Ovaban and cancer in cats
Question:
Thank you Tally for your encouraging post. It’s good to know Tardy lived several years after the tumor was removed. My vet said he hoped Bodhi would have at least two years cancer-free, and he did say the margins looked good and that we caught the tumor early while it was small. Though he did seem to be a bit doubtful about Bodhi’s eventual outcome, I’m going to hope for the best. Thanks for the positive words and I’ll certainly visit the website you recommended. I do hope people will read posts like this and heed the warning about ovaban — some vets where I live do still use it as they feel it’s worth the risk, but my vetfelt it was a strong possibility that the ovaban caused the tumor. Of course, we’ll never know, but I do know, I’ll never give another cat ovaban again. Thanks again — cancer is just such an unpredictable disease — I hope my Bodhi is as lucky as Tardy. Take care. Linda
Response:
Hi – I’d appreciate any off the record professional or anecdotal advice on the following: My 12 year old male cat just had a cancerous tumor removed from under one of his nipples. It had been there about two months before I took him to the vet who removed it surgically after it didn’t respond to antibiotics. The biopsy came back malignant. Several years ago (about 10) my cat, Bodhi, was put on Ovaban (estrogen) for over grooming himself. The vet told me this would help his nerves. It did help the over grooming but then about 4 years after being on it, I took him to another vet who was horrified that this other vet had him on Ovaban and immediately took him off, saying Ovaban had been known to cause cancer and "would kill my cat" if I continued to give it too him. Now, years later, it seems the second vet proved her point. My question is, the lump was not noticed in his routine exam 6 months ago but it was there for about 2 months before I realized it was something that need attention. Can the cancer have spread into his lymph system or other organs in the amount of time he had it before the surgery? The vet said the surrounding margins "looked good" but I have known women with breast cancer who have had tumors removed only to have cancer reappear in other parts of the body. Has anybody ever experienced this with cats, where the cancer was caught in time and did not recur — or is this just going to be a matter of wait and see. I guess there’s no way for the vets to know if the cancer has gone anywhere else? I certainly wish I’d taken him to the vet when I first saw it, but honestly thought it was an abscess from a scuffle with one of our other cats. And to other people who have had vets recommend ovaban for over grooming, please, don’t give it to your animal. Over grooming can cause fur balls which in themselves can cause stomach problems, but I would rather deal with the fur balls in other ways than with ovaban treatment. Bald areas can be unsightly, but cancer is deadly. Thanks for any advice or information on this topic. Linda
Response:
I’m so sorry. Yes, I’ve heard nasty things about Ovaban. It is a female estrogen replacement and used to be widely prescribed for behavioral problems like overgrooming and spraying before vets became more aware of the long term side effects. But, if its any comfort to you, my cat Tardy had this exact same problem – a tumor in his nipple, and he was never on Ovaban, so this may not be the cause of your kitty’s tumor either. Don’t beat yourself up over this. No one will ever know why your cat developed a tumor or what might have triggered it. Its hard to say over the internet if the tumor has metasticized or not. It’s hard for a vet to know. Did you ask about chemotherapy and whether or not it might be appropriate? You might want to check out Jeff & Diane’s site as well as Vetinfo for some information about feline cancer. There are several different kinds of tumors, and some respond well to chemotherapy. Jeff & Diane’s site has a lot of information on chemotherapy. You will find both websites linked on this page: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/9352/catlinkspage.html Usually the pathologist will note whether or not the margins around the excised tumor look good, meaning clear of any cancer cells. It’s a pretty good guess that the tumor was completely removed, but like anything else in life, nothing is 100% certain. However, I think its a pretty good prognosis. If you are feeling uncomfortable about this, talk to your vet again or see another vet for a second opinion. If you do, be sure and take a copy of your kitty’s records (which you are legally entitled to have) and especially the pathologist’s report. By the way, Tardy lived for several years after the tumor was removed and did very well indeed. