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

[Pinot's Mom]

Tracey, we're all hoping Sunny gets a good report with you, and that Storm gets better, too!

IF the biopsy comes back (God forbid!) with a bad result for Sunny, please know Moesha and I have both been through it; we'd both be good sounding boards. I don't want to think that way, but I just wanted you to know. Keep us posted!

Maggie

[Moesha]

I have some transfer factor capsules if you would like, I could send some to you. I had some of it compounded, and Morgan would eat it that way. I would be glad to send that to you as well, but I think it may say it needs to be refrigerated.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Tracey, we're all hoping Sunny gets a good report with you, and that Storm gets better, too!

IF the biopsy comes back (God forbid!) with a bad result for Sunny, please know Moesha and I have both been through it; we'd both be good sounding boards. I don't want to think that way, but I just wanted you to know. Keep us posted!

Maggie

Thanks, hopefully his biopsy will come back noncancerous but if not I'm just going to have to be strong and try to keep Sunny as comfortable as possible and cherish the time that I have with him. I think this is the way that he'd want it if he could speak to me.

I have some transfer factor capsules if you would like, I could send some to you. I had some of it compounded, and Morgan would eat it that way. I would be glad to send that to you as well, but I think it may say it needs to be refrigerated.

Thanks for the offer. Let's see what happens first.

[catmandu]

What a sda story about Poor Sunny.
Is Sunny a Senior Kittyzen?
That sort of opertaion would be so hard on him ,I dont think I would have that done with Michael, Princess or Joseph either.
We are glad Stormys doing better.
Many Prayers , Head Bumps and Kitty Kissies are coming from All Of Us at The Found Cats Hotel!!!

[phesina]

Tracey, I am so very sorry. Love and prayers and candles for you and your brood.

Big hugs and purrs,
Pat and cats

[krazyaboutkatz]

What a sda story about Poor Sunny.
Is Sunny a Senior Kittyzen?
That sort of opertaion would be so hard on him ,I dont think I would have that done with Michael, Princess or Joseph either.
We are glad Stormys doing better.
Many Prayers , Head Bumps and Kitty Kissies are coming from All Of Us at The Found Cats Hotel!!!

Yes, my Sunny is only a little over 9 years old which does make him a senior but a young one at that.

Thanks everyone. The good news is that Sunny is still eating well. He also started meowing more and is acting more like his old self tonight. If he starts howling later tonight, then I'll know he's feeling good today. So far Storm's doing better too.

My wonderful caring compassionate vet e-mailed me today and said that she wants to call me on Sun. to talk more about Sunny. She works from Sun.-Wed. but will also e-mail me on her days off. Hopefully I'll learn more about what I can do to make him as comfortable as possible. Unfortunately cats don't do well on most pain meds.

[Moesha]

My vet gave Morgan a pain medicine called Torb or something like that after his tumor was removed. It is a narcotic. Then when he was still having trouble eating, they gave him some Metacam, even though it isn't usually given to cats due to other side effects, like the liver problems. We tried it with Morgan because we were dealing with a cancer patient, and thought that the benefits outweighed the possible risks at that point.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Hi I just received an e-mail from my vet about Storm. I guess I misunderstood her the other day and one of Storm's tests just came back. This is what she said:

Hi.
Storm's vit b12 level is normal but his folate is slightly low. This indicates that he has small intestinal disease that is higher in his intestinal tract and that the pancreas is ok. I think we should supplement him with 400mcg folic acid once daily x 6 weeks. You can get folic acid at most drug stores or GNC. The tabs are usually 800mcg, in which case you give 1/2 tablet daily. It is fine to crush and put in a small amount of chicken baby food or the canned EVO.


Endoscopy would likely be diagnostic, as the disease appears to be in the stomach and first part of the small intestine.


In terms of pred, give him 5 mg once daily x 4 weeks.
I will call when I have the biopsy results for Sunny.
-Rachel

[3Catcondo]

Sending good thoughts your way. I'm sorry that you all are going thru this.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I missed the call from my vet today which is just as well because the results aren't good at all. Here is what she e-mailed to me:

Hi Tracey,

The biopsy for Sunny is attached, and it indicates that he has squamous cell carcinoma. The prognosis for this disease is not good, usually months. The tumor tends to grow quiet large and is destructive. We could consider piroxicam, which is a NSAID that supposedly decreases the rate of growth, but it is metabolized by the kidneys and may make it worse. We can talk about it more.


-Rachel

I'm devastated. I hope to have more good quality time with Sunny than my vet predicts. I was already planning on taking time off between the Christmas and New Years and also the first week of Jan. so at least I'll get to spend some more time at home with him and the rest of my furkids. Thanks for all of your support.

[AmberLee]

{{{gentle hugs to you, Storm, and Sunny}}}

[Barbara]

Tracey I am so sorry that I read this only now. I am still away travelling and then normally I have less time for PT.
I am so sorry for Sunny- he was always my favorite among your gang and you know why. And it reminds me of Tigris of course. Let's hope there is some time to say goodbye and to spoil Sunny even more than he is already.
Lots of kisses to his little head.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Here are some new pictures of my Sunny boy: http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=157907. He's still looking good and acting normal.

[katladyd]

At first, I wondered why you didn't want to go with agressive treatments for Sunny. Mind you, I thought that was entirely your decision and I wasn't going to say anything, I just wondered why you wouldn't at least try chemo. Well, I know a lady who is currently being sent to see a specialist because they fear she has the same cancer Sunny has. She worked for years in the medical profession and she told me she wanted nothing to do with the surgery or chemo. She said the surgery was horrendous and the canceer many times came back. She also told me the chemo was often ineffectual and made you very sick. Though I know cats react much bette to chemo than humans, Sunny would still not feel well. She says if they find cancer in her jaw, she just wants radiation therapy, nothing else. After she filled me in on the details of just what the operation and chemo would be like, I thought of Sunny and realized you were doing the kind thing. You must love all of your cats very much because you put Sunny's comfort ahead of your feelings. Prayers are going out for all of you and may you have many happy months left with Sunny!

[krazyaboutkatz]

At first, I wondered why you didn't want to go with agressive treatments for Sunny. Mind you, I thought that was entirely your decision and I wasn't going to say anything, I just wondered why you wouldn't at least try chemo. Well, I know a lady who is currently being sent to see a specialist because they fear she has the same cancer Sunny has. She worked for years in the medical profession and she told me she wanted nothing to do with the surgery or chemo. She said the surgery was horrendous and the canceer many times came back. She also told me the chemo was often ineffectual and made you very sick. Though I know cats react much bette to chemo than humans, Sunny would still not feel well. She says if they find cancer in her jaw, she just wants radiation therapy, nothing else. After she filled me in on the details of just what the operation and chemo would be like, I thought of Sunny and realized you were doing the kind thing. You must love all of your cats very much because you put Sunny's comfort ahead of your feelings. Prayers are going out for all of you and may you have many happy months left with Sunny!

Thanks. Yes, I want my Sunny to remain as comfortable as possible and to live the rest of his life as normally as he can. When he stops eating or is in too much pain then I'll know that it's time to let him go. I would hate to keep him alive with no quality of life just for the sake of me. Even though it'll be hard to say goodbye, I want him to know that I'm making this choice because I love him so much. I'm glad that you now understand why I'm making this choice.