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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 23 to 47 of 47. Go back in thread:
Posted by seldomseen on December 14, 2007, at 21:20:24
In reply to Kitty is home now and doing good, posted by TexasChic on December 14, 2007, at 19:47:17
Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy for you and your fur baby!
Good luck (wink) with the pills and the stitches...
Seldom.
Posted by Kath on December 16, 2007, at 19:49:03
In reply to Gald you kitty is ok--our's died this morning, posted by Bobby on December 13, 2007, at 12:02:30
Aw Bobby - so sorry.
That was so sweet saying that Uncle Gene has a kitty to play with in Heaven. I suspect that'll help the kids feel a little better.
hugs, Kath
Posted by Kath on December 16, 2007, at 19:58:25
In reply to Kitty is home now and doing good, posted by TexasChic on December 14, 2007, at 19:47:17
Hi TC - that was great that the money was there for kitty's bills!!
I'm glad things turned out well.
We can love out pets SOOO much, can't we.
My daughter had a cat that had Vaccination-induced-cancer on her leg. My daughter arranged the operation to remove the cat's leg. Cat did very well & lived for 2 years afterwards.I dread to think of anything happening to Ginger - my cat who landed on our doorstep & adopted us one October. (Turned out in the Spring, when I was talking to the next-door-neighbour, that it was their cat, who'd been a stray they brought home from a town about an hour away - they kept seeing him when they'd pick up their daughter from her Dad's. Fortunately, they were fine with us keeping Ginger - he didn't like their other cat & used to poop on their bed!!! At our house, he's only used the litter box.)
I love Ginger dreadfully much!!! LOLHope all's well apart from your catty.
luv, Kath
Posted by TexasChic on December 18, 2007, at 17:58:12
In reply to Re: Kitty is home now and doing good » TexasChic, posted by Kath on December 16, 2007, at 19:58:25
My doctor says he'll have to do some research and talk to some specialists he knows because he's never heard of this in a cat before. He acted like the surgery MIGHT have taken care of it, and might not. All I know is Kitty is happy right now and eating lots and lots of food. So I'm just going to try not to think about 'what if'. At least, not anymore today (I've cried ever since the call).
-T
Posted by Phillipa on December 18, 2007, at 19:19:44
In reply to Biopsy diagnosis - Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma, posted by TexasChic on December 18, 2007, at 17:58:12
TC sounds like a good idea let the doc do the reaearch. Phillipa
Posted by ClearSkies on December 18, 2007, at 19:55:01
In reply to Biopsy diagnosis - Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma, posted by TexasChic on December 18, 2007, at 17:58:12
Oh, dear. Cats sure have different physiologies from people - you just can't compare the hurts and say "it's all fixed now" or "it's all bad" - they are just so DIFFERENT. I had a dear one with diabetes who thrived for three years while getting twice daily insulin injections from me. Who would have thought he'd be so resilient, and so trusting and complacent, too? What a great cat he was.
It's great that you're kitty is feeling so much better and eating - I'm sure he's more comfortable.
CS
Posted by TexasChic on December 18, 2007, at 20:11:22
In reply to Re: Biopsy diagnosis - Malignant Fibrous Histiocyt » TexasChic, posted by ClearSkies on December 18, 2007, at 19:55:01
I'm trying to stay strong. I just thought after the surgery there was nothing else to worry about (or at least I tried to convince myself of that). But now this. At least I know he's feeling good now, and that's what really matters. I just can't help but think that I've become so dependent on his company as opposed to people, and without it I would be so lost and lonely.
-T
Posted by Phillipa on December 18, 2007, at 20:57:43
In reply to Thanks yall, posted by TexasChic on December 18, 2007, at 20:11:22
You know that's why I've always had two little dogs at the same time besides company for each other if something happens to one you must stay strong for the other. Phillipa
Posted by Kath on December 19, 2007, at 20:41:17
In reply to Thanks yall, posted by TexasChic on December 18, 2007, at 20:11:22
Hi TC - My thoughts are with you & kitty. I hope everything will be okay.
much love, Kath
Posted by texaschic on December 21, 2007, at 9:54:05
In reply to Re: Thanks yall » TexasChic, posted by Kath on December 19, 2007, at 20:41:17
I have communicated with one of the oncologists (cancer dr.) at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. She stated that this type of tumor is indeed very rare to occur in the spleen. It does occur typically under the skin or in the bone. Since they are rarely in the spleen, the way that they behave biologically is not well understood or predictable. She said that when they occur elsewhere, they are slow to spread, and do so via the bloodstream. She was guessing that it will behave in that fashion, but really does not know since there are no other cases to compare it to. Historically this type of tumor does not respond well to chemotherapy either. She anticipated spread to either lungs, liver, or other vascular organs to occur in a year. She said that long term prognosis was not good. If you are interested in referral to the college, let me know. Keep me posted on how he's doing. We'll see him next week for suture removal.