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi – I’d appreciate any off the record professional or anecdotal advice > on the following: > My 12 year old male cat just had a cancerous tumor removed from under > one of his nipples. It had been there about two months before I took > him > to the vet who removed it surgically after it didn’t respond to > antibiotics. > The biopsy came back malignant. > Several years ago (about 10) my cat, Bodhi, was put on Ovaban (estrogen) > for over grooming himself. The vet told me this would help his nerves. > It > did help the over grooming but then about 4 years after being on it, I > took him > to another vet who was horrified that this other vet had him on Ovaban > and immediately > took him off, saying Ovaban had been known to cause cancer and "would > kill > my cat" if I continued to give it too him. > Now, years later, it seems the second vet proved her point. My question > is, > the lump was not noticed in his routine exam 6 months ago but it was > there for > about 2 months before I realized it was something that need attention. > Can the > cancer have spread into his lymph system or other organs in the amount > of time > he had it before the surgery? The vet said the surrounding margins > "looked good" > but I have known women with breast cancer who have had tumors removed > only > to have cancer reappear in other parts of the body. Has anybody ever > experienced > this with cats, where the cancer was caught in time and did not recur — > or is this just going > to be a matter of wait and see. I guess there’s no way for the vets to > know if the > cancer has gone anywhere else? I certainly wish I’d taken him to the > vet when I > first saw it, but honestly thought it was an abscess from a scuffle with > one of our > other cats. > And to other people who have had vets recommend ovaban for over > grooming, > please, don’t give it to your animal. Over grooming can cause fur balls > which in > themselves can cause stomach problems, but I would rather deal with the > fur > balls in other ways than with ovaban treatment. Bald areas can be > unsightly, but cancer > is deadly. > Thanks for any advice or information on this topic. Linda
– Tally’s Page Cat Health & Behavior Links, Special Remembrances, Animal Issues & Photos! http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/9352/index.html
Response:
Thank you Tally for your encouraging post. It’s good to know Tardy lived several years after the tumor was removed. My vet said he hoped Bodhi would have at least two years cancer-free, and he did say the margins looked good and that we caught the tumor early while it was small. Though he did seem to be a bit doubtful about Bodhi’s eventual outcome, I’m going to hope for the best. Thanks for the positive words and I’ll certainly visit the website you recommended. I do hope people will read posts like this and heed the warning about ovaban — some vets where I live do still use it as they feel it’s worth the risk, but my vetfelt it was a strong possibility that the ovaban caused the tumor. Of course, we’ll never know, but I do know, I’ll never give another cat ovaban again. Thanks again — cancer is just such an unpredictable disease — I hope my Bodhi is as lucky as Tardy. Take care. Linda
Response:
Hi – I’d appreciate any off the record professional or anecdotal advice on the following: My 12 year old male cat just had a cancerous tumor removed from under one of his nipples. It had been there about two months before I took him to the vet who removed it surgically after it didn’t respond to antibiotics. The biopsy came back malignant. Several years ago (about 10) my cat, Bodhi, was put on Ovaban (estrogen) for over grooming himself. The vet told me this would help his nerves. It did help the over grooming but then about 4 years after being on it, I took him to another vet who was horrified that this other vet had him on Ovaban and immediately took him off, saying Ovaban had been known to cause cancer and "would kill my cat" if I continued to give it too him. Now, years later, it seems the second vet proved her point. My question is, the lump was not noticed in his routine exam 6 months ago but it was there for about 2 months before I realized it was something that need attention. Can the cancer have spread into his lymph system or other organs in the amount of time he had it before the surgery? The vet said the surrounding margins "looked good" but I have known women with breast cancer who have had tumors removed only to have cancer reappear in other parts of the body. Has anybody ever experienced this with cats, where the cancer was caught in time and did not recur — or is this just going to be a matter of wait and see. I guess there’s no way for the vets to know if the cancer has gone anywhere else? I certainly wish I’d taken him to the vet when I first saw it, but honestly thought it was an abscess from a scuffle with one of our other cats. And to other people who have had vets recommend ovaban for over grooming, please, don’t give it to your animal. Over grooming can cause fur balls which in themselves can cause stomach problems, but I would rather deal with the fur balls in other ways than with ovaban treatment. Bald areas can be unsightly, but cancer is deadly. Thanks for any advice or information on this topic. Linda
Response:
