Hi everyone - I am new to this site, but desperately am looking for people who adore their cats as much as I do... and who might be able to talk straight with me.
My furbaby is 11.5 years old - she had her first mast cell tumor removed in July 2010. A second set of 3 removed in October 2010 - and most recently, a set of 7 all along her body removed the beginning of December 2010. This latest surgery was very radical (as per the vet) and the incision stretched from her back leg to her chest.
Behaviorally - she is perfectly the same as she's always been. Loves her treats, loves her toys, and loves cuddling with her mama. If anything, she has become MORE cuddly since all of this (someone told me this means she knows she is dying... which really wasn't what I wanted to hear).
The pathologist and the oncologist both recommended after the last surgery that I do an ultrasound and biopsy the speen, liver, and lymph nodes. Should they find something - chemotherapy is the treatment of choice, although they've made it clear that chemotherapy in mast cell tumors has uncertain outcomes and they can't guarantee that it would prolong her life or improve the quality of it. My furbaby hates the vet and is stressed for days after a visit - after a surgery, she isn't herself for another week. With the help of my vet (whom I adore), I've opted not to do the ultrasound as I believe putting her through chemotherapy is not the choice best for her.
If you've read until this point, thank you so much.
Basically - what I am hoping to know is... if your kitty was diagnosed with a mast cell tumors on the skin, and you opted against chemotherapy... at what point did you stop doing surgery to remove them? How long until the quality of life was impacted? What pain meds did you use, if any, and at what point? How much time do I have?
I'm sorry to ask someone who is going through this to relive and share their story with me. I just need someone to help me know what is ahead. The idea of waiting here for her to die is heartbreaking. I adore everything about this cat - she is my soulmate.
My furbaby is 11.5 years old - she had her first mast cell tumor removed in July 2010. A second set of 3 removed in October 2010 - and most recently, a set of 7 all along her body removed the beginning of December 2010. This latest surgery was very radical (as per the vet) and the incision stretched from her back leg to her chest.
Behaviorally - she is perfectly the same as she's always been. Loves her treats, loves her toys, and loves cuddling with her mama. If anything, she has become MORE cuddly since all of this (someone told me this means she knows she is dying... which really wasn't what I wanted to hear).
The pathologist and the oncologist both recommended after the last surgery that I do an ultrasound and biopsy the speen, liver, and lymph nodes. Should they find something - chemotherapy is the treatment of choice, although they've made it clear that chemotherapy in mast cell tumors has uncertain outcomes and they can't guarantee that it would prolong her life or improve the quality of it. My furbaby hates the vet and is stressed for days after a visit - after a surgery, she isn't herself for another week. With the help of my vet (whom I adore), I've opted not to do the ultrasound as I believe putting her through chemotherapy is not the choice best for her.
If you've read until this point, thank you so much.
Basically - what I am hoping to know is... if your kitty was diagnosed with a mast cell tumors on the skin, and you opted against chemotherapy... at what point did you stop doing surgery to remove them? How long until the quality of life was impacted? What pain meds did you use, if any, and at what point? How much time do I have?
I'm sorry to ask someone who is going through this to relive and share their story with me. I just need someone to help me know what is ahead. The idea of waiting here for her to die is heartbreaking. I adore everything about this cat - she is my soulmate.
