Latest Update 12-9-09 Storm's Been Diagnosed & Sunny's Biopsy Results

[krazyaboutkatz]

Bravo Tracey!!

This is exactly what we will do if a similar situation arises with one of our cats.

Thanks Grace. I'm glad that to hear this and that you understand.

You just let me know if there's anything I can do, or if you need any information from me. My prayers are with you and Sunny. If you drop off, you know I'll be contacting you!

Maggie

Thanks so much Maggie. I most likely will have some questions for you in the future.

Sorry, Tracey.

The photodynamic thing looked really hopeful to me, as a dye is injected that lights up the cancer cells, and the laser is trained to hit THOSE cells, not the healthy ones. The dye is a newer development.

Kaiser Permanente uses PDT, as do many dermatologists. Whether a researcher at KP would give this a go, or know a vet who would, I don't know.

It was just a thought...it seemed non-invasive, no "surgery" as such, and effective and I thought there might be a hope.

Hugs to Sunny.

Candace, I know that you only meant to provide me with information that could possibly help my Sunny. I'm sure that if there was a vet out in my area that did this that my vet would know about it. She specializes in felines, is preparing to become board certified in feline medicine,which she may have already done,and she's also doing a fellowship at U.C. Davis. Thanks for your research work.

[Nomilynn]

I wish I knew what to say.. I feel kind of at a loss for words. You are in my thoughts though, and my prayers daily.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Oh no.......... , I just saw this thread because you made a crss-thread on cat General.....
I'm so sorry Tracey...! Sunny is still a youngster in my eyes, 9 years isn't that old yet . I completely agree with what you've decided to do! Enjoy Sunny as much as you can, and make his last months with you as comfortable as possible! I'm sending you tons of hugs!!!
Please give Storm and the others a good hug too! Maya wants to know how her Sky is doing. She hopes he is NOT hissing at poor Sunny

[Barbara]

No, I've decided not to. I've heard that it tastes very nasty and I don't want to force this on him. I also remember that Emeraldgreen's cat Tiger also had this form of cancer and she tried this on him without any luck. I researched many holistic sites and nothing will cure this cancer or any cancer. It only prolongs the inevitable.




My vet called me a little while ago. She's been so busy today and she had to do 2 surgeries. She told me that there's not much that can be done with this type of cancer. Surgery isn't recommended because they can't get clean margins so it just comes back. She could refer me to an oncologist to possibly put Sunny through radiation or chemotherapy but this has no guarantee of working and it's very expensive. I'm already in a lot of debt so I just can't afford this kind of treatment.

I've decided to just do nothing at this point except to enjoy my Sunny boy and cherish every momemt that I have with him. I'll keep my vet updated monthly about him and when he needs some pain meds then I'll give them to him. My vet said that I may have 3-5 months left with him. She also said that his kidney values are on the high normal side. This is why I don't want to use any pain meds that will attack his kidneys because then I'd have much less time with him. We can use pain patches or the Buprenex that I was giving him after his dental. I hope that you don't think that I'm a bad cat meowmie by making this decision. Thanks again for all of the emotional support.

I am completely with you. I am very unhappy that Tigris had to go through that biopsy - but without that we hadn't even known whether it was cancer and the vet and we both hoped it would be something treatable. But when you know this already I would never put him through surgery, radiation, bad tasting medicine or anything the like. Sunny is happy now and will be ok to go in some time. You will by no means be ready and the pain will stay fresh for a long time but this is the thing we have to suffer for our love.

[gini]

Tracey - your story is very close to home for me. I have been where you are.

All I can say is that the time you have with Sunny will become one of your fondest memories. What is ahead is not pleasant - but as Barbara said,
when we love our animals as we do - this is just part of it.

You have my prayers and good thoughts of comfort for you and Sunny.

[krazyaboutkatz]

How is everyone doing this morning, including you, Tracey?

Hi Mary, thanks for asking. I'm doing okay and Sunny is still doing well. He's still eating well and he talks to me and some times he'll also do his howling in the hall way. I haven't seen him run around and play with his siblings though.

Yesterday he slept a lot more and I think that his tumor is already starting to get a bit bigger. We had a nice cuddle session this morning before I got up and I'm really going to miss this. I only have 6 more days of work this year,if I have to work on Sat. then it would be 7,and then I'll be able to be home and enjoy my Sunny and hopefully we'll have some good quality time together.

I really do need to charge my batteries and take some pictures of him before he gets too bad and also the rest of my cats. Time goes by so quickly and I'd hate to miss out on taking some more memorable pictures.

I am completely with you. I am very unhappy that Tigris had to go through that biopsy - but without that we hadn't even known whether it was cancer and the vet and we both hoped it would be something treatable. But when you know this already I would never put him through surgery, radiation, bad tasting medicine or anything the like. Sunny is happy now and will be ok to go in some time. You will by no means be ready and the pain will stay fresh for a long time but this is the thing we have to suffer for our love.

Thanks Barbara. I know you understand what I'm going through.

Tracey - your story is very close to home for me. I have been where you are.

All I can say is that the time you have with Sunny will become one of your fondest memories. What is ahead is not pleasant - but as Barbara said,
when we love our animals as we do - this is just part of it.

You have my prayers and good thoughts of comfort for you and Sunny.

Thanks Gini. I hope to have many wonderful memories of my Sunny boy.

[Pinot's Mom]

Pictures now are a very good idea. As Gini said, what is ahead is not pleasant, and you don't want to look back and regret not taking them. Enjoy the cuddles and time with Sunny.

[Kirsten]

... But when you know this already I would never put him through surgery, radiation, bad tasting medicine or anything the like. Sunny is happy now and will be ok to go in some time. You will by no means be ready and the pain will stay fresh for a long time but this is the thing we have to suffer for our love.

I agree! I think with a diagnosis like that, I think the best you can do is to give your kitty as much quality time as possible. At least this is what I would most likely do if it happened to one of my girls...

Kirsten

[Anikaca77]

My prays are still coming for both Storm and Sunny.

Melissa

[Pinot's Mom]

How are Sunny and Storm?

[krazyaboutkatz]

How are Sunny and Storm?

Hi Maggie. Thanks for asking. So far both of them are doing well. Sunny is sleeping a bit more than usual and he still isn't running and playing with his siblings but he does everything else normally. He seems like he wants to play because he'll howl in the hall way and he'll have mice with him but if one of his siblings starts to play with him he'll run away. He may be playing when I'm not watching him though.

Storm gave me a bit of a scare today. He was using the litter box and nothing was coming out. He then hopped out of the box and small piece of poo fell off of him onto my carpet. I then thought that he was constipated so I opened up a can of pumpkin. Storm doesn't like it so I had to put some in his mouth. Sky and Ziggy came over and also ate some because they love it. Then Storm went to another litter box and he made a big pile of poo in it. Now there's no way that the pumpkin could work that fast so he must be okay now. Sorry for being so graphic.

I have my batteries charged so I hope to be able to take some good pictures soon. I like to take them during the day so hopefully I'll be able to take some good pictures tomorrow. Thanks again everyone for continuing to send prayers to both Storm and Sunny.