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Supporting Oberon with Chemotherapy

  • March 2025 Update - In remission!

      29 March 2025

    Kia ora koutou,

    Thank you all so much for supporting Oberon over the last 17 months. I got the best news this week after his tests the previous week: Oberon is in remission! Here's what the vet sent me:

    "I hope you are well and that Oberon is doing ok. I now have his results back from the laboratory and have spoken to the specialist oncology team. Great news ... the aspirates of his kidneys showed NO evidence of lymphoma present. Given these findings and the rest of his diagnostics we can say that he is now in clinical remission.

    Given these findings, no further chemotherapy is warranted at this stage, however we do recommend close monitoring of him with repeat blood tests and ultrasound in 8 weeks (sooner if things change). If things are still all clear at that stage, then we space out the repeat diagnostics to every 12 weeks for a total of 12 months. Fingers crossed we have no relapse, however it is possible that his lymphoma will come back at some point down the track, I just can't predict if / when.

    With regards to his weightloss there may be another condition emerging, but this is difficult to say at this stage given all other diagnostics thus far have been normal. The only thing that we haven't done is to check his thyroid function. Some cats get what we call hyperthryoidism where the thyroid gland becomes over active. This is usually something we see in older cats as opposed to younger cats like Oberon but it is definitely worth ruling out."

    Thanks again,

    Fi/Fox

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  • February 2025

      19 February 2025
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    Kia ora koutou,

    Oberon received the last scheduled chemo treatment in the current protocol on Wednesday 5th Feb. He is doing well, with good appetite and energy levels, but the oncologist doesn't think he is in full remission. The plan from here is to do staging scans and biopsies again in a month's time (20th March) and based on those results plan a way forward - either more chome or palliative care (prednisone).

    Thank you all so much for your support.

    Ngā mihi nui,

    Fox (previously Fi)

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  • Thanks and Happy New Year!

      31 December 2024

    Kia ora koutou,

    Thank you all so much for your support for Oberon's treatment. I've paid off the existing debt at the vet and will be able to pay for his treatment and any extras in January (his next treatment is Friday 3rd Jan). I'm blown away by your support. Thank you for keeping Oberon alive and happy.

    All the best for 2025!

    Fox (formerly Fi)

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  • Extension of this page to bridge a gap

      23 November 2024
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    Kia ora team,

    Thank you so much for following along. Sorry I haven't given an update lately.

    Oberon is stuch a trooper, and other than weight loss (he's down to 5.84kg now) and fur thinning he doesn't appear unwell. He has been super energetic and playful the last few months, which has been super lovely to see.

    We continued with intravaenous chemotherapy through May, June, and July (fortnightly) and only had to postpone it once (was due for chemo on 25th July) due to an infection. Looking forward, I realised that I was going to run out of insurance cover again, as his fortnightly treatments were between $568-$729 each, so we switched to oral chemo instead (with a new protocol issued from the specialists in Australia again), which is cheaper and less frequent. So from August 1st we have been doing oral chemo, usually at 5 week intervals (pending blood tests each time).

    We ran out of insurance cover (capped at $9000 per claims year, which renews on 1st Feb 2025) in October, leaving half of that treament unpaid. He had treament again on November 21st, and is scheduled again for January 3rd (a week late due to Xmas closures etc.) and February 7th. I can claim on insurance again for the scheduled treament in February, although the $125 excess will need to come out of pocket still. I can also claim on subsequent treament, but I don't know the treatment protocol yet.

    Ngā mihi nui,

    Fi and Oberon

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  • Resuming Chemo

      1 May 2024
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    On Wednesday 3rd April Oberon had X-rays, ultrasound, and tiny samples of his kidneys taken to check for cancer. His kidneys are still enlarged, but thankfully it appears the cancer has not spred to other organs or the lymph system.

    On Wednesday 17th April we resumed chemo treatment where we left off (week 8). We returned on Wed 24th April for week 9, but Oberon's white blood cell count was low, so we postponed to Thursday 2nd May (the usual day for chemo). Hopefully Oberon has recovered from the chemo on Wed 17th and is able to receive more chemo tomorrow (Thu 2nd May).

    Insurance is covering his treatment, but not the cost to send the samples to the labs ($50). Insurance also does not cover his FIV vaccine (administered before resuming chemo while he was well).

    Thank you so much for you support,

    Fi and Oberon

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  • Nearly there

      19 March 2024
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    Oberon had blood tests and X-rays on Friday 1st March to check on his condition and figure out a way forward with his treatment.

    The oncologist and the vet who saw him decided it was best to continue with palliative care (prednisone and sub-cutaneous fluids) for now, as re-starting chemo after such a long break might not be of benefit. Quality of life is the main goal, and Oberon is doing really well (except for his thinning coat - which I'm trying to keep an eye on) on minimal medication. His bloodwork was good and radiographs showed enlarged kidneys but a huge improvement compared to when he was diagnosed in October 2023.

    Oberon is due for a revisit in the last week of March.

    There is $77.88 left to pay from his treatment at the end of 2023 after insurance money ran out and then we are clear and using the new claims year cover.

    Thank you to everyone who has donated. You have literally saved Oberon's life (so far).