--------------
All I really got out of that was he only has about a year left.
-T
Posted by ClearSkies on December 21, 2007, at 10:57:38
In reply to Here's what my Vet emailed me..., posted by texaschic on December 21, 2007, at 9:54:05
TC, your vet sounds like he's very up front with you, which is so important where our pets are concerned. Having a serious health issue like this is such a trial - having the most accurate information sure does help take some of the mystery away.
Is your kitty continuing to do well post-surgery, eating and getting around OK?
CS
Posted by texaschic on December 21, 2007, at 12:00:39
In reply to Re: Here's what my Vet emailed me... » texaschic, posted by ClearSkies on December 21, 2007, at 10:57:38
Anytime I put down food he gobbles it up! And this morning he was really bouncy and running all fast and crazy around the house. He hadn't done that in a long time. So he's feeling really good. I just can't imagine not having him there. And knowing he's going to get sick again, and may be gone this time next year, it just kills me! I just don't feel like I can handle it.
-T
Posted by ClearSkies on December 21, 2007, at 13:03:17
In reply to Re: Here's what my Vet emailed me..., posted by texaschic on December 21, 2007, at 12:00:39
> Anytime I put down food he gobbles it up! And this morning he was really bouncy and running all fast and crazy around the house. He hadn't done that in a long time. So he's feeling really good. I just can't imagine not having him there. And knowing he's going to get sick again, and may be gone this time next year, it just kills me! I just don't feel like I can handle it.
>
> -TI felt the same way when I found out my kitty had diabetes. If anything, he seemed to be extra affectionate and appreciative of the attention he got whenever he got sick. But he became even more precious to me because of his illness, and I treasured all the time we had. And, after his initial diagnosis, he lived more than three years! He withstood twice daily insulin injections, and various health crises during that time. He beat all the odds and lived almost 18 wonderful and loving years. He was a very special kitty - he even got to live in England with me for seven of those years, a widely traveled cat.
Try to remember that the cat has no notion of "tomorrow" - and as long as he is in the today, and eating well, and playing and enjoying himself, then that's where we should be as well. (Easy to say and hard to do, I know. We keep thinking ahead to those tomorrows with dread.) If we could only think like our cats do, we'd be just fine :-)
You're a good cat-mom, TC, and your kitty knows it. Give him a hug for me, if he accepts hugs.
ClearSkies
Posted by Kath on December 21, 2007, at 21:36:51
In reply to Re: Here's what my Vet emailed me..., posted by texaschic on December 21, 2007, at 12:00:39
Oh TC, I am so sorry. At least he seems to be doing extremely well right now.
If at any point, you want support from people going through similar things, there's a web support group. My daughter belonged to it when Loki was sick. Just ask me if you want the website. As there are times when I don't check in here, if you wanted to contact me about it, you could babblemail me just to make sure I know.
Hopefully that won't be for a long time, if at all. Do they know for SURE that kitty has cancer?
I send you the biggest hugs, TC & wish I lived close enough to give them in person.
love, Kath
Life ain't fair.
Posted by Phillipa on December 21, 2007, at 22:23:29
In reply to Re: Here's what my Vet emailed me... » texaschic, posted by Kath on December 21, 2007, at 21:36:51
Kath wished you lived near me too. Love Phillipa
Posted by Dinah on December 22, 2007, at 23:34:18
In reply to Here's what my Vet emailed me..., posted by texaschic on December 21, 2007, at 9:54:05
I'm sorry. I know how much it hurts. This can be a special time too, though. A time to make memories for you and to create happiness for him.
You might want to contact the hospital. Of the two dogs of mine that I can think of offhand who had cancer with a poor prognosis, I didn't do chemo with either of them. But I did do alternate experimental treatments. The last one my vet suggested an experimental treatment protocol with tamoxifen where the idea was to starve the tumor of nutrients rather than kill the cells with chemo. The first one (pancreatic cancer) I can't recall how it worked, but my vet had to get the medication from the people hospital to do the trial. Both of them had results better than would be expected with traditional chemo. Neither lived a very long time, but I appreciated the time we did have together.
