Cat... might have cancer.

[Gypsy]

The biopsy sample was too small... so they have to go in again. I''m upset and unhappy and a little pissed off right now. Just waiting for FI to come home so I can talk to him about it.

 

[movie zombie]

damn! don''t blame you for being a bit pissed right now!

when do you leave for california? do you have a recommended vet here yet? was the sample sent to davis or done there?

if its going to be soon, perhaps you want to wait and have it done here?
if you have a recommended vet perhaps you want to be talking to him/her on the phone?
since you''re relocating to california perhaps you want the sample sent here even if you have the biopsy done there?

just thoughts that are rambling around in my tired brain.

movie zombie

 

[Gypsy]

I don''t know what to do. I really don''t. Even if it isn''t cancer and it''s just an absorption disease they have to go in take out the bad bone and pull his canines... which would have th risk of this jaw fracturing-- which they would then have to wire.

One the one hand, we said that IF it wasn''t cancer we''d have him treated here in NJ-- because it isn''t fair to relocate him to a new place where he doesn''t know... and doesn''t have his siblings. FI isn''t moving out to CA with everything till November/ December. I''ll be staying at my grandparent''s house till then. On the other hand, I''m irritated that they took too small a sample size and don''t want any more surprises if he gets treated here... of course I could have him taken to the big vet hospital up north and have the procedure done up there... but I just don''t know. On the other... Davis is the best. It would cost more in terms of treatment, and also relocating him... but it might would be worth it except for one thing: I''m going to be busy at my job and don''t know how much time I can spend with him-- John could stay in CA for a while to take care of him-- but it would still be a new environment and he doesn''t adjust well to change. So I''m wondering if it would be better for him mentally to have things done here and just come home where everything is familiar and it''s home. I just don''t know. FI''s at a closing so he''s not home yet, either.

 

[Lorelei]

OMG - what on earth???? I wish ECF the vet was here but I guess she is busy right now, she would be able to offer some insight. Gypsy I would be feeling so angry and sick right now, I am still rooting for you and Duncan. It just makes it worse - all the waiting and worrying and then to find they didn''t have the results....I am so sorry, hang in there and I hope to hear good news soon.

 

[Kerbear560]

Ugh! How frustrating! After all of this waiting, you get a phone call that the biopsy sample was too small!!! Poor Duncan, having to go through another biopsy...and you and your FI for having to go through this! I''m so sorry...

 

[Girlrocks]

I am by no means a doctor or health care provider in any way, but from my limited knowledge of cancer, it would seem that if there were malignanct cells present, then they would be present in the entire sample. From a personal level, and I am talking about a human here (me!), I had a mass in my chest a year ago the size of your fist that they could not get a "good sample" of after 3 biopsies, turns out that was good news because it was benign. My surgeon at Georgetown who is world renowned for her skills and expertise told me they 98% of the time tell a malignancy the first try; if they are unsure or you get these answers like it wasn''t a big enough sample, that usually tends to be good news. Aparently, malignant cells are very distinguishable immediately to the trained eye. Again, this is by no means expert advice, just my own personal story.

In any event, sounds like your kitty is healing and getting back to his own self. Try to be positive, I know it''s hard and frustrating when you feel like you''re back to square one!

 

[movie zombie]

ok, you were counting on the results to make the decision as to where to treat. the only thing that''s changed is that you now have to wait once again for those results.
given the circumstances, perhaps they can expedite the process: get duncan get in and out quickly and make calls be made to the lab there to get the results sooner? if you lean on the vet will they lean on the lab?
or if you take him north, will you get a quicker turn around time?

i know its hard but i''d be looking for a very very quick turn around time on the test results so i could make my decisions. not telling you anything you don''t know already, i know.....

hang in there, gypsy.....

movie zombie

 

[moremoremore]

oh jesus. so sorry. well, i would do one thing at a time (if I'm reading correctly)...take him in locally for the biopsy. Then you can decide what to do.

They can always send the biopsy to the treating facility....

