And C is for...
Oct. 5th, 2009 11:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jaunthieWell, the pathology report came back on J late in the day on Friday. The specialist has yet to put in her $.02, but the initial prognosis from Grace-the-Intern is not good at all. It's definitely cancer - lymphoma, and a more aggressive form than is the most common one found in elderly cats. (According to my friend Jake, the veterinarian, well-cared-for domestic cats who reach old age almost always die from one of three things: kidney failure, diabetes, or cancer.) According to Grace, there are two options: aggressive chemotherapy, which even if it works (50% chance) would still only give him 4-6 months, probably; or pallative care, and he'll likely have about a month, tops.
I'm scheduled to meet with the specialist on Wednesday, to go over options and have a proper consult where Dr. S. can examine J personally and give her professional opinion. But unless Dr. S. comes back with more-or-less completely different diagnostic prognostications than Grace (which admittedly is possible, but probably not very likely), I can't see putting J through the process. Yes, he travels well (for a cat) and chemo is generally well-tolerated in kitties (according to Jake, who knows), but a multiple-day stay in the hospital to start followed by weekly (or more) trips to the specialist vet (at least half an hour in the car to get there) for more doses...that's not a quality of life J would appreciate.
We'll see what Dr. S. says, but my gut is telling me that I'm not going to get to have J very much longer.
On the positive side, the prednizone appears to be working. He's obviously feeling a bit better, more active, eating more (still on the prescription yummy food), and even played a bit with M on Saturday. He doesn't like getting the pill every evening, but he tolerates it and doesn't fight me *too* hard on the subject. And he's coming over more often for pets and snuggles and general purr-ful contact, which helps *me* no end.
I'm probably going to be a basket case about this. I'm doing my best to be logical and plan ahead and make all the reponsible decisions, because of course J can't. But he is my first kitty, and...yeah. Just...yeah.
I'm scheduled to meet with the specialist on Wednesday, to go over options and have a proper consult where Dr. S. can examine J personally and give her professional opinion. But unless Dr. S. comes back with more-or-less completely different diagnostic prognostications than Grace (which admittedly is possible, but probably not very likely), I can't see putting J through the process. Yes, he travels well (for a cat) and chemo is generally well-tolerated in kitties (according to Jake, who knows), but a multiple-day stay in the hospital to start followed by weekly (or more) trips to the specialist vet (at least half an hour in the car to get there) for more doses...that's not a quality of life J would appreciate.
We'll see what Dr. S. says, but my gut is telling me that I'm not going to get to have J very much longer.
On the positive side, the prednizone appears to be working. He's obviously feeling a bit better, more active, eating more (still on the prescription yummy food), and even played a bit with M on Saturday. He doesn't like getting the pill every evening, but he tolerates it and doesn't fight me *too* hard on the subject. And he's coming over more often for pets and snuggles and general purr-ful contact, which helps *me* no end.
I'm probably going to be a basket case about this. I'm doing my best to be logical and plan ahead and make all the reponsible decisions, because of course J can't. But he is my first kitty, and...yeah. Just...yeah.
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Date: 2009-10-05 07:27 pm (UTC)*hugs*
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