Sad News

Hi, Emerson here with some sad news. My big sister Bathsheba is not well. She has a tumor in her mouth and it is something called squamous cell carcinoma. That's a fancy way of saying she has the dreaded cancer. She is hardly eating. Mommie is very sad about this turn of events. Only something called palliative care is really an option for Sheba now. I will try my best not to be a pest to her.

Love & purrs,
Emerson

I Have Cancer

It's confirmed--my mysterious illness has been diagnosed, and it's cancer. I am a VERY sick kitty.

I spent a lot of time with doctors last week, and I got to visit at Mom's office again. (Here I am in her lap at her computer.) Physical examinations, soakings, pills, X-rays, sub-Q fluids, IVs, sonograms, needle biopsies: I had 'em all. But it's cancer and I'm an old kitty. I told Mom that I don't want extraordinary treatments; I want my dignity and I want to be comfortable. She promises to try to do the right thing by me.

Can you see how swollen my right paw is here?. What started out as a sore paw that seemed to have an infection between the toes, morphed into full blown cancer of my two middle toes. The toes are growing ever larger, and I don't put weight on that paw. My holistic vet took X-rays of my paw and sent them to a radiologist because she feared it could be something called lung-digit syndrome found in cats. The radiologist suspected cancer and recommended a chest x-ray. What showed up on that x-ray (and I wish that Mom knew how to post the x-ray since she has the disk) was shocking, but turned out to be incidental and not related. I have a (small) BULLET lodged in my chest. Now, am I a manly ManCat or what! It's an old injury, but puzzling. Mom never knew when it happened. As most of you know, I was indoor-outdoor, but how I managed to take a bullet without my mom knowing is beyond her comprehension.

Anyway, back to my X-ray. My right lung is collapsed and apparently my heart has shifted its position. I also have some fluid on my lung. My next medical procedure was a sonogram which revealed that I have one very small kidney, yet my kidney function is fine for now. I do have a large mass on my small intestine. That lead to some needle biopsies which concluded that all three areas (foot, lung, intestine) are malignant carcinomas. Mom and I got the ultimate news today.

Mom asked the doctor how much time I have left and she said that it's probably only a matter of weeks unless I'm able to eat better. I did get a new appetite stimulant and ate a little more tonight. Mom also made me some boneless chicken breast which has always been one of my favorites. See all the foods she offers me: chicken, Fancy Feast, Whiskas duck and chicken from a pouch (suggested by one of you!) and my regular crunchies.

Here is another photo of my paw. It is discolored from betadine soaks. You can also see where my leg was shaved for the IV.

So, that's my story. I'm hanging in there for now, but I have had a wonderful life and done most things that would be on a cat's bucket list. Tomorrow Mom is going to consult with a vet about comfort care.

~Jake

P.S. Thank you for the Catster Valentine, dear DaisyMae Maus. You are the best girlfriend cat ever!

Mancat at the Office

Hi everyone, Jake here. Some of my friends know that I have not been well lately. I have no conclusive diagnosis, but it's probably related to my hyperthyroidism.

Mom became unhappy with my regular clinic, so she decided to get a second opinion from a holistic veterinarian. She practices conventional medicine plus things like acupucture. Unfortunately, she is located several towns away. I had my first appointment there on Monday, January 19 when Mom was off work for the MLK Day holiday. The new doctor mostly agreed with the conventional treatment for me, but I was in bad shape. I would not eat and she was very worried about my anorexia. She gave Mom more meds for me, took my blood, and administered sub-Q fluids.

My follow up appointment was Wednesday at 11 when Mom was to drop me off for the rest of the day. Because the new doctor was closer to where Mom works, she took me to her office in the morning.
I had never been there before, so I had to try out Mom's chair

and explore around the office. Mom's colleagues were surprised that I was so sick because I was very alert and wanted to explore.

The afternoon at the vet's office was almost like I imagined an afternoon at the spa. I was treated very well, the air was wonderfully humidified, there was soft stress-reducing music, and the place smelled good. The doctor said that I had made a lot of progress in those two days.

I am on three different meds, Tapazole for my thyroid, an antibiotic for an infection, and something that acts as an appetite stimulant. The doctor gave Mom some tips on medicating me. Now she wraps me in a towel with just my head poking out so I can't bat her away with my paws. I guess it's for the best, but I hate having pills shoved down my throat.

I'm eating a little better, but still not enough to satisfy Mom. I think the only thing that satisfies her is that I snuggle close to her and purr and purr.

I do a lot of sleeping and this is my favorite spot on Mom's bed when she is not there.

I still feel that I have a lot of life left in me and hope to enjoy Valentine's Day with the lovely DaisyMae.

~Jake