I’m so sorry. Yes, I’ve heard nasty things about Ovaban. It is a female estrogen replacement and used to be widely prescribed for behavioral problems like overgrooming and spraying before vets became more aware of the long term side effects. But, if its any comfort to you, my cat Tardy had this exact same problem – a tumor in his nipple, and he was never on Ovaban, so this may not be the cause of your kitty’s tumor either. Don’t beat yourself up over this. No one will ever know why your cat developed a tumor or what might have triggered it. Its hard to say over the internet if the tumor has metasticized or not. It’s hard for a vet to know. Did you ask about chemotherapy and whether or not it might be appropriate? You might want to check out Jeff & Diane’s site as well as Vetinfo for some information about feline cancer. There are several different kinds of tumors, and some respond well to chemotherapy. Jeff & Diane’s site has a lot of information on chemotherapy. You will find both websites linked on this page: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/9352/catlinkspage.html Usually the pathologist will note whether or not the margins around the excised tumor look good, meaning clear of any cancer cells. It’s a pretty good guess that the tumor was completely removed, but like anything else in life, nothing is 100% certain. However, I think its a pretty good prognosis. If you are feeling uncomfortable about this, talk to your vet again or see another vet for a second opinion. If you do, be sure and take a copy of your kitty’s records (which you are legally entitled to have) and especially the pathologist’s report. By the way, Tardy lived for several years after the tumor was removed and did very well indeed. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi – I’d appreciate any off the record professional or anecdotal advice > on the following: > My 12 year old male cat just had a cancerous tumor removed from under > one of his nipples. It had been there about two months before I took > him > to the vet who removed it surgically after it didn’t respond to > antibiotics. > The biopsy came back malignant. > Several years ago (about 10) my cat, Bodhi, was put on Ovaban (estrogen) > for over grooming himself. The vet told me this would help his nerves. > It > did help the over grooming but then about 4 years after being on it, I > took him > to another vet who was horrified that this other vet had him on Ovaban > and immediately > took him off, saying Ovaban had been known to cause cancer and "would > kill > my cat" if I continued to give it too him. > Now, years later, it seems the second vet proved her point. My question > is, > the lump was not noticed in his routine exam 6 months ago but it was > there for > about 2 months before I realized it was something that need attention. > Can the > cancer have spread into his lymph system or other organs in the amount > of time > he had it before the surgery? The vet said the surrounding margins > "looked good" > but I have known women with breast cancer who have had tumors removed > only > to have cancer reappear in other parts of the body. Has anybody ever > experienced > this with cats, where the cancer was caught in time and did not recur — > or is this just going > to be a matter of wait and see. I guess there’s no way for the vets to > know if the > cancer has gone anywhere else? I certainly wish I’d taken him to the > vet when I > first saw it, but honestly thought it was an abscess from a scuffle with > one of our > other cats. > And to other people who have had vets recommend ovaban for over > grooming, > please, don’t give it to your animal. Over grooming can cause fur balls > which in > themselves can cause stomach problems, but I would rather deal with the > fur > balls in other ways than with ovaban treatment. Bald areas can be > unsightly, but cancer > is deadly. > Thanks for any advice or information on this topic. Linda
– Tally’s Page Cat Health & Behavior Links, Special Remembrances, Animal Issues & Photos! http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/9352/index.html
Response:
Thank you Tally for your encouraging post. It’s good to know Tardy lived several years after the tumor was removed. My vet said he hoped Bodhi would have at least two years cancer-free, and he did say the margins looked good and that we caught the tumor early while it was small. Though he did seem to be a bit doubtful about Bodhi’s eventual outcome, I’m going to hope for the best. Thanks for the positive words and I’ll certainly visit the website you recommended. I do hope people will read posts like this and heed the warning about ovaban — some vets where I live do still use it as they feel it’s worth the risk, but my vetfelt it was a strong possibility that the ovaban caused the tumor. Of course, we’ll never know, but I do know, I’ll never give another cat ovaban again. Thanks again — cancer is just such an unpredictable disease — I hope my Bodhi is as lucky as Tardy. Take care. Linda
Response:
Hi – I’d appreciate any off the record professional or anecdotal advice on the following: My 12 year old male cat just had a cancerous tumor removed from under one of his nipples. It had been there about two months before I took him to the vet who removed it surgically after it didn’t respond to antibiotics. The biopsy came back malignant. Several years ago (about 10) my cat, Bodhi, was put on Ovaban (estrogen) for over grooming himself. The vet told me this would help his nerves. It did help the over grooming but then about 4 years after being on it, I took him to another vet who was horrified that this other vet had him on Ovaban and immediately took him off, saying Ovaban had been known to cause cancer and "would kill my cat" if I continued to give it too him. Now, years later, it seems the second vet proved her point. My question is, the lump was not noticed in his routine exam 6 months