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Treasurecat had her vet go over Gummi's records as well. He came to the same conclusions as the others, and said it best in the email he sent me, so I wanted to reprint it here, as I know that Gummi has many friends here. So here is the email from Dr. Johnson in Ga:
Well, I like Ridgeway's work up. He sent me the Xrays and I agree with them that there may be something in front of the heart pushing UP on the trachea.
There's a problem or two.
Thymoma is sometimes benign and can be removed. (50% of the time)
So, knowing what it is might make that a possibility. Cracking the chest is never "affordable".
Or, just finding a lump "for sure" with the ultrasound, would let you know that suffering is the almost-exclusive future.
This is because there are no lumps in that location which have happy outcomes other than removal which many would consider overly aggressive.
But there's another fact:
In the young cats, thymoma isn't very common, but in that location, and associated with the thymus, lymphoma/lymphosarcoma IS (in that age).
So as a young cat, with a lump there in the region of the thymus, an actual cancer of a lymphatic type (LSA) is more likely than benign thymoma.
Well that has two implications. More specific care for LSA (possibly including an additional drug) can help.
Or.....realizing (or discovering) that it's a terminal type cancer, release with dignity becomes possible.
See, the alternatives are to watch Gum limp into naught but a dark future.
I would skip all the tests and jump to the 'end of the story' and have the ultrasound run. I bet it's just another $350-$400
And then, if there really is a defined LUMP or MASS there, I would steel myself for the fairest treatment when suffering is obvious; which, in my opinion, would be release from a broken body BEFORE it's pitiful watching her try and make it function.
I am not predicting that.
I am just saying that knowing for sure that ANY sort of mass is there is probably important to knowing that Gummi will or will not be soon-suffering more.
I can answer any question, and try and help. I think you are in good hands with Ridgeway though.
Doc
The US here is 500, and I don't see the point. We can not afford open heart surgery to remove a lump, and truly I don't know if I even want to put her through that. She is responding so well to the prednisone, you would never know she was sick. She is so active, and has solid poop. Her breathing is still a bit raspy, but much much better than it has been. Dr. Ridgeway, (My Vet), feels like this is the best course of treatment for now. Her positive response points also to cancer. She will be loved, and made as comfortable as possible for as long as possible, but we are braced for the suffering to begin, and I know then that there will be difficult decisions to be made.
For now, I am simply loving her.
Well, I like Ridgeway's work up. He sent me the Xrays and I agree with them that there may be something in front of the heart pushing UP on the trachea.
There's a problem or two.
Thymoma is sometimes benign and can be removed. (50% of the time)
So, knowing what it is might make that a possibility. Cracking the chest is never "affordable".
Or, just finding a lump "for sure" with the ultrasound, would let you know that suffering is the almost-exclusive future.
This is because there are no lumps in that location which have happy outcomes other than removal which many would consider overly aggressive.
But there's another fact:
In the young cats, thymoma isn't very common, but in that location, and associated with the thymus, lymphoma/lymphosarcoma IS (in that age).
So as a young cat, with a lump there in the region of the thymus, an actual cancer of a lymphatic type (LSA) is more likely than benign thymoma.
Well that has two implications. More specific care for LSA (possibly including an additional drug) can help.
Or.....realizing (or discovering) that it's a terminal type cancer, release with dignity becomes possible.
See, the alternatives are to watch Gum limp into naught but a dark future.
I would skip all the tests and jump to the 'end of the story' and have the ultrasound run. I bet it's just another $350-$400
And then, if there really is a defined LUMP or MASS there, I would steel myself for the fairest treatment when suffering is obvious; which, in my opinion, would be release from a broken body BEFORE it's pitiful watching her try and make it function.
I am not predicting that.
I am just saying that knowing for sure that ANY sort of mass is there is probably important to knowing that Gummi will or will not be soon-suffering more.
I can answer any question, and try and help. I think you are in good hands with Ridgeway though.
Doc
The US here is 500, and I don't see the point. We can not afford open heart surgery to remove a lump, and truly I don't know if I even want to put her through that. She is responding so well to the prednisone, you would never know she was sick. She is so active, and has solid poop. Her breathing is still a bit raspy, but much much better than it has been. Dr. Ridgeway, (My Vet), feels like this is the best course of treatment for now. Her positive response points also to cancer. She will be loved, and made as comfortable as possible for as long as possible, but we are braced for the suffering to begin, and I know then that there will be difficult decisions to be made.
For now, I am simply loving her.
