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PostPosted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 12:38 pm 
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Senior Bengal

Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:01 pm
Posts: 63
Location: London, UK
Hi, I've not been on here for a fair few years, sadly it's not for a good reason I am back. My beloved 9 year old Bengal Gypsee last week got diagnosed with small cell lymphoma. The course of actions that led to his diagnosis were that about 3 weeks ago I thought I would treat Gypsee to some boiled chicken and rice for no reason really in that I had some chicken in the freezer and I know she loves it (i had no reason to think she was unwell). She gobbled it up like it was the best food ever, but then later that day she had bad diarrhoea which didn't improve over the few days and then she was throwing up her food and quickly losing weight. So I took her to the vets where they started tests. First a blood test which came back as low in vitamin B12 so she immediately started a course of B12 injections once a week (the 4th she is having today). I was then told to put her on royal canine gastro intestinal food. So I did, which gave her some improvement. The vet also suggested I add fortiflora to her food (a probiotic powder). I ordered some and then a week later I added to her food. This then made her ill again, and she wouldn't eat her food. So I went back to the vet and they then did more tests (they were thinking it was IBD at this point) - she had a scan and an oesophago -gastro - duodenoscopy to take biopsy's. Then last week when I took her to the vet for a B12 injection that told me the news it looked like it was lymphoma. Though they could not be 100% sure about the results, her biopsy is being sent for another test which takes another 2 weeks, but again may not be conclusive. But the vet seems pretty sure its lymphoma
So now I have her on steroid pills everyday (1 and 1/2 of them) and a chemo pill every other day which the vet said would be for the rest of her life (max 2 years :sad: ) 2 years of chemo sounds like a long time?!
Has anyone else on here have experience with small cell lymphoma diagnosis? I have no idea really what to expect at all. Gypsee is eating now quite a bit, but she does seem more subdued since I started the drugs. For the last year she is completely preoccupied with food and just always hungry. Constantly. There seems nothing else she will think about. Is this a symptom of lymphoma? Also the chemo drugs worry me quite a bit and the information the vet gave me scared me! Not touching the urine, stools, saliva as the chemo is very dangerous to humans! I don't go out of my way to touch any of it, but surely there is saliva everywhere, she licks herself all the time and I stroke her, and she tracks her litter about (I am in a small maisonette). So I am getting quite paranoid! Also I have another Bengal (Tia) who is licking her and using the same litter trays. How safe is this? The good news is though her stools are harder. Though they had got harder before her course of drugs started.
But anyway, I wondered if anyone else is going through/has gone through similar?


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 4:34 pm 
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Asian Leopard Cat

Joined: Sat Oct 31, 2015 9:44 pm
Posts: 707
I cannot advise on the small cell lymphoma but I can advise on the drugs.

My previous bengal boy was diagnosed with IBD at the age of 3, he had a biopsy and scan which showed it was this.
We were then put on steroids (2 a day) and chemo tablets of which I was advised to wear gloves while giving them also B12 injections once a month.
All worked very well, the steroids are the ones which increase the appetite massively, my boy went from skeletal to quite plump and all he thought about was food, ( this happens to people on steroids also).

As for the saliva my vet said not to worry too much about it as long as they don't lick your mouth it's fine, I just made sure I washed my hands frequently after handling him if he had been washing himself.

All this helped my boy for 2 years until the IBD turned to cancer and he had an intestinal rupture, they operated and took out the damaged part of the bowel but he never really got over it so sadly I had to say goodbye to him aged 5.

I hope this has helped a little bit.

_________________
Clare
Magic (brown spotted boy born 31 March 2012)
Pearl (seal Lynx Point girl born 1 October 2015)
Bristol, UK


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 6:14 pm 
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Asian Leopard Cat

Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm
Posts: 9217
I am so sorry to hear about your kitty! We always take it for granted when they are well and healthy. Then something happens. I'm not familiar with small cell lymphoma or the treatments. Your vet is really the best source of information. You can research online but know that most articles are general in nature. My bengal has lost some weight with a healthy appetite and while the vet is not concerned just yet, they do want to monitor him and will test him for hyperthyroidism.

I truly pray things go well for you and your baby.


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