2 of 2 from me:
I always said that, with what I learned in hindsight, if I had the opportunity
to do it differently, I would. At the time, I was not educated enough on the
disease to make a truly informed decision about the chemo and I was frantic and
not thinking clearly. AND I was obsessed with Monkee and blinded by a belief
that it was most important to "try everything." I have come to realize now-
especially since my work fostering cats since Monkee's death- that "trying
everything!" IS NOT the most important, or most correct thing to do. If I ever
have another felv+ cat and I am faced with the same dilemma, my choice will be
to forego chemo, continue prednisone (which will make the cat's day to day life
more comfortable and can sometimes have an effect on tumors- stabilize them,
maybe even shrink them a little), and keep him happy, COMPLETELY NON-STRESSED,
and spend every freaking moment loving him. I would continue to take the cat
to the vet to monitor the red blood cells, etc. But I would forego chemo, the
blood transfusions that almost always come with chemo and/or severe anemia
caused by felv and/or the chemo treatment itself, and in Monkee's case, his
specialist wanted the leg tumor surgically removed when the chemo didn't shrink
it and honestly, I think the surgery just really knocked the poor thing past
the point of return. He was in so much pain for 2 days after- it was horrible.
We will never know for sure if the severe anemia that eventually caused him to
die in my arms late one night, was caused by the felv itself becoming active,
or if the chemo and/or surgery was actually the final straw in really kicking
in the anemia. Yes it's likely his felv was already full-blown by the time
the tumor was discovered, but in my opinion, the chemo and surgery definitely
did not prolong his life. When the vet suggests chemo for this cancer, you
have to know that they are reccommending this as a life-prolonging treatment
that will at best, prolong the cat's life by only a few months. And you may
say what I said-- that I have to give him those few months- I owe that to him!
But what did I really do for him? Rush him off to multi vets- 2 vet
specialists, borrowed money from my mom to pay for his extremely expensive
treatment, stressed him out with blood taking, a blood transfusion, chemo and
surgery...and stressed him out with my crying and crying and crying? I really
suspect that the chemo/transfusions/surgery DID NOT prolong Monkee's life and
wonder now how long we could have sailed along with him having his tumor on his
leg (that didn't bother him at all!), taking prednisone (and feeling like
super-Monkee!), and chilling in our little house-- happily eating raw chicken
livers and raw lean buffalo (for his anemia), playing, napping and loving a
non-stressfull life???? The gamble on the other side is, can you live with
yourself and the questioning of yourself for not doing the chemo? You have to
weigh both sides and what is best for your cat. Not what is best for you.
Caroline (and Monkee in spirit)
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