ago but it was there for about 2 months before I realized it was something that need attention. Can the cancer have spread into his lymph system or other organs in the amount of time he had it before the surgery? The vet said the surrounding margins "looked good" but I have known women with breast cancer who have had tumors removed only to have cancer reappear in other parts of the body. Has anybody ever experienced this with cats, where the cancer was caught in time and did not recur — or is this just going to be a matter of wait and see. I guess there’s no way for the vets to know if the cancer has gone anywhere else? I certainly wish I’d taken him to the vet when I first saw it, but honestly thought it was an abscess from a scuffle with one of our other cats. And to other people who have had vets recommend ovaban for over grooming, please, don’t give it to your animal. Over grooming can cause fur balls which in themselves can cause stomach problems, but I would rather deal with the fur balls in other ways than with ovaban treatment. Bald areas can be unsightly, but cancer is deadly. Thanks for any advice or information on this topic. Linda
Response:
I’m so sorry. Yes, I’ve heard nasty things about Ovaban. It is a female estrogen replacement and used to be widely prescribed for behavioral problems like overgrooming and spraying before vets became more aware of the long term side effects. But, if its any comfort to you, my cat Tardy had this exact same problem – a tumor in his nipple, and he was never on Ovaban, so this may not be the cause of your kitty’s tumor either. Don’t beat yourself up over this. No one will ever know why your cat developed a tumor or what might have triggered it. Its hard to say over the internet if the tumor has metasticized or not. It’s hard for a vet to know. Did you ask about chemotherapy and whether or not it might be appropriate? You might want to check out Jeff & Diane’s site as well as Vetinfo for some information about feline cancer. There are several different kinds of tumors, and some respond well to chemotherapy. Jeff & Diane’s site has a lot of information on chemotherapy. You will find both websites linked on this page: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/9352/catlinkspage.html Usually the pathologist will note whether or not the margins around the excised tumor look good, meaning clear of any cancer cells. It’s a pretty good guess that the tumor was completely removed, but like anything else in life, nothing is 100% certain. However, I think its a pretty good prognosis. If you are feeling uncomfortable about this, talk to your vet again or see another vet for a second opinion. If you do, be sure and take a copy of your kitty’s records (which you are legally entitled to have) and especially the pathologist’s report. By the way, Tardy lived for several years after the tumor was removed and did very well indeed. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Hi – I’d appreciate any off the record professional or anecdotal advice > on the following: > My 12 year old male cat just had a cancerous tumor removed from under > one of his nipples. It had been there about two months before I took > him > to the vet who removed it surgically after it didn’t respond to > antibiotics. > The biopsy came back malignant. > Several years ago (about 10) my cat, Bodhi, was put on Ovaban (estrogen) > for over grooming himself. The vet told me this would help his nerves. > It > did help the over grooming but then about 4 years after being on it, I > took him > to another vet who was horrified that this other vet had him on Ovaban > and immediately > took him off, saying Ovaban had been known to cause cancer and "would > kill > my cat" if I continued to give it too him. > Now, years later, it seems the second vet proved her point. My question > is, > the lump was not noticed in his routine exam 6 months ago but it was > there for > about 2 months before I realized it was something that need attention. > Can the > cancer have spread into his lymph system or other organs in the amount > of time > he had it before the surgery? The vet said the surrounding margins > "looked good" > but I have known women with breast cancer who have had tumors removed > only > to have cancer reappear in other parts of the body. Has anybody ever > experienced > this with cats, where the cancer was caught in time and did not recur — > or is this just going > to be a matter of wait and see. I guess there’s no way for the vets to > know if the > cancer has gone anywhere else? I certainly wish I’d taken him to the > vet when I > first saw it, but honestly thought it was an abscess from a scuffle with > one of our > other cats. > And to other people who have had vets recommend ovaban for over > grooming, > please, don’t give it to your animal. Over grooming can cause fur balls > which in > themselves can cause stomach problems, but I would rather deal with the > fur > balls in other ways than with ovaban treatment. Bald areas can be > unsightly, but cancer > is deadly. > Thanks for any advice or information on this topic. Linda
– Tally’s Page Cat Health & Behavior Links, Special Remembrances, Animal Issues & Photos! http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/9352/index.html
Response:
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