 

[Cind11]

Oh for GOODNESS sake. I don''t have any helpful advice to offer, but just wanted to say that I can''t imagine how frustrating this must be for you. To have to go through another biopsy for the poor guy... Sheesh.

 

[E B]

I just saw this thread! Sally and I send good, healing thoughts to Duncan. I hope everything''s okay!

 

[FireGoddess]

That''s just infuriating. Not big enough? ARGH!! Give your baby some extra petting for me.

 

[Cehrabehra]

You and kitty are in my thoughts gypsy... I know you have a lot on your plate, I hope kitty will be okay!

 

[Gypsy]

OKAY. Talked to the vet just now. They just got the final results on the 'bad samples" and they are consistent with an agressive infection. What they want to do now is extract his canine teeth, and scrap the dead bone off his jaw (risk of jaw breaking is high apparently)... and just to be sure... send off a large sample of the dead bone for biopsy.

I had made an appointment with a board certified veterinary dentist for tommorow when I was in TX. I want a second opinion and I want them to do the surgery. My vet was all set to do it, but well... she's never really done this before so I'm not having Duncan be an experiment.

SO... I'm flying to CA alone on Saturday to start my new job on Monday. Duncan needs surgery within the next two weeks. I'm not going to be here for that, which is really hard. He's apparently going to need syringe feeding and a liquid diet while he's recovering-- plus loads of pain killers.

I really wish my job started two weeks from now. The dentist can do the surgery tommorow. But well... I'm not sure that's a good idea. I don't want him to see mommy leaving him when he's in pain and hurting.

This job better become permanent ASAP, let me tell you.


THANK YOU ALL so much for your continued good wishes. Means the world to us. ((HUGS)).

 

[moremoremore]

I think that''s fab news!!!! Why is there such a high risk of the jaw breaking? I think you''re doing the right thing having an experienced vet do this.... Not that it''s the same thing b/c Duncan''s procedure is more complicated, but my Scotty had all of his teeth (except for two front) pulled and he recovered very well in a matter of days and wasn''t in pain (he was eating right away)....so as far as Duncan''s tooth pulling, at least that doesn''t have to be an ordeal...the bone scraping sounds like that is the hard part and an experienced vet will be able to give him the best care possible!!! Head bonks!!!!

 

[FireGoddess]

Ditto to MMM''s post - an infection is a better thing to deal with than cancer for sure. So sorry the timing couldn''t be better though.

 

[Kaleigh]

Date: 9/7/2006 4:31:46 PM
Author: FireGoddess
Ditto to MMM's post - an infection is a better thing to deal with than cancer for sure. So sorry the timing couldn't be better though.

Double ditto and big hugs!!!! Duncan will be fine!!!

 

[Girlrocks]

GREAT NEWS!!!!

 

[Madam Bijoux]

Glad you got good news, and best of luck to you and Duncan. Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[aussiegirl23]

Gypsy,

SO sorry about Duncan''s whole situation - it sounds like absolutely terrible timing all around. Any idea how this all started? Is it a tooth-brushing issue? As soon as I saw all this, I got out the kitty chicken-flavored toothpaste and attacked the poor kitties, but I think this is simply my obsessive worrying.

We''re keeping Duncan in our prayers and hoping for his speedy and complete recovery.

Aussie

 

[Gypsy]

Oh it''s great news in comparison to cancer! Believe me, it''s such a relief-- even though the vet did say that there is still a small chance of cancer. I have no idea how the infection started or anything... as for the risk of breakage, the jaws support is primarily an issue of the size of the roots of the canines and the amount of bone that needs to be scraped from what I understand. I''ll know more tomorrow, I hope. THANK YOU ALL!!!

 

[Dee*Jay]

Oh Gypsy, that's great news! This must be such a relief for you. Not that an infection is a picnic but it's better than the alternative.

 

[Lorelei]

Gypsy this is much better news! Regarding the infection, cats do get them so easily in their jaws and teeth and they can be complicated for the reasons you mention, sending out more head bonks to you and Duncan and hope his surgery goes well

 

[Cind11]

Oh, I just saw this. I''m happy for you that it''s probably not cancer. I hope Duncan''s surgery goes well.

