Second opinion day
We're off to see another vet today, one who specializes in cancer. This was at the urging of our regular vet, who I adore.
The pathology report came back on Sammy, and the result was plasmacytoma. The kicker is that after reading up online about it, I didn't see the tests in the report that are usually required to make a definitive diagnosis. I asked the surgeon about it and he brushed my concerns aside (minus points there). I had contacted an expert in the UK through the Internet, and he said that there is confusion between benign cysts that arise from capillaries and plasmacytomas; the only way to differentiate is through immunohistochemistry, which wasn't performed on Sammy's tumor. So we're going for an opinion from someone trained in oncology.
I'm not in denial about what's going on here, but I do want to be sure that we're going down the right path. If Sammy does have cancer, which he probably does, then I'm not going to go through any extraordinary means (e.g. chemo). But if there's a chance that this is a misdiagnosis then I feel that I need to pursue it to be sure.
The other weird thing is that in talking to the UK expert, he asked me what we're doing to make Sammy comfortable. I replied that we don't need to do anything. He's fine. He has this snarfly respiratory breathing post-surgery due to scar tissue, but otherwise he's eating, cleaning himself, drinking, playing, sleeping, sunning himself, tackling his brothers, cleaning his brothers, seeking out affection, etc. He paused and said, "ummm... myeloma cats don't act that way, you know." Another piece of the puzzle, but by no means indicating we're in the clear.
So we'll have more information this afternoon. The consult is inexpensive (woot!) and the doctor looks awesome. Here's hoping it's fruitful and she has better beside manner than the surgeon.
The pathology report came back on Sammy, and the result was plasmacytoma. The kicker is that after reading up online about it, I didn't see the tests in the report that are usually required to make a definitive diagnosis. I asked the surgeon about it and he brushed my concerns aside (minus points there). I had contacted an expert in the UK through the Internet, and he said that there is confusion between benign cysts that arise from capillaries and plasmacytomas; the only way to differentiate is through immunohistochemistry, which wasn't performed on Sammy's tumor. So we're going for an opinion from someone trained in oncology.
I'm not in denial about what's going on here, but I do want to be sure that we're going down the right path. If Sammy does have cancer, which he probably does, then I'm not going to go through any extraordinary means (e.g. chemo). But if there's a chance that this is a misdiagnosis then I feel that I need to pursue it to be sure.
The other weird thing is that in talking to the UK expert, he asked me what we're doing to make Sammy comfortable. I replied that we don't need to do anything. He's fine. He has this snarfly respiratory breathing post-surgery due to scar tissue, but otherwise he's eating, cleaning himself, drinking, playing, sleeping, sunning himself, tackling his brothers, cleaning his brothers, seeking out affection, etc. He paused and said, "ummm... myeloma cats don't act that way, you know." Another piece of the puzzle, but by no means indicating we're in the clear.
So we'll have more information this afternoon. The consult is inexpensive (woot!) and the doctor looks awesome. Here's hoping it's fruitful and she has better beside manner than the surgeon.
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