly.?
My Sheba had pancreatic cancer which was only diagnosed 5 days before she died. But her ultrasound did not look at all like Perlutz's drawing.
All the very best.

 

[Georgiana & Perlutz]

Not all pancreatic tumours are cancerous.
I am no vet, but I think the fact they have found it early and are talking about operating is a positive sign, but only a scan or biopsy will tell you definitely.
Did he have the ultrasound because you were concerned or was it picked up randomly.?
My Sheba had pancreatic cancer which was only diagnosed 5 days before she died. But her ultrasound did not look at all like Perlutz's drawing.
All the very best.

I’m so sorry to hear you had such little time left with Sheba after you found out.

We don’t actually know yet if we found it early. The vet said it can be that the tumor cause the diabetes or the other way around. He’s had diabetes for nearly 5 months now.

As to how we found it basically I’ve been going on and on to his usual vet about the high numbers, even spoke to him about referring us to RVC where I knew they can test for Acro and Cushings. He did refer us but didn’t go in the end as we found a lot of redness on his gums and scheduled him for a dental. He requested a urine test before that too. That’s when we got a bit lucky, they had a new locum vet who called me for the urine results and he was really interested in Perlutz’s consistent high numbers and he said he’d like to meet us on the day of the dental and that’s when he said he is concerned that there is more to it and said he wants to do an ultrasound. And he was right, he found the tumor... Obviously at the point there are no guarantees, they need to do further tests and see if it can be removed. Roll on june 12th...

I will try to get the ultrasound images and the blood results and upload them here too.

 

[AliceMeowliss (GA)]

I’m catching up after a few days break. How are things? Alice’s surgery is now scheduled for the 12th, too.

I wonder if it is the same for Alice, I found her tumor in December, her FD dx was October, but she had lost a little weight from September. I keep thinking that tumor has been there the whole time.

I hope removing these from our furbabies makes the difference that we need!!!!

 

[Georgiana & Perlutz]

I’m catching up after a few days break. How are things? Alice’s surgery is now scheduled for the 12th, too.

I wonder if it is the same for Alice, I found her tumor in December, her FD dx was October, but she had lost a little weight from September. I keep thinking that tumor has been there the whole time.

I hope removing these from our furbabies makes the difference that we need!!!!

Oh wow, the same day! Is Alice having surgery for removal? We are most likely only going for an assessment and possibly further tests (CT scan or MRI) since we are going to a referral centre, not his usual vet. We will only know exactly what he will have done on the day, they can’t tell us in advance.

Perlutz has been in all sorts of numbers these days, we’re still seeing reds and blacks but also just got a 6.3 PMPS!

 

[AliceMeowliss (GA)]

Oh wow, the same day! Is Alice having surgery for removal? We are most likely only going for an assessment and possibly further tests (CT scan or MRI) since we are going to a referral centre, not his usual vet. We will only know exactly what he will have done on the day, they can’t tell us in advance.

Perlutz has been in all sorts of numbers these days, we’re still seeing reds and blacks but also just got a 6.3 PMPS!

I get everything from black/HI to happy greens, and in-between. (I don’t know the conversion from the numbers you use vs US numbers. I take it 7.3 is happy green?)

Vet will remove the tumor rather than biopsy, then it will be sent off to be evaluated. If it really is a mammary tumor, then her hormones may be feeding it, so we need to finally take all of that out. In fact, since she has gained again, I believe it has grown some. Also, no point in putting her through anesthesia any more than we have to. I hope hope hope hope these are benign tumors. Paws crossed!

What time do you go in? You are probably about 6 hours ahead of me.

I’m nervous about making her fast for so many hours!

I would like an ultrasound but my vet doesn’t have one in-house, so they will probably X-ray and do bloodwork before everything else.

With all that said, testing prior to surgery could change things for us, too. So far we don’t think her tumor feels attached to any muscle or deeper tissue.

It seems to me like if these issues are all coinciding, that “just a coincidence” would be unlikely, for both of us!
If the tumor is cancerous, have you thought about what you would do next (besides surgery, of course)? Chemo? I hate the idea of putting a cat through chemo. My partner’s mom just had cancer come back for the third time and opted not to do chemo, just surgery, because the chemo wrecked her body so much the past couple of times.

Anyway, I’ll be busy being a mess on the 12th, probably starting about when you pick up Perlutz. Keep me updated! If nothing else, I think we can learn from each other.

 

[Georgiana & Perlutz]

I get everything from black/HI to happy greens, and in-between. (I don’t know the conversion from the numbers you use vs US numbers. I take it 7.3 is happy green?)

Vet will remove the tumor rather than biopsy, then it will be sent off to be evaluated. If it really is a mammary tumor, then her hormones may be feeding it, so we need to finally take all of that out. In fact, since she has gained again, I believe it has grown some. Also, no point in putting her through anesthesia any more than we have to. I hope hope hope hope these are benign tumors. Paws crossed!

What time do you go in? You are probably about 6 hours ahead of me.

I’m nervous about making her fast for so many hours!

I would like an ultrasound but my vet doesn’t have one in-house, so they will probably X-ray and do bloodwork before everything else.

With all that said, testing prior to surgery could change things for us, too. So far we don’t think her tumor feels attached to any muscle or deeper tissue.

It seems to me like if these issues are all coinciding, that “just a coincidence” would be unlikely, for both of us!
If the tumor is cancerous, have you thought about what you would do next (besides surgery, of course)? Chemo? I hate the idea of putting a cat through chemo. My partner’s mom just had cancer come back for the third time and opted not to do chemo, just surgery, because the chemo wrecked her body so much the past couple of times.

Anyway, I’ll be busy being a mess on the 12th, probably starting about when you pick up Perlutz. Keep me updated! If nothing else, I think we can learn from each other.

I’m glad to hear your vet has a plan and they’ll remove the tumor! It does makes sense not to put Alice under anesthesia multiple times if it can be avoided and we’ll keep our fingers and paws crossed for you!

To be honest I didn’t think of the worst case scenario. I’m trying to be positive and hope for a good outcome. Let’s not think of the c word, I hope it won’t be the case!

I will update you if I’ll find out more about what will happen during our appointment, but it’s unlikely. Like I said, our appointment is not with our usual vet, they’ve referred us somewhere else. I’m guessing you’re seeing your usual vet?

Can I ask what was the advice your vet gave you pre op? Fast all night but still give some insulin in the morning? This was the case for Perlutz’s dental last week and I think it will be the same for 12th.

Out appointment is at 10AM so you’ll be probably still asleep (if you’ll manage to get any zz’s). I’ll be a stressed, sobbing mess myself but I’ll let you know how it goes and will be waiting for your updates later in the day (we are indeed 6 hours ahead of CST). Hoping we will be sharing good news!