Zoey

[Shannon's Mom]

Thank you so much. I have a call into my vet to do the bloodwork for a little less than the hospital would charge. I will talk to her tonight and then set up the procedure for Zoey. Zoey does not like all the fuss or the medicine she is taking and hides under the bed. I'm sure she is confused by the attention she is getting from everyone. I hope once I begin this journey I will be able to keep up the financial end. I'm on a fixed income and as you all know, this can be quite expensive. I will do my best. Zoey is very much loved.

[Tina B and crew]

I hope you realize that should have been "do not fret"!! I don't want you to fret, just love Zoey.

[Shannon's Mom]

I'm afraid I am really fretting over this. I am worried that I will find Zoey could have a chance at remission and then not being able to afford the treatment. The vet said 85% with low grade cancer get remission with prednisolone and a drug called Chlorambucil (Cytoxan) which is lifelong. I am trying to find out the cost of this med. I'm a senior with limited funds so I don't have a lot to spend. Zoey does not like the liquid prednisolone so I am going to try pills. She is living under the bed now and won't come near me. When I gave her the med today, I tried to hold her for a while but she just jumped down and went under the bed. I think she is now afraid of me. She is obviously not happy. She was never a social kitty but this is not what I wanted for her. I am open to any suggestions on calming her.

How is Doc doing? Is he off his meds now or does he have to stay on it for life too? I am so happy he was able to overcome his problems. Give all your guys pets and hugs from us too.

[Shannon's Mom]

I have a question. I am reading up on the drug Chlorambucil which the oncologist mentioned. Have any of you used this drug? I read where you cannot have contact with feces, urine or saliva for 48 hours after each dose. What do you do if you have more than one cat? Will I have to lock Zoey away in a room or a cage and not allow her to be with her brother?

[Tina B and crew]

Peg, Doc is no longer on chemo meds. The did his via IV. He had adriamycin (doxorubicin). I was told to avoid his feces/urine for at least 24-28 hours after his treatment. I also kept him separate from the other cats during those times. I don't think it is a HUGE risk, but I guess with long term exposure one could absorb some of the chemo drugs. When I would let Doc out I just made sure I scooped often and used gloves. How often would she get the Cytoxan?

The only meds Doc is on now are Clindamycin for a toxoplasmosis infection a and Pepcid or Cerenia for nausea and vomiting due to the Clindamycin. I know exactly how you feel about pilling. Doc HATES it when I have to give him his pill. Hates it! He hides, he cringes, he pretends to swallow (and does a VERY good job of it) and then spits it out when I let him go. Thank goodness only another week and a day left. I usually let him have his space after I pill him. He eventually comes out and around.

I don't know what other options there are for the particular drugs you are using for Zoey. I'm sure Traci might have some advice. She may eventually become acclimated to the routine as well. Doc has become a bit better at not hiding when I come in with his capsule (although he still fights it when I give it to him).

Have you thought about doing an online fundraiser through something like gofundme.com? I actually created an account to raise funds for Doc but never really went anywhere with it. Seems too late now to try to "recoup" my funds, although that would be a great help to me in caring for my other cats and Doc's long term care. Just a thought. No matter, I think you will know the right path to take in time. Just get all the info you can.

[k9Karen]

Human drug companies often have programs that help people who can't afford their meds. Traci - do any of the vet med companies offer something like that? Peg - it wouldn't hurt to write to the manufacturer to ask if they have any programs to help people with limited finances. Plead your case and send pictures of Zoey - the cutest ones you can find. All they can say is "no", which only puts you in the same place you already are right now.

[Shannon's Mom]

Peg, Doc is no longer on chemo meds. The did his via IV. He had adriamycin (doxorubicin). I was told to avoid his feces/urine for at least 24-28 hours after his treatment. I also kept him separate from the other cats during those times. I don't think it is a HUGE risk, but I guess with long term exposure one could absorb some of the chemo drugs. When I would let Doc out I just made sure I scooped often and used gloves. How often would she get the Cytoxan?

The only meds Doc is on now are Clindamycin for a toxoplasmosis infection a and Pepcid or Cerenia for nausea and vomiting due to the Clindamycin. I know exactly how you feel about pilling. Doc HATES it when I have to give him his pill. Hates it! He hides, he cringes, he pretends to swallow (and does a VERY good job of it) and then spits it out when I let him go. Thank goodness only another week and a day left. I usually let him have his space after I pill him. He eventually comes out and around.

I don't know what other options there are for the particular drugs you are using for Zoey. I'm sure Traci might have some advice. She may eventually become acclimated to the routine as well. Doc has become a bit better at not hiding when I come in with his capsule (although he still fights it when I give it to him).

Have you thought about doing an online fundraiser through something like gofundme.com? I actually created an account to raise funds for Doc but never really went anywhere with it. Seems too late now to try to "recoup" my funds, although that would be a great help to me in caring for my other cats and Doc's long term care. Just a thought. No matter, I think you will know the right path to take in time. Just get all the info you can.

At this point we are doing the needle biopsy and bloodwork to determine the type of cancer and to see if Zoey is a candidate for chemo. I think they said Zoey would be on the med every other day for life so that means she would never be free of the drug and I am worried about the effects it could have on Pumpkin since he eats everything! I don't want to not give Zoey the opportunity at remission but I don't want it at a cost of Pumpkin's life either. How do you do it with multiple cats? I am just so upset with all of this. No more cats for me! This does it.

[Shannon's Mom]

Traci,

Do you have any information on how one deals with chemo with multiple cats? Is Chlorambucil safe to use with Zoey if Pumpkin is with her? Will I have to lock her away? What danger does it pose for Pumpkin? Can he absorb the chemo from the litter or dishes?

[Shannon's Mom]

Sorry to take up so much room on the forum but as you can see by my previous posts I am having a complete meltdown over Zoey's cancer, and the dangers of her chemo on Pumpkin. It's the middle of the night and I am sitting here sobbing. Am I overthinking this? It sounds so intimidating and so dangerous. It seems my two cats will never be able to co-habitate again. Does anyone know of anybody who had trouble with cats being together during chemo? If I can't touch it and I'm a full grown human, what risk am I putting Pumpkin at if I medicate Zoey? This is a nightmare!

[Tina B and crew]

Sorry to take up so much room on the forum but as you can see by my previous posts I am having a complete meltdown over Zoey's cancer, and the dangers of her chemo on Pumpkin. It's the middle of the night and I am sitting here sobbing. Am I overthinking this? It sounds so intimidating and so dangerous. It seems my two cats will never be able to co-habitate again. Does anyone know of anybody who had trouble with cats being together during chemo? If I can't touch it and I'm a full grown human, what risk am I putting Pumpkin at if I medicate Zoey? This is a nightmare!

Peg, don't anticipate the negatives. I don't think this means they can't be together, ever. What it may mean, if Zoey is a candidate and if you decide to go forth, is that you need to scoop the boxes several times a day and just be more vigilant. Don't let yourself worry over things that you aren't sure about. The truth is I wasn't horribly diligent about keeping Doc and my other kitties separate all the time. I DID scoop regularly. I've seen no ill effects. Just take a deep breath and wait until you have all the information in front of you. OK?