I hope you guys can give advice without judging me. It's really hard for me since vets and friends have already condemned me for it.
Years ago I adopted a stray cat after she was hit by a car. Her life was hanging by a thread, her body was shattered and she went through two months of surgery (broken ribs, broken legs, neutering and removal of one side of mammary glands). There's virtually no place she hasn't been cut and that was one of the most stressful periods of my (and probably hers) life.
Five years have passed since then and we've been really happy together.
6 months ago a lump appeared on her lower abdomen - doctors think it's mammary cancer (why didn't the previous vets remove the other side of glands is beyond me!!!) and of course, they are pressing me to biopsy and then operate. I think I don't want to do it. Not again.
It's absolutely not a question of money. But I don't want to put her through being cut and opened up all over again, not to mention she is now older (I don't know her exact age, but by vet estimates she's currently around 8-10). I know some cancers spread quicker after a biopsy. What if she deteriorates faster after that...
I have lost a pet to surgery before. I am very wary.
She is still lively and is eating well most of the time (1 or 2 days a month she refuses food). I do take her to the vet for blood screening but every time I do, I get shouted at for being irresponsible for not removing the tumor. I feel it's better to care for her as long as she has and when the moment comes (whenever that is), put her to sleep while she's in my arms, and not at the doctor's cabinet.
Does this decision make me a horrible person? Has anyone else ever decided not to go for it?
Years ago I adopted a stray cat after she was hit by a car. Her life was hanging by a thread, her body was shattered and she went through two months of surgery (broken ribs, broken legs, neutering and removal of one side of mammary glands). There's virtually no place she hasn't been cut and that was one of the most stressful periods of my (and probably hers) life.
Five years have passed since then and we've been really happy together.
6 months ago a lump appeared on her lower abdomen - doctors think it's mammary cancer (why didn't the previous vets remove the other side of glands is beyond me!!!) and of course, they are pressing me to biopsy and then operate. I think I don't want to do it. Not again.
It's absolutely not a question of money. But I don't want to put her through being cut and opened up all over again, not to mention she is now older (I don't know her exact age, but by vet estimates she's currently around 8-10). I know some cancers spread quicker after a biopsy. What if she deteriorates faster after that...
I have lost a pet to surgery before. I am very wary.
She is still lively and is eating well most of the time (1 or 2 days a month she refuses food). I do take her to the vet for blood screening but every time I do, I get shouted at for being irresponsible for not removing the tumor. I feel it's better to care for her as long as she has and when the moment comes (whenever that is), put her to sleep while she's in my arms, and not at the doctor's cabinet.
Does this decision make me a horrible person? Has anyone else ever decided not to go for it?