Madison Lee is certainly in my thoughts and prayers........sounds sucessful!!! Madison's surgery was only $20.00 more than Sam's blood work this past week, and Delilah's blood work last week!! Is Madison Lee a Southern Kitty name, by any chance? Helene
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Lora Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 4:53 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: Special Need List Add-On: Madison Lee Hi Everyone, I called the vet's office yesterday around 4:30 P.M. for an update on Madison's status and am happy to report that she not only survived the general anesthetic (isoflurane gas), but the operation itself! Due to Madison's age I was SO worried about the use of anesthetic, but she pulled through with flying colors. We picked up Madison from the hospital this afternoon and despite her condition, she acts perfectly normal. As soon as she saw me she pratcially jumped into my arms and when we touched she instantly started to purr and kneed. Here is the breakdown of the current events: 07-08-06 Extreral Examination- $15.00 dollars. 07-12-06 Amputation Surgery of Tumor- $80.00 dollars. 07-12-06 Lab Histopathology (biopsy of tumor)- $38.00. 07-12-06 Radiograph 10 X 12 (X-ray of chest)- 35.00. 07-12-06 Clavamox Drops (an antibiotic)- 14.00. 07-13-06 Current Total $182 (which is NOT a bad price considering we are talking about "possible" cancer. I which treatment for "human" cancer was this cheap!) Keep in mind that this is just a running total, because the postoperative appointment will be an additional cost as well as any treatment for cancer IF she has it. Madison's postoperative exam is scheduled for Saturday July the 22nd. That is exactly ten (10) days from her surgery date. Our veterinarian will remove her sutures then. Unlike an invasive spay operation which requires dissolvable sutures, Madison's sugery was external which required non-dissolvable sutures, hence the postoperative appointment. Our veterinarian used a vertical incision which is approximating three (3) inches in length and resulted in seventeen (17) individual stitches. Although Madison was discharged withOUT any pain medication she does not seem to mind. As soon as we returned home she quickly inspected every room in the house to ensure that everything was the way SHE left it (such a queen) and then curled up on the back of the couch (her reserved spot) to take a nap. If she understands the severity of the situation, she clearly does not care. In addition to the surgery and biopsy our veterinarian took an X-ray of her chest to confirm if there was any cancer cells in that area. There was not, her chest cavity can back clean and our veterinarian feels confident that the tumor itself was "contained." The word "contained" is cancer jargon for meaning that a small portion of tissue (usually an inch) surrounding the tumor was "clean" or cancer-free. In amputation surgery of a "possible" cancerous tumor, surgeons typically remove some "good" tissue along with the tumor in hopes that ALL of the cancerous cells have been extracted from the body; thus "containing" the cancer. This technique is common practice in surgical oncology i.e. colectomies, lumpectomies, mastectomies, etc. as conventional cancer treatments. However, the biopsy report from the diagnostic laboratory pathology department is expected to be received on or before her postoperative appointment. It will be then that our veterinarian will be able to tell us if the tumor was benign or malignant and IF the tumor was malignant what TYPE of cancer it is. If Madison is dignosed with cancer we will discuss a course of treatment i.e. chemotherapy, radiation-therapy, immunotherapy, new/innovative therapies, etc. then. As of right now, we are just focused on Madison recovering from the surgery itself. She made it over the first hurdle (the surgery) now if she can just get over the next (the cancer.) We are not out of the woods yet. Please continue to keep my sweet Madison Lee in your thoughts and prayers. We need all the positive healing vibes that we can get. Thank you to everyone who has emailed replys and posted their well-wishes. We sincerely appreciate it. Hugs, Lora __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
