Today was the day that I took Weasel to the Emergency Vet Clinic to have an ultrasound as well as X-Ray done. His demeanour and health this past year (although there have been many 'down spells'), has more or less been great. After being informed that Weasel had only 3 months to live, and defying those odds, I really thought that I would have a glory moment today - showing the vets that miracles can happen.
Well, I have to say that my emotions have been thrown back to how I felt a year ago - again. Dr. Haghighat was very kind and warned me that what I will hear will scare me, as vets can make news seem terrifying. He told me to focus on the positive progress we've made and not to let today consume me. It's hard not to though.
The good news is that the pancreatic tumour has shrunk by 1 cm. The bad news is that a tumour has formed on his liver that is 6 cm. Based on the growth of this tumour, the vet predicted that Weasel has a year at best. The two tumours are not even connected. They float over each other as separate entities so it's not an extension of the original one. Once again, surgery would be far too hard on the cat and would require a gruelling and long recovery time with drugs for the rest of his life. I personally think that inflicting that kind of torment on an animal will kill them faster. My goal is to give him as much quality of life as I possibly can and lots of love.
I thought I had mentally prepared myself for whatever comes next..thankful for the year I had but I can see that when the day comes, it could be a horrific ordeal as the vet warned me that the tumour can burst, causing internal bleeding, so Weasel would go down quickly and painfully as well. Seeing someone you love die in such a horrible manner is more than I can comprehend.
On a plus note, the regimes I have been following - which have been focused on the pancreas, seem to be effective; however, we haven't isolated the cancer growth so inevitably, more tumours will emerge. The challenge is administering more and more stuff that targets each area. Milk Thistle for instance is great for liver cancer but Weasel refuses to touch it, and disguising pills in a pill pocket is a dead end street. So even though there are protocols out there that would help, I'm doubtful I can give it to my kitty who is so difficult.
Melissa, we went back to see Dr H today with Rambo, and Weasel came up, which reminded me to pay a visit to your blog. (I'd also recalled that an ultrasound was coming up, and I wanted to see how it went.)
ReplyDeleteOnce again I feel compelled to write you, seeing as we are going through some similarities with our babies...
I know this may not mean a lot as we don't know each other, but please, please, do NOT let all of your terrific achievements of the past year+ be eradicated by one little day! One 365th fraction of a year!! You have managed, without chemo or radiation, to SHRINK a tumour!! That is incredible!!!
You don't know if another tumour would have popped up sooner, or if multiple tumours would have popped up, or what the other 'what-if's' would be had you not taken the route you took with Weasel over the past year or so. As happens so often in humans, cancer is a horrible, disgusting disease that may or may not multiply. Even as it has in Weasel's case, where it's unrelated to the first tumour. You simply took a look inside Weasel's body and discovered some change. It's not great news by any stretch of the imagination, and God knows, for a second there while reading your post, I was back at the veterinary emerg clinic myself, hysterical and inconsolable, receiving the news of Rambo's 5 cm tumour.
You cannot let that wear you down. Don't let the vet scare you into hysteria (the way they did with me and their "he may have hours. days. weeks." WTH is that??). You have come this far. You have done so much good for the little guy! He is here because of the steps and treatments you chose for him. You can continue on that very same path.
Accept this as what it is - a day in your life - and dust yourself off and go back to your path. Will there be obstacles, perhaps supplements or herbs he doesn't like? Maybe. (You may open up a make-shift "drug lab" as I called it, lol, on your kitchen table and have to encapsulate empty capsules with Chinese herbs as his Highness refused to eat it in his food.) But so what. You have had over 12 wonderful months with Weasel!!! Every day is a blessing with him, and you can enjoy every day, instead of letting this get you down.
Don't let cancer win.
You need a visit with our "shrink," as I call him, Dr H, to bring positivity back into your life, as he has done so often already for me.
I am thinking of you guys and sending you many positive thoughts.
Hugs,
Arezoo
Hi Arezoo,
DeleteThank you so much for your compassion and kindness!! Your passion toward the situation certainly shows that we are indeed sharing similar 'highs and lows' I'll call it. I’m so sorry you had to experience the terrible sensation that overcomes one when they told you of Rambo’s tumour. In that moment, it feels as though all options are unfathomable or non-existent. Thank goodness for people like Dr. Haghighat who help us to make it possible to have an extra year or more with our fur babies and to be able to reflect on how great the strides are that were taken.
Your comments do help to give me a better perspective on things and they do mean a lot. It’s touching to know that people care either about one’s own personal situation or share that love and passion toward their own pets.
Great points regarding the fact that maybe we prevented multiple tumours from popping up…perhaps ‘two’ is the good outcome. It’s true that thinking about this positively really changes the perspective on the situation.
Boy are you ever correct in stating that Dr. H is a shrink! Hahaha..I didn't think of it before but yes, he's the first person I reach out to when horrible news comes my way regarding Weasel. And yes, you're correct, I feel 100% better after our chat.
I had to laugh reading 'as his highness refused to eat it in his food' :). Yup, you got that right and yes, there is a lot of fuss that's required, but heck, it's worth it for our Rambo and Weasel.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and reaching out!!
Big hugs to you and Rambo ☺
Oh, Melissa. I'm so sorry about the discovery of another tumour. My heart sank at reading those words, but I agree that you have made great strides in Weasel's health. Just remember, they told you three months. It's been over a year. Your love for Weasel really shines through in your posts and I know you are, and will be, ever so in tune with his quality of life. I know that sadness and fear you feel at the thought of losing Weasel. I'd like you to read this: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/237066/when-the-moment-comes
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole,
DeleteThank you so much for your kind words :). Your comments are very touching and the article you shared brought me to tears..wow, that person is an incredible writer and really hit the mark on that topic. He made a 'grizzly' end seem so poetic and beautiful really. Thank you so much for sharing that. I may create a post that includes that piece when my own time arrives one 'dreaded' day.
I loved his remark regarding 'that bundle of fur will get under your skin'. In a perfectly wonderful way, our kitties certainly do :).
You're very welcome, Melissa. These kitties really do something to us. The love is SO great. Keeping you and Weasel in my thoughts...
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