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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / October 2006Sam's Plans
Well, I spoke with the vet this weekend and we have a plan in place. An oncologist from Houston was visiting one of his internist partners so Dr.C showed him Sam's xrays and biopsy results and asked his opinion. According to this oncologist we should go ahead and remove the tumor and the rib that is involved. We should take samples of the two ribs on either side to ensure there in't involvment in those bones. The vet is very optimistic that this is going to be successful and that Sam won't have any trouble with his breathing. He is going to take very good care to make sure that happens. In cats, osteosarcoma has been reported in long bones that were amputated. There is a 16% chance of the tumor returning and a median survuval time of 1 - 4 years. If the tumor return and/or metastases to soft tissue it can be a lot less. In cases where the osteosarcoma is in the skull they have a less chance of survival because you can't take all of the bone. Their survival is about 6 months. Without treatment survival is 1-3 years and we know that Sam has had this tumor since January 2005 - 20 months of his 3 year sentence. He could die at any time from this disease. We have a committment that we made to a friend that we would take his race car to the track in Topeka, Kansas for the National Championsip races. We'll be racing out there as well. This is a committment we can't avoid. We'll be leaving on October 6th and returning October 15th. I have scheduled the surgery for Thursday, October 19th. Sam will have the surgery and spend the night at the clinic. They'll apply a fenyerol patch on his shoulder which should contol pain for 3 days. I'll be able to bring him home on Friday, October 20th. The surgeon and oncologist do not suggest following up with chemotherapy. He said there is very little evidence that the chemo works in these cases and it would only make Sam feel bad. That is agreeable with us. So, we're going on vacation and forgetting all of our problems. My brother can be cared for by my father and my brother's wife. The cats are well cared for by our cat sitter and nothing I can do about any problems at work. I plan to take a couple of books and relax and enjoy. When I get back I'll be in better shape to take care of Sam. Thank you all again for all of hour purrs and prayers. Julie and Sam It's actually a better outlook than I think you had before, though still grave but at least it is a plan. Will be building up mega purrs for Sam's succesful rib removal. At which point, you must change his name to Adam ;) ((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))) > Well, I spoke with the vet this weekend and we have a plan in place. An > oncologist from Houston was visiting one of his internist partners so Dr.C [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > > Julie and Sam > It's actually a better outlook than I think you had before, though still > grave but at least it is a plan. Will be building up mega purrs for Sam's > succesful rib removal. At which point, you must change his name to Adam ;) > > ((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))) LOL! Well, I guess I could call him Samuel Adam :) Thanks for the purrs, Karen and I agree that we do have a plan and that makes it a little more encouraging. Julie >I guess I could call him Samuel Adam :) Well, since I have never known what the "R" stood for, I guess I could get used to calling him Samuel A. Thunderpaws. Hi, Julie. Your message to FAIM about Sam's condition reminded me that I fully meant to catch up with this group once the summer's distractions abated. I figured there would be a few more details here. I'm sure you're suspended between hope and dread right now -- no guarantees, but good reason to be optimistic. At least you know Sam will have a large and international cheering/purring section come the 19th.  SignatureWayne M. (with purrs from Will and Heidi) >Well, I spoke with the vet this weekend and we have a plan in place. It's good to have something to go on and the plan sounds well thought out. You have our heartfelt hopes for excellent results and that Sam has many more good years ahead. Poor fellow, I wish I could give him a gentle hug. Hobo sends purrs and I'm sure Speckles will be sending some from the RB. Best wishes to all of you. Jeanne >>Well, I spoke with the vet this weekend and we have a plan in place. