Re: New

[lernermichelle]

It's generally 1/2 cc dexamethasone mixed with 1/2 cc depomedrol.  Normal dosage for each independently is a whole cc.  I have, on at least one occasion, given 1 cc of dex and 1 cc of depo.

 

Michelle

 
-----Original Message-----
From: Pam Norman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Sent: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 20:35:03 -0700
Subject: Re: New

Thanks Michelle, this is REALLY good to know.  I will print & put it in her file!  can you give me dosages?  I assume per weight?

 

Pam

----- Original Message -----

From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org

Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 7:57 PM

Subject: Re: New

Hi, Pam.  I have had several positives who got lymphoma. I think you are doing the right thing by trying the chemo. It can do wonders with extending life and making them more comfortable and happy while they are here.  If you do stop the chemo at any point, rather than the natural route (which I support where effective, and used with one of our dogs who had a sarcoma and she did well-- so I am not against it at all normally but it does not seem to work well for lymphoma) I would suggest doing combination shots of dexamethasone and depomedrol (1/2 cc each, as often as needed but can last up to a few weeks).  The steroids are effective at shrinking lymphoma and make the cats feel really good physically and emotionally, and they usually do not have any short-term side effects.  I have had cats who seemed on their death beds, not eating or drinking and hardly moving, who got up and ate within an hour of getting one of these shots.  Others on this list have had the same experience. It is not a conventional treatment for lymphoma, but I learned it from a vet whose practice uses these shots for all terminally ill cats, and she swears by them and says she has seen cats go months on these shots alone with lymphoma, feeling good.  I would not do it instead of chemo, but if you need to stop the chemo for any reason.  I convinced my cat Simon's oncologist to try it, after he was at first resistant, and he was shocked at how effective it was.

 

Michelle

 

In a message dated 4/25/2006 7:24:33 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

Hi, this is Pam, mom for JuneAmy. Altho I have no FeLv kitties, I have been so grateful for the help that has already come from those here even tho I have not been on your list, that I had to join.

 

I will post her story later but suffice to say right now that she has large cell lymphoma. Big mass in the abdomen, & more thorughout the liver, spleen, intestines & lymph nodes. She was diagnosed a week ago today. Had hse been a old kitty (& I am not at all sure how old she is but think she is probably older than what I have been told), I would probably have let her go with that diagnosis, which was pretty grim.  But I let the vets at U of WI vet hospital give her a watered down injection of L'spar & started her on 1`0 mg of pred last week as a trial.  They thought to start the full U of WI protocol would kill her.

 

She responded just enough for them to decide to go ahead & today she got Vincristine. I am not at all sure I am doing the right thing.  But my feeling is that I have to try.  I could just treat her with pred & natural supplements, which is very tempting, & it may come to that depending on how she does, but I have been encouraged by those who know us, to try.

 

Right now she is so tired. I fed her some "lunch" of Purina DM on comimg home but she needs to rest. As I type, I am also watching her breathing & thinking she is having some mild difficulty. I don't know. Going to be a long evening/night.

 

 

Pam