Also, our local vets didn't have much of a direction to go on with my little one who's got a neurological problem right now, but the specialist in Houston was able to point out a treatment plan, and actually read the test results completely differently than the local specialty clinic. She's been diagnosed for over a year now, and hasn't gotten any worse for some time now.
I'm not trying to give you false hope. Sometimes there is nothing we can do, and it can be ridiculously expensive to do the treatments as well. It's so sad that our furry friends live such a shorter period of time than we do.
Posted by Kath on December 23, 2007, at 14:16:44
In reply to Re: Here's what my Vet emailed me... » texaschic, posted by Dinah on December 22, 2007, at 23:34:18
about how much money to spend or if you don't have it or WHAT to do!!!!!
Kath
Posted by Dinah on December 23, 2007, at 14:43:40
In reply to ...and then there's guilt...., posted by Kath on December 23, 2007, at 14:16:44
Yeah, that's a hard one for me. My husband thinks I spend far too much on keeping dogs alive for just a while longer, and while I intellectually see that he has a point, when it comes right down to it I can't seem to draw sensible lines.
Posted by Phillipa on December 23, 2007, at 18:30:38
In reply to Re: ...and then there's guilt.... » Kath, posted by Dinah on December 23, 2007, at 14:43:40
Seriously I worked in nursing and at times was with chemo patients if it were me or if it does become me that needs the chemo no is the answer so sick they get and a poor pup doesn't even know why. Only with almost a guarantee would I do it to an animal. Phillipa
Posted by Kath on December 23, 2007, at 19:52:31
In reply to Re: ...and then there's guilt.... » Kath, posted by Dinah on December 23, 2007, at 14:43:40
Yeah - my husband & I parallel you two!
Hope you have a great Christmas.
luv, Kath
Posted by Dinah on December 23, 2007, at 19:59:06
In reply to Re: ...and then there's guilt.... » Dinah, posted by Phillipa on December 23, 2007, at 18:30:38
Because veterinarians understand how much animals live in the moment, chemo for pets is nothing like chemo for humans. My little gal is getting five times the amount of Lamoustine she started out with, in order to keep her immune system from attacking her brain (or so it is theorized anyway) and she never seems at all uncomfortable with it. She doesn't get sick, her hair grows as fast as ever. She's really no different after she gets it than before.
I went with the experimental treatments for those two dogs because both had very aggressive forms of cancer without a very good prognosis with chemotherapy.
I tend to always let the dog lead me. Some are prostrate at the slightest discomfort and really wouldn't be happy. Others manage to find happiness no matter what. When they're no longer happy is when I let go. It helps that I have infinite confidence in my vet, who knows my stance on the topic and gives me advice accordingly.
I wish I had a human doctor I liked a quarter as well.
Posted by Phillipa on December 23, 2007, at 20:30:26
In reply to Re: ...and then there's guilt.... » Phillipa, posted by Dinah on December 23, 2007, at 19:59:06
Dinah you have a lot of sickness with your pups now my Daughter does too. One is blind running into things, another and her real dog has cancer again and she is the only one in her neighborhood that has some wierd tic infectation throughout the house. Spraying and all types of treatments going on there and she's the rich one thankfully for her. Thankfully you dogs don't vomit and their hair doesn't fall out I wonder why as it couldn't be psychological did they vet say why and I'd love a doc like your vet I think are animals get better care than we do . Maybe cause they are so helpless. Love Phillipa
Posted by Dinah on December 23, 2007, at 23:24:42
In reply to Re: ...and then there's guilt.... » Dinah, posted by Phillipa on December 23, 2007, at 20:30:26
It's just because they use lower doses.
She's the only disabled dog I have left. :(
Dinah
Posted by Phillipa on December 24, 2007, at 18:54:14
In reply to Re: ...and then there's guilt.... » Phillipa, posted by Dinah on December 23, 2007, at 23:24:42
Well that explains that but sorry about the pups. Phillipa
Posted by TexasChic on December 27, 2007, at 18:49:15
In reply to Re: Here's what my Vet emailed me... » texaschic, posted by Dinah on December 22, 2007, at 23:34:18
I was very upset for a while, all I could think about was he only has about a year left. But I've had time to think and I'm going to just cherish him and spoil him rotten and try not to worry. I won't take him for granted like I might have if I didn't know his time was limited.
Thanks for all the support!
-T
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