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Jeanne Thanks Jeanne, I'll give him your hug tonight. He loves being hugged. He likes human contact more than other cat in our household. If you don't pay him attention he'll walk up and lift his paw to tell you he wants to be petted. We've turned that into a "high-five". We say, "High-five, Sam" and he'll lift his paw and give high-five then we'll give him petting and praise. Now he'll high-five all day if you'll play with him. Silly boy. Julie and Sam > So, we're going on vacation and forgetting all of our problems. My brother > can be cared for by my father and my brother's wife. The cats are well > cared for by our cat sitter and nothing I can do about any problems at work. > I plan to take a couple of books and relax and enjoy. When I get back I'll > be in better shape to take care of Sam. I hope that you can relax thoroughly while you are away, and that Sam's surgery goes well and the whole tumour can be removed once and for all. SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. Stories and pics at http://koti.welho.com/mkurten/ Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki >> So, we're going on vacation and forgetting all of our problems. My >> brother can be cared for by my father and my brother's wife. The cats [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I hope that you can relax thoroughly while you are away, and that Sam's > surgery goes well and the whole tumour can be removed once and for all. Marina, I hope that I'll be able to relax as well. When we race we're busy from 5 am until 6 or 7 pm every day so that there's very little time to think about anything other than what we're doing right then. At night I begin to worry about my babies but my catsitter will call me each day and leave a message on the cell phone and tell me how they're doing. I'm counting on this tumor being removed as well. All of it at once. Julie I am sorry I missed the last update Julie. I am lighting a candle, saying prayers for a good outcome. the pack is purring up a storm where if you go outside your house you will be able to hear them all they way from Florida. Head butts are being sent so your nerves can be at ease. Matthew > Well, I spoke with the vet this weekend and we have a plan in place. An > oncologist from Houston was visiting one of his internist partners so Dr.C [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > > Julie and Sam I'll look to the south tonight and since Florida isn't so very far from Georgia I'll know that the glow in the sky is from you and your furfamily. Thank you Matthew, I appreciate your concern. Julie and Sam > I am sorry I missed the last update Julie. I am lighting a candle, saying > prayers for a good outcome. the pack is purring up a storm where if you go [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] >> >>Julie and Sam > Well, I spoke with the vet this weekend and we have a plan in place. An > oncologist from Houston was visiting one of his internist partners so Dr.C [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > tumor since January 2005 - 20 months of his 3 year sentence. He could die > at any time from this disease. I have a good feeling about this. Surely a removable rib must be the best place for osteosarcoma. I hope it hasn't spread to any soft tissue, which is why I suggested a full body scan. It was in reverse with my Pearl, it started in the spleen and spread to the bone. She had a body scan when her spleen burst, but nothing else in the cancer department showed up at that time. Lots of purrs for you both. Tweed "Christina Websell" > > I have a good feeling about this. Surely a removable rib must be the best > place for osteosarcoma. I hope it hasn't spread to any soft tissue, which [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Tweed Thanks Tweed. I'm feeling good about this as well. The more I think about it the more I believe that we're catching it at a fairly early stage. The vet says its not a large tumor although it certainly looks large to me! But he feels confident, my friends here feel confident, so I'm feeling confident. If nothing else, I'm giving Sam the very best care that I can and I don't think anyone can ask any more of me than that. Julie > Thanks Tweed. I'm feeling good about this as well. The more I > think about it the more I believe that we're catching it at a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > nothing else, I'm giving Sam the very best care that I can and I > don't think anyone can ask any more of me than that. I’m so glad you feel a little better. Between what you know, what the vet knows, and even this group and the very encouraging words from Tension, I can imagine you have a brighter outlook on this. I love the Internet, and these forums. They can bring light where there is dark; knowledge where there is confusion, and hope where there is none. The gang is revving up the purrs for the next steps for Sam and you guys. SignatureCheryl > In cats, osteosarcoma has been reported in long bones that were amputated. > There is a 16% chance of the tumor returning and a median survuval time of [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > tumor since January 2005 - 20 months of his 3 year sentence. He could die at > any time from this disease. Hi Julie: I am sad for Sam's diagnosis, but happy for you that you have the relief of a plan for action. It always helps when you have a plan. Prayers that Sam is pain-free for as long as felinely possible. And in terms of time, although it is a small difference, I thought I might mention to you that usually data on survival such as the 3 years you mention, is usually based on time from diagnosis, not retrospectively to when you could feel the tumor or when cat had symptoms. Also, don't forget that was survival time for *untreated*, but Sam is no longer in that category after he has surgery. Median survival time, by the way, means