The cancer is back

[April2]

Well, the news was just as I suspected. The cancer is back. I talked to the vet a little bit ago. She said it's a high grade malignacy and the prognosis is guarded. When I asked what that meant she said the prognosis is not good. This type of cancer (it's a malignant fibrous sarcoma) has a high recurrance rate. She said it usually is slow growing but this lump almost appeared overnight and is much larger than the first one she got last year so she's afraid this one may be faster than they usually are.
She said it's a good sign that she's still eating pretty well. One of the things to watch for is if she stops eating. She said I'd know she was in bad shape then. I guess it can be hard to tell with cats when they're in pain but I will watch her and the vet said she can prescribe pain medication at any point I think Misha may need it.

I don't know how long I will have with Misha. I guess at this point I will just try to enjoy her and keep her as comfortable as i can. I don't want her to suffer so I will be watching her closely.

If anyone has any suggestions or has gone through something like this and can tell me what signs to watch for I'd really appreciate it. I'm going to look up information on this cancer. I just hadn't had time to do it yet.

Thanks for the prayers and for caring about me and my kitty.

[dominosarah]

April i am so sorry to hear Misha's cancer is back.  I would also check into the pain meds for her.  Enjoy the time you have with her now.  She knows she is loved~~~~~sara and snickers

[opus88]

oh april honey you are having a long hard go of it dear, I am so sorry about Misha....these darn scarcomas from what I read they do tend to come back and much more aggressive than the first time around....thats why I entirely changed my thinking on Vaccines (for indoor cats anyway)....but thats another topic.
Yes keep Misha comfortable, perhaps pain meds now wouldn't be such a bad idea, its what we'd do for ourselves isn't it....to have a good quality of life for as long as possible.
I too had a long afternoon at the Vet's with Nemo(no not cancer thank God)...long story and I'm tired will post on it tomorrow.....he has his problems too, as so many do and all we can do is try the best we can esp. when it comes to money we just haven't got.
Our love and hugs to you and Misha.......♥Opos

[April2]

Thank you. It's discouraging. When we did the surgery 8 months ago I was so hopeful. The vet was sure she got it all and we expected she could live another few more years at least. She's 13, same age as my dog when he died a little over a year ago. I said when she got that first surgery that I didn't want to put her through another surgery at her age. It cost me over $1,500 in tests and the surgery. I simply don't have the money anymore. I talked for quite awhile with the vet. She agreed that with this kind of aggressive cancer that even if they tried surgery again it would have a high chance of coming back. Even if I had the money, I can't keep doing that to the poor cat. The vet also didn't like how this lump was so much bigger and deeper than the first one and how it sprang up so quickly.
I wish there was something more I could do. I don't want her to suffer. She seems ok now but I don't want her to experience any pain. I feel so torn on this.
I never expected it would come back and certainly not this fast or this aggessively. My poor kitty. :(

[teddybears4ever2]

April this broke my heart.  I hope that you can keep showing Misha how much you love her.  I hope that you are able to spend a little time with her to show her how much you love her.

Love,

Rhea and Stardust

[Jade59]

April, I wasn't sure if I should voice this, but I will anyway.  You know, the experience with Buster taught me that just because an animal is still eating doesn't necessarily mean they have a good quality of life...or any quality for that matter.  It was very hard watching my neighbor listen to those who said Buster was fine "as long as he was eating" because clearly he wasn't.  He was suffering.  My neighbor just held on to any and all hope even when there was clearly NO hope.  It was truly one of the saddest things I've ever watched.

You know Misha best and if she continues to eat but you think she's suffering, then you'll know it's "time."

My heart truly goes out to you and your family especially since you lost your sweet little dog only just a year ago.  

[Jade59]

Oh man, I'm sorry to hear it's been confirmed, April.  If I were you, I'd maybe start Misha on a small amt of pain med just to be sure she's comfortable since she's unable to tell you if she's hurting.  I recently went through the same thing with my neighbor and his dog at the beginning of the year.  Cancer confirmed in Dec09, put Buster on pain meds and he kept eating just fine for four more months and wasn't until the beginning of April he slowly stopped eating, then finally for good and neighbor made the appt for vet to come to his home.  Does your vet offer this home service?

Misha is in my prayers and I'll be hoping for many more comfortable months with your beloved girl.