Julia, Don't ever say 'this is all I can do'--what you're doing is wonderful! Samantha is loved and well cared for. That's more than so many kitties have... Make her as comfortable as you can, give her lots of hugs--that's what she needs right now.
Chris [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Julia Hagstrom Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 1:26 AM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: More info Nina and Belinda, I took my kitty to the Cancer Center today, and yes, she saw a specialist, a Dr. who was filling in for Dr. Harris while she's on vacation, and really knows her stuff. :) She made sure that the problem is lymphoma, and said it is hiding in her lymph nodes, which is why she couldn't see the mass clearly on the X-ray we brought from my regular vet (the vet I've been taking her to since I got her). Unfortunately, when a tumor gets into the lymph nodes and then the bones, it is a death sentence. I know this because it's also what happened to my husband; he died of bladder cancer, when the second tumor was in his body cavity, and surgery wasn't an option. While he was trying to decide whether to take more aggressive chemo for it, after having the tumor shrunk to the size of a golfball by chemo and radiation, the tumor grew back very fast, and got into his lymph nodes and bones. His Dr.s knew that it was the end for him, and he was dead within a week's time after that. That's why I know that, no matter what I do, Samantha will die, and I just don't see the point of doing the chemo and radiation when it will only prolong her life by a few months, not a very long time at all. If it were longer, I would consider it, but I haven't got a job, right now, and so money has to be a very big consideration, whether I want it to be or not. It would cost about $1500.00 for just the radiation treatments, because that was the estimate they gave me today, on top of the cost of her visit and treatment today. She has been given a short-term chemo injection, and will receive 3 more of these, but they won't last very long, and they will make her comfortable. She is also on Children's Benadryl, to prevent an allergic reaction to the second injection, and Prednisone. I want her to be comfortable for as long as possible, but she isn't very strong, and I don't know how long she'll last. I want to do right by her, but this is all I can do. I won't prolong her life just for my own selfish ends, and I won't keep her with me, if she is suffering greatly; I'll let her go, and set her free. Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it. I've received quite an education from all the Emails I've read from y'all, and will continue to look forward to them. Julia
