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Black Cat's Cancer Journey

  • Black Cat's cancer journey - Week 4

      14 September 2024
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    Not eating meant that he hadn't been getting his medication because I hid it in his food. That wasn't a problem in the first two weeks when he bounced back and even asked for more. The alternative would have been to syringe it into his mouth but with an already sore throat from the lymphoma, I decided to try and get him back on food rather than hold him down twice a day and put him through a distressing process.

    He visited Carevets for hydration and a check-up. I asked for an intravenous steroid, and by the following day, he was up and around - but still not eating.

    I moved up his appointment at Island Bay Vet Clinic for an expert opinion on the progress of the chemotherapy and to get his dose in 24 hours earlier. By late that day, it was taking effort for him to inhale.

    An x-ray showed patches on his lungs. The vet said it could either be the spread of lymphoma (unlikely) or bronchitis.

    He was given antibiotics along with chemo, other meds, and pain relief.

    Even before I met him, he'd fought through so much that I believed he'd rally again. But next day he was no better, so back to Carevets Wainuiomata.

    Whatever was going on in his lungs had tipped the balance from a very positive outlook to an inevitably negative one.

    I held him for the last time as the sedation took effect, assuring him that he'd been deeply loved.

    Goodbye, Black Cat - a better friend to me than many people have been. There may be other cats, but there will never be another Black Cat.

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  • Black Cat's cancer journey. Week Three - 4 September

      5 September 2024
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    This has been toughest week so far. Last Thursday, he stopped eating. Aside from the obvious dangers of that, through food is the primary way he gets his medication, since syringing multiple drugs into his mouth when it's already sore from the tumour would be too much for him. It also decreases the chances he'll drink fluids.

    By Tuesday he still hadn't eaten, and was looking dehydrated and very sad. I decided to take him to CareVets Wainuiomata.

    The vet examined him and the tumour was visible in his mouth, to such an extent that it was pushing from behind his teeth.

    We discussed euthanasia, but I felt that the lack of steroids for the past six days was the cause of the swelling - that it was inflammation rather than a fast expanding tumour.

    So I decided to ask for him to be given fluids and pain relief, and contact Island Bay Vet Clinic a day early.

    After talking with Sarah at Island Bay, it seems possible my hunch was right. She sent some advice to Carevets and tonight he's had a steroid injection, an anti nausea injection, more fluids and an appetite stimulant.

    What he's being put through weighs heavily on my mind. At least his reaction to the chemo lasts only a few minutes on the drive home (drooling, scratching at the cage and purging his bowels), but three vet visits on consecutive days is a lot.

    But even though he's not a "sit on your lap" cat, he came over tonight and lay beside me, something he rarely does, as if to let me know he understands ❤️

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  • Black Cat's cancer journey. Week Two - 28 August.

      5 September 2024
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    Back to Island Bay Vet Clinic for his second week of treatment, via the worst waiting room in the world (their words, not mine - they even have a sign on the door to warn you).

    It's very narrow and is fine when we're the only patients there, but when a very friendly, average-sized dog appears, things get interesting.

    But the lack of space is more than compensated for by the abundance of kindness and professionalism of the staff.

    I can't witness his treatment because the chemicals are toxic, but what the treatment is and what effects (and potential side effects) it has is always clearly explained.

    This week it was a pill. On rare occasions it can irritate the bladder lining and lead to blood in the urine, so I was supplied with a diuretic. Gave that to him at dinner and there's been no signs of any problem.

    Overall he's much better than where we started from. He's gained 50 grams, which is a marker for a positive recovery.

    He's usually a very vocal cat, at least with me, and will exchange multiple miaows in a single conversation. Since the lump grew in his nasal passage that must have become painful, because he's been silent for weeks.

    This week he tried a miaow which was barely audible, but by Monday it was back to normal.

    So a gain in weight and the restoration of his voice after only two treatments (and a twice daily steroid) makes me cautiously optimistic that he might just get through this okay. Still, there's 22 weeks to go...

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  • Black Cat's cancer journey. Week One - 19 August

      5 September 2024
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    A few months back he developed a cough. I booked him into CareVets Wainuiomata. The vet there is excellent and an examination under anesthesia revealed a lump at the back of his nose. They managed to scrape a few cells, one of which looked cancerous.

    So then it was a trip to Carevets Parapaumu for a full biopsy. It was confirmed - he has lymphoma of the soft palate. There were two options - euthanasia or chemotherapy.

    I asked the Cats of Wellington Facebook group for their experiences. Some were unsuccessful but a surprising number added years to life, and no one said there were awful side effects.

    I decided Black Cat and I would embark down this road together, with his welfare foremost at all times.

    Since few vets have the knowledge and access to the dangerous chemicals needed for the task, I was fortunate to find Sarah at Island Bay Vet Clinic.

    It's early days but he's eating well and was unfazed by his first treatment. He's a bit less adventurous than usual (though one of the daily drugs he's on is a mild sedative) and shows no signs of breathing or eating difficulties.

    He's never been a "sit on your knee" cat. But he always suits as near to me as he can. He's my closest companion and when he has to go, he'll leave a void like no other pet has done. But meanwhile I'm determined to give him every minute of good life he is due.

    There's 23 more weeks to go, and I'll be at his side almost every minute of them.

    #cat #cats #Cancer #lymphoma

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