Oliver completed radiation!!

[emily_the_spoiled]

So Oliver has started his radiation therapy this morning. This now goes on for 3.5 weeks and then he is finished (I hope). Because he can't eat in the morning before getting radiation I managed to get the 9AM slot. Hopefully this will make things a little easier so he doesn't have to fast all day. (He is VERY loud when he is hungry)

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers that this will treat the cancer...

[ChrisH]

Hope all goes well. Prayers and positive thought on the way.

[Karen]

Awww, hope it all goes well. Miss Hoppy always was sleepy after her treatments, but the next day was back to her normal self!

[emily_the_spoiled]

H is back (and hungry)! He will be getting daily treatment for the next 3 and a half weeks. So this is my Christmas present to myself (and Oliver). The rest of the cats got a new cat tree

[phesina]

Sending loads of prayers and good wishes that all goes well with Oliver's radiation therapy and the results are positive.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Glad to hear Oliver was hungry. Sometimes those treatments take their appetite away. Lots of prayers on the way for you both. :love::love:

[Catty1]

Prayers for you and Oliver. A good appetite is great! The 3 1/2 weeks may seem long, but they will give you and Oliver more years. That's worth it! :):love:

[mbsmum]

Purrayers and good thoughts on the way to Oliver and his Meowmie.

[catmandu]

And our Awesome Angels will drop by from the Canary Islands with treats and warmth for our friend Oliver. We are all praying that Oliver is up and about very soon.:love::love::love:

[emily_the_spoiled]

Thanks for the wishes everyone. At least Oliver eats well when he is finished. The problem is that he has to fast from midnight onward. This means that he starts telling me at 2:40AM that he is hungry and he continued until the alarm went off at 7AM :rolleyes:

[Karen]

Thanks for the wishes everyone. At least Oliver eats well when he is finished. The problem is that he has to fast from midnight onward. This means that he starts telling me at 2:40AM that he is hungry and he continued until the alarm went off at 7AM :rolleyes:

Earplugs, Cheryl!

[emily_the_spoiled]

Already use ear plugs :rolleyes:

Because Oliver is deaf he has NO volume control and manages to wake me up through ear plugs and get everyone else in the house going. They tell me that he will get used to the routine after awhile. But something tells me that is only going to happen on those days he doesn't have treatment :rolleyes:

[momcat]

Many prayers and positive vibes are going out for Oliver as he goes through his radiation. Sending him gentle lovies. Please keep us updated on his progress?

[mrspunkysmom]

More Purrayers for Oliver and family.

[katladyd]

Sending good thoughts and prayers Oliver's way. Live long and prosper!:D

[emily_the_spoiled]

We have now had 3 treatment and he seems to be doing fine. He is still eating, sleeping, and telling me that he is hungry at 4AM :rolleyes:

The vet says that he is doing okay during the radiation. So far so good...

[Catty1]

We have now had 3 treatment and he seems to be doing fine. He is still eating, sleeping, and telling me that he is hungry at 4AM :rolleyes:

The vet says that he is doing okay during the radiation. So far so good...

Hungry at 4 am is always a good sign! :D

[emily_the_spoiled]

Oliver is always hungry! I don't think I have ever met a cat that is quite this food motivated. I can always tell when he is not well because he stops eating. As long as he is eating things are okay.

[emily_the_spoiled]

So we have now reached about 2/3 of the way through the treatment. Now including today's treatment, there are 6 more to go. So far he has had only a few side effects and thankfully none of them have effected his appetite (although I am not sure anything would :rolleyes:). The vet did warn me that the last few treatments are when they are likely to start seeing some side effects, so please keep your fingers crossed for him that they won't be too bad for him.

When I went to drop him off this AM, the radiation machine wasn't working and they were waiting for the repair person to come. I haven't heard back from them yet which likely means that it is going to take awhile to fix the machine ...

The vet also showed me this great video of Oliver opening the cage door and escaping. They tried a different closure the next day and he managed to open that also. They have now rigged something else up, but they tell me that he is still trying to get out. Since he has 7 more days there, I am pretty sure by the end he will have managed to figure it out again :rolleyes:

[Catty1]

What a clever boy! :D You'll have to add Houdini as a middle name!

I am glad the side effects have been few, and that any that do show up in the next 6 treatments are not too bad.

I take it his appetite has not been affected? ;)

What happens after the radiation is done? Is there a waiting period and then a test of some kind to give Oliver the all-clear?

[emily_the_spoiled]

After he finishes his radiation he is put on piroxicam in an attempt to prevent the cancer from coming back (similar to tamoxifen for breast cancer). Unfortunately there is no test he can be given to determine whether he is cancer free. I just have to cross my fingers and hope that is doesn't come back (along with the tamoxifen). There is a high probability that it will come back with a low 1-year survival rate. But if he makes it to one year he is likely to survive.