that half of the patients in that study survived longer than the median survival time, so there is a 50% chance of Sam getting at least four more years if the surgery is successful in removing all tumor tissue within the bone. I don't know if that helps, but hopefully it puts things into a less gloomy outlook for you. Ultimately, always remember that cats do not read textbooks and are often in the habit of surprising people, and so hopefully Sam has a few tricks up his sleeves along with at least a few of his nine lives handy! Best wishes for a full recovery for Sam! --tension > Hi Julie: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > for *untreated*, but Sam is no longer in that category after > he has surgery. Tension, I hadn't thought of this. Most people don't know when the tumor started growing so most statistics are based on when the disease was diagnosed. I was thinking that because I know he had a tumor in January 2005, based on the x-rays taken because of his asthma I should count that time in the 1-3 years. In reality, we wouldn't have known he had a tumor until this month when we could feel a lump. We would have asked the vet and they would have acted on it. The fact that they didn't is because they thought it was the same small calcification seen in 2005. hmmm. So, rather than saying his life expectency without treatment is now 1 year he has 1-3 years from the time of diagnosis, last week. That makes me feel much better. It also helps explain why our surgeon is so excited to have the xrays from 1 9/12's year ago. He can get a good look at the progression of the disease. > Median survival time, by the way, means > that half of the patients in that study survived longer than the > median survival time, so there is a 50% chance of Sam > getting at least four more years if the surgery is successful > in removing all tumor tissue within the bone. By golly, I plan on him having a better than 50% chance :) > I don't know if that helps, but hopefully it puts things into > a less gloomy outlook for you. It does help, Tension. Thank you for explaining this. And Sam has a strong will to live - afterall he suffered multiple broken bones that might have killed an animal less determined to live. I feel good that we'll come through this and have years to share with him. Ultimately, always > remember that cats do not read textbooks and are > often in the habit of surprising people, and so [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > --tension Thanks, again, Tension. btw, where did you get your medical training? As you can see from some of my email messages, I work at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. > Thanks, again, Tension. btw, where did you get your medical training? As > you can see from some of my email messages, I work at Emory University > School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. Well, medical school was McMaster U. in Hamilton, Canada. Post-graduate training was extensive (three specialties) and spanned over a period of about seven years following med school at various places including Loma Linda, UCLA, and USC (Cali). I noticed you mentioned Ob/Gyn...what discipline is your work in? --tension > According to this oncologist we should go ahead and remove the > tumor and the rib that is involved. We should take samples of [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > had this tumor since January 2005 - 20 months of his 3 year > sentence. He could die at any time from this disease. Wow Julie, you guys have had a tough decision to make. I can’t imagine how you must have agonized over it. :( You’re good kitty parents, and you’ll do what is right for him. I remember when Shadow had to have a fentinol patch for pain, he didn’t handle it well, so if Sam seems sick with it, just ask the vet about something else for pain. Purrs for all of you. And extra scritches for Sam. SignatureCheryl Sounds like a good plan, Julie. Hope you have a relaxing vacation and that Sam flies through this surgery and is hungry as soon as he wakes up! Take care, Rhonda > According to this oncologist we should go ahead and remove the tumor and the > rib that is involved. > Well, I spoke with the vet this weekend and we have a plan in place. An > oncologist from Houston was visiting one of his internist partners so Dr.C [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > > Julie and Sam Mega-purrs that the surgery and treatment prove effective and that Sam continues pain-free for as long as possible. SignatureSam, closely supervised by Mistletoe > Well, I spoke with the vet this weekend and we have a plan in place. An > oncologist from Houston was visiting one of his internist partners so Dr.C [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > his breathing. He is going to take very good care to make sure that > happens. <snip> I have > scheduled the surgery for Thursday, October 19th. Sam will have the surgery > and spend the night at the clinic. They'll apply a fenyerol patch on his [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Julie and Sam We are purring and sending best wishes for everything to go really well, Polonca and Soncek |
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