Sushi's Story
by Alyse
Symptoms: Poor appetite, weight loss, vomiting that I eventually realized wasn't merely what people call "furballs." She threw up furballs ever since around 2005, but I always thought it was normal. Even when vets used to ask "Vomiting?" I'd say "No," 'cause I figured that was not vomiting. I think vets should be more inquisitive, asking "Furballs?" "Any liquid with those furballs, which is considered vomiting and therefore isn't normal?"
In December 2012, a small amount of blood came out, too, which finally set off red flags! In hindsight, I also realize that her recent lick-lipping was a sign of nausea and the nausea was why she wasn't eating, and the nausea was due to irritable bowel disease (IBD) and small-cell lymphoma.
Procedures: First, my regular vet did a Complete Blood Cell test (in August) to see if anything showed why she was losing weight. Normal blood test results. Then, in December, after the blood event, yet another set of the same CBC test. Those results were normal, too. The vet then, in a very piece-meal approach, added on a Cobalamin (B12) blood test, which indicated low-vitamin-B12 absorption, which indicates a stomach problem. I had a new vet then take over Sushi's case,
and they added more tests that they typically do along with Cobalamin -- folate, PLI/TLI (pancreatitis), plus an ultrasound. The PLI/TLI showed mild pancreatitis. The ultrasound showed intestinal thickening, which could mean IBD or lymphoma. That finding prompted a gastro-endoscopy. The endoscopy gave the relatively definitive diagnosis:
IBD PLUS small-cell lymphoma -- IBD: 3 types of inflammatory cells -- lymphoplasmacytic, neutrophilic, and eosinophilic. The small cell lymphoma was in her small intestine. Lymphoma, as you likely know, is a very common sequel to IBD.
Concerns: I have many concerns about my cat's as well as my own well being. She has started chemotherapy (Cytoxan), as well as Prednisone and a variety of other meds including an appetite stimulant and a stomach motility booster, all of which seem to have improved her eating and general well being (grooming improved recently), but she still doesn't eat as much as she should. Getting her to eat a decent amount without resorting to spending my day chasing her with food is my latest obsession/concern. I've found a couple of foods that she eats most of the time, but only most of the time. One concern for my own well being is dealing with her kitty litter and the chemicals now in it. I've got a call in to my vet about the apparently-OSHA-required mask I just read about on the felinelymphoma.org web site link for "Chemo Drug Clearing
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Sushi
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