I am trying to keep positive thoughts about this because he had clean edges when they remove the cancer and it had not spread to the lymph nodes or lungs. When they tested the biopsy, they found that this particular type of cancer had a high mitotic rate (which means that is grows very quickly). So that is the down side, but this also means that it may be more responsive to the radiation.

[phesina]

More prayers and good wishes and healing energies for you from us, Oscar Houdini! (What a clever boy you are!)

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[mrspunkysmom]

Oliver is always hungry! I don't think I have ever met a cat that is quite this food motivated. I can always tell when he is not well because he stops eating. As long as he is eating things are okay.

Prayers for a hungry and well Oliver and I hope that radiation does its job.

Hugs to Emily_the_spoiled

[emily_the_spoiled]

Oliver is now starting to experience some side effects from the radiation and he is having a difficult time eating :(

The vet has put him on pain meds and antibiotics, so hopefully this will help him.

He only has 4 more treatments to go and then he is finished...

[Karen]

Oh, hang in there Oliver, this will all make you feel better eventually!

[snakemama]

Keep fighting Oliver, the radiation is almost over!!

[momcat]

Please know that your sweet Oliver is very much in my thoughts and prayers for a complete recovery. I'm sending him some very gentle get well soon lovies. :love: Please keep us updated on his progress.

[Catty1]

You're almost there Oliver! Prayers going out! :love::love::love:

[mrspunkysmom]

Keep on, Oliver! Our purrayers are with you. Head Bumps from my krew and chin scritches from me.

[phesina]

Sending loads of love and good wishes and prayers and healing energies for dearest Oliver, that the medications and the radiation are doing their jobs, the pain and discomfort will soon be over, and he will undergo a complete recovery.

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[emily_the_spoiled]

We are down to only 2 more treatments and will be finished on Friday. He is definitely reading to be finished with this, as he told me starting at 4:30AM :rolleyes:

He has also decided that this cold weather is definitely over done. I even warm the car up for him before I take him out but he howls from the front door until I get him into the car :D

[Karen]

Just 2 to go, that's great! And it will warm up soon, so they say - for you guys anyway!

[Catty1]

Almost there, Oliver and meowmie! :love:

[katladyd]

Hang in there, precious Oliver! You are almost done with radiation and then you will begin to enjoy life with your Meowmie for a long time!:love:

[Reggie2011]

Happy thoughts your way! Hope things go well!

[emily_the_spoiled]

Oliver has now completed his radiation therapy!!! We go back in a couple of weeks for a follow up appointment and then he is on medication for the rest of his life. (So hopefully there will not be a re-occurance)

But right now we are all very happy :D:D:D (but none more so than Oliver!)

[phesina]

Congratulations, OLIVER!!!!!

:love::love::love::love::love::love::love::love:

[Karen]

Yay! Happy milestone reached! Congratulations to everyone involved!

[mbsmum]

Congratulations Oliver. All the best and no more reoccurence.

[Randi]

I'm so glad to hear that Oliver has finished his treatment, he must be a happy boy. Love him and spoil him all you can - and give him some kisses from me, too. :love:

Any chance of a picture of him in the near future?

[emily_the_spoiled]

Right now he still doesn't have all his hair back from when he had surgery in November (to remove the tumour and rebuild part of his jaw). So he is looking pretty rough.

They did tell me that one side effect of radiation is that the hair in the area irradiated may grow back white. But in his case it doesn't matter because he is an all white cat. So that is the only good thing about this entire process. (That and everyone at the vet's office fell in love with him)

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Oliver I'm so happy for you and your mommy too!!! :love::love:

[Catty1]

YAAY! Oliver, may you have a long, healthy, happy life! What's not to fall in love with? You're a wonderful boy. Hugs to your mom who saw you through this and tolerated your early morning YELLING because she loves you!:D:love::love::love:

[smokey the elder]

Good for you, Oliver! I hope you kick that nasty cancer's butt.

[momcat]

Hi Oliver :D
I'm not at all surprised to hear that everyone at your whitecoat's office fell in love with you. Your PT fans fell in love with you right away. It's great to know that your radiation is now completed. Hang in therre, sweetie, you'll be back to your usual self in no time and I'm still praying for you. Please ask your Meowmie to give you lots of gentle lovies from me? :love: :love: :love:

[DJFyrewolf36]

Glad to see Oliver is done with treatment! :love: Sending good thoughts his way for his continued healing.

[emily_the_spoiled]

So far he seems to be doing okay without too many side effects. But he was spoiled while he was in radiation and got all kinds of mushy canned food. Now that is what he wants to eat all the time instead of the home made food :rolleyes:

[catmandu]

We are so pleased that Oliver is done with his radiation and we all at the Found Cat Hotel and Our Awesome Angels are all praying for your Dear Cat Companion.:love::love::love: