Cricket -
another cat with Hemangiosarcoma
The following is mostly unedited text from emails, shared with
permission.
Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2005 11:21 PM
Hi.I found your site while researching my cat's cancer. I must
tell you how amazing all your efforts were, and how touched I
was reading this. My cat Cricket had the same form of cancer four
years ago. We found out from a biopsy after months of what we
called "stigmata" bleeding incidents -it appeared she
had a pinprick wound that would heal, then bleed again. It has
been four years since her amputation and chemo. It was very hard
to deal with, and very costly, but nowhere to the efforts you
made everyday for your pet. You are a trooper. Our vet sent us
to an oncologist, who insisted on amputation and chemo. It was
a horrible feeling to arrange to have her leg taken off. the first
night she was home, she slept with her "shoulder" wedged
into us to stay warm where her leg used to be that was just awful,
since she was never a bed cat to begin with, we knew she wasn't
feeling well. But over the next few weeks, she got over things,
and since then Cricket has lead a very full life, becoming an
outside cat when we moved to a new house near woods, where she
would go for walks with us, catch all sorts of "presents"
and really be enjoying life. The 3 legs look pathetic when she's
walking, but with running, you wouldn't even know. Some people
say "Your cat is limping." and I have to say "Well,
she's got three legs". Anyway, the sad thing is, Cricket
has now taken a turn for the worse, and it appears she has some
growths on both her spleen an liver. I am taking her in for an
ultrasound Monday, and would like to hope for the best, but it
I'm not sure there is a sunny side. She has begun peeing and pooping
in the tub, and has lost over a pound. I feel about as bad as
you can when you love your pet, and I hope there can be something
done to help her, and I worry that she's going to be in pain if
she's not already. I have two daughters, one who was 18 months
old when Cricket lost her paw, and is now 5 1/2 and one 20 months,
and I know this will be hard on them, especially the older one.
But I'm glad my oldest at least grew to know her 3 legged cat,
and really love her. This is going to suck, but I guess she had
a longer run than most cats with this disease. A good friend of
mine has since become a vet, and I'm hoping she will keep up on
this, and we can find the best way to deal with this rare and
terrible thing. I hope you are doing well, and I really appreciate
your efforts with your site. Best wishes, Jen
---
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 9:56 PM
Hi Jennifer,
I would be happy to share anything that would help someone else's
cat. I will ask the hospital to give me copies of her treatments.
The one thing I would tell people is not to fear amputation. She
really did well after her surgery-right after, and I don't regret
it for a minute. I've always been very proud of my three legged
cat, and would take one from a shelter with three legs in a heartbeat
over some fluffy kitten.
I had an ultrasound done today, and it's not good. She has a
very large mass on her small intestines, spots on both kidneys,
and some shading on her spleen. The feeling from 2 vets other
than my own is she's too far into this for surgery, but that she
doesn't appear to be feeling pain. She's just more tired and less
adventurous than before. And a lot thinner.
It's just heartbreaking to think she will have to suffer from
another kind of cancer. She most likely has some kind of lymphoma.
It was suggested by one vet, who is a friend, to get an x-ray
of her lungs and to do blood work to make sure she's not going
to have kidney failure. Otherwise, Pregnezone has been suggested
to get her a possible extra month, and perhaps some comfort in
her remaining time with us.I'm going back to my vet for that tomorrow.
I was also very surprised to read how much time she had than
other cats with Hemangiosarcoma. If I'd known how little was expected,
I would have had a harder time going through it. She really weathered
the chemo well, but it may have been her age- she could have been
as young as 4 or five when it happened. Our guess is that she
was 2 when we got her, but may have been three, so that would
make her nine now. I've just gotten a new laptop, so I will try
and send a photo. She really is beautiful, and just such a lovely
disposition.Such an incredible shame. Well, I'm off for my midnight
weeping. Have to do it when my daughters are asleep. Thanks again
for your efforts with your site, and with your cat. I've had two
friends go through breast cancer this year, certainly it puts
things into perspective, but any loss is sad, and she's part of
our family. Thanks for getting back to me- I hope it didn't dredge
up any tough memories, Jen
--
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 3:53 PM
Good Lord, I don't think you could have done more- I think you
saw more vets than most people do in a lifetime, and just the
applications and bandages and blood- so many people wouldn't have
done that for a day. I was fortunate in that I saw a vet that
was writing a paper on it, completely by chance. But he was only
there twice a week, and he was not exactly warm and fuzzy. It
cost us a small fortune, and then when we were all done with the
surgery and chemo, he told us an injection that would have cost
$130 a week was our best route to prevent it. The hospital I went
to was only for cancer and diseased animals. It was amazing to
see what people will do for their pets. We can only hope they're
as good to their families. I'm so sorry for Cricket, and it's
hard to not know how she feels, or how much time she has left.
I've made a nest for her in one of my drawers, since she's not
herself, and I keep finding her in the basement, which freaks
me out in that whole "I'm going off to die" thing. So
at least she's not in some cold basement. And she'll start some
pregnezone tomorrow, but it just really, really sucks. She's a
sweet, pie eyed little girl, and it is a complete shame. My friend
who just became a vet has been a great person to tak to- realistic,
but well informed and knows us all well. But is it impossible
not to second guess yourself and your vet- how could we have not
seen the signs, that whole thing. I've had two friends go through
breast cancer this year, one in stage 3, completely out of the
blue, so perspective helps a lot. I can't imagine how I would
feel if it was my child, it's bad enough with our kittybaby. I'm
glad she has enjoyed four great years- she just hopped by and
jumped on the table- you wouldn't know she's ill. It's just crazy.
So sad. My doctor pointed out that our pets don't know the test
results- they handle illness a lot better than us. He's so right.
Thanks for your kind words, and again, your website. It was a
great thing to find at three in the morning through a veil of
tears. Never second guess yourself- you did amazing things for
you pet, and your site helps so many people- probably more than
you know. Thanks, Jen