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  • Final push to clear the debt at the vet

      18 February 2024
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    Kia ora koutou,

    I went in to the vet yesterday to collect more prednisone and try to reduce the debt I have owing by returning some products that we are not using (Hydra care sachets, cerenia medication). I still owe $221 and we are booked in to see the vet on Friday 1st March. Please help me clear this last bit of debt so that Oberon can resume chemo or palliative care.

    Oberon has been doing well (as far as I can tell with no blood tests). His fur is still a bit thin but the shaved patches are starting to grow back slowly. His weight has stabilised at 6.3 kg and he has a good appetite.

    Thank you so much for your ongoing support.

    Ngā mihi nui

    Fi

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  • Clearing the last of the debt before continuing treatment

      16 January 2024
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    Kia ora koutou,

    Thank you so much to my generous donors!

    The latest statement from the vet has been added as an image (I had to change the PDF into a Word doc to remove my address, then change the new PDF into a JPEG to upload it as an image, hence it came out in three images instead of one, sorry). I have $471.51 left to pay on my account (I tried to keep my other cat, Nero, separate, and pay his vet fees off separately, but the payments go to the oldest invoice instead). Once this is paid off Oberon can see the oncologist again and resume treatment. My claims year on my pet insurance renews on 31st January, so I'm keen to get this debt paid off this month so Oberon can go back to the vet on Thursday 1st February and get back into the new routine of fortnightly treatments.

    Oberon has enjoyed the break from treament (aside from the subcutaneous fluids every three days and prednisone every other day). He is probably enjoying being 2 kg lighter and is very bouncy and energetic (when not sleeping under my bed or in the garden). He's very demanding of rubs/pats, and is eating well.

    Ngā mihi nui,

    Fi

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  • Pausing chemo until I've cleared the debt with the vet

      21 December 2023
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    Oberon was scheduled to receive chemo (pending blood results, as always) on Thu 14th and Thu 21st December, before dropping to fortnightly doses from Thu 4th January onwards. Understandably, the practice manager at the vet wasn't keen to keep adding debt to my account (currently sitting at around $1600) with no guaranteed way for me to pay that off. So I still need help now to pay off the treatment already provided (and some ongoing prednisone and fluids to keep him comfortable).

    From February 2024 onwards I can start claiming on pet insurance again (although his monthly premium will increase from $43.47 to $53.16, even without increasing his cover from the current $9,000 to either $10,000 or $15,000).

    Thank you to all my donors! You have enabled Oberon to get to a point in his treatment where he is comfortable and stable.

    Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

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  • Oberon's Blood tests are improving, Chemo administered Nov 30th and Dec 7th

      9 December 2023
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    30th Nov - Neutrophils within normal range. Red blood cells slightly low but improving each week. Chemo administered.

    7th Dec - Neutrophils slightly low. Red Blood cells slightly lower than last week but still better than previous weeks. Chemo administered.

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  • Scheduled week off chemo

      25 November 2023
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    On Thursday 23rd November Oberon just had a blood test (still anaemic but improving slightly), as per his 25 week protocol. The oncologist is happy with his progress and he's allowed to go outside again now (after his flea treatment), yay! As per the protocol and blood results, his prednisone dose has dropped in frequency, we're stopping Losec when I run out of tablets, and anti-nausea pills cerenia are dropping in frequency, but we're continuing with the kaminox liquid supplement (twice daily), appetite stimulants (every other day), and sub-cutaneous fluids (EOD). Oberon is stabilising at around 6.85 kg but he has a huge frame (Norwegian Forest Cats are similar in size to Maine Coons), so trying to not drop any lower as he needs nutrients to fight the cancer.

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  • Invoices from treatment

      18 November 2023

    8-16th October 2023 - The first week, where there was lots of testing done, and the local oncologist spoke with oncologists in Australia to formulate a chemotherapy protocol.

    18th October 2023 - Consultation to check his condition, as he was losing weight due to loss of appetite. Chemo patients need to eat! Decided not to place a feeding tube and keep him at home with encouragement to eat more.

    19th October 2023 - Oberon was due for his second dose of Chemo, but after doing blood tests and finding his white blood cells were low (right on the lower range of normal), the decision was made to postpone chemo to next week. Gained 100g in weight.

    26th October 2023 - Blood test was good, so went ahead with chemo today. Weight the same as last week.

    2nd November 2023 - Bloods were good again, so more chemo given. Potassium levels low, so given supplement for ongoing management. Kidneys basically back to normal size. Creatinine levels back to normal range. Slight weight loss, so keep encouraging and giving appetite stimulant.

    9th November 2023 - White blood cells low again plus weight loss. Chemo postponed. Decided the best thing for Oberon was to spend a few days at the vet getting fluids and trying to encourage eating and drinking. Subcutaneous fluids given, with the option of intravenous fluids and a feeding tube if no improvements observed.

    10th November 2023 - Stayed at the vet overnight. Doing better today. I was taught how to give subcutaneous fluids at home and took him home to monitoring closely.

    16th November 2023 - Bloods were good and weight gained, so more chemo today.

    Invoices were added to the page gallery and can be checked here - https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/supporting-oberon-with-chemotherapy/photos

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