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 9/8/2006 7:16:38 AM
Author: Cind11
Oh, I just saw this. I''m happy for you that it''s probably not cancer. I hope Duncan''s surgery goes well.

Amen!

 

[Gypsy]

Sorry I haven''t replied been busy with moving! We went to the specialist on Friday. He said that he''s going to have to get in there to be able to tell us the extent of the damage, but that he doesn''t "feel" like it''s going to be cancer. They x-rayed Duncan''s whole chest (clean) and took some blood work for extra tests (don''t know why the regular vet didn''t do this), and he''s scheduled for surgery on Wednesday morning. I''m in CA now, nervous about the new job and hoping all goes well on Wednesday. He''s going to send the biopsy results to a different lab than the one our vet sent hers too, he feels this lab is better but apparently the results take longer than the other (a week and a half minimum). So I''m just waiting, really missing all my babies (my family owns no pets) and hoping for the best on Wednesday. THANK YOU SO MUCH everyone! It is a relief that it''s probably not cancer. IF it''s not, then this may be the last of torture for my poor cat. I know many of you have dealt with sick babies and know how hard it is, because they just don''t understand, they just trust you and you hope that they know that whatever you are doing it''s for their best interest. Head bonks and hugs right back at you all. I''ll update on Wednesday.

 

[Cehrabehra]

oh gypsy, I''ve been crossing toes for weeks now, I can''t imagine how you''ve been suffering not knowing!!! I hope it''s all over soon and kitty can go back to feeling bbetter asap!!!

 

[Lorelei]

Best of luck Gypsy with the move and the job and that precious Duncan will be as fit as a fiddle again in no time! We do know how you are feeling and it is the PITS being so worried about a sick baby.

 

[FireGoddess]

Good luck with your job today Gypsy! I hope everything goes smoothly for you and for Duncan.

 

[Gypsy]

HELLO from N CA. Move went fine. So far I''m getting good feedback on the job. Finally got a computer today, so as I don''t have one I can really use at my grandparent''s house during the week my posting is going to be confined to before or after work (on the work computer), at lunch or on the weekends.

Duncan had his surgery today. Vet Dental Surgeon said it went very well, his jaw was in better shape than our vet had led him to believe so he was able to save one of Duncan''s incisors (gonna have to call him Bucky or Fang now) and the Vet DS had to scrape away less bone than he thought so the risk of breakage was minimalized-- AND well, nothing broke. The biopsy is sent off-- he''s estimated 7 days before the results are in-- and he apparently sent it ALL off to this other lab, just to be sure. So hopefully all will come back negative and this will be the end of Duncan''s misery. Poor baby is hurting and he''s on massive pain killlers, more than last time according to John-- so he''s REALLY out of it. He''ll be on antibiotics for 3 weeks then (if no cancer) we go in so they can check how he''s doing. I REALLY wish I could go home right now and be with him for even a few hours. He''s well... when he''s not feeling well he''s a Momma cat. I really feel like I''m letting him down not being there this week. My little love. But the important thing is that it went well, and that the Vet DS''s ''gut'' is still telling him no cancer.


Everyone here is talking to me like my being made permanent is just a matter of time... so hopefully they''ll get on with it so John and my babies can join me out here. I''m going back to the east coast at the end of Sept, but I''m only going to DC for three days so I won''t get to see Duncan, or any of them. Duncan does NOT travel well either so it''s not like I can really have John pop down with him. Oh well. Ignore me, I''m a guilt ridden momma.

You all have been so wonderful, so I thought I''d share the good news about his surgery-- hopefully this will be the end of it and all will be well for him from here on out.

Okay... I''m exhausted. And have a one hour commute home so I''m off. Will check in tommorow at lunch.

 

[Dee*Jay]

Gypsy, glad things went well for Duncan''s surgery. And hopefully all the news that comes back will be good!