RE: Simon stopping chemo and does not have long

[Faye Lewis]

I am horribly sorry about Simon. You really went to bat for that baby and 
did all you can.  My prayers are with you both.

From: "MacKenzie, Kerry N." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Subject: RE: Simon stopping chemo and does not have long
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 15:55:37 -0600
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Dear Michelle
You and Simon have been through so much together, I am so, so sorry that
he has become so ill again. It is so sad for him that he is so unwell,
and so devastating for you. I know you will know if and when it is time
to let him go. And I wish you all the strength you need at this very
difficult time. Thinking of you and Simon, and praying he gets relief
and can feel comfortable for however long he has left. Much love to you
and dear Simon, Kerry
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 2:46 PM
To: felvtalk@vlists.net
Subject: Simon stopping chemo and does not have long
I brought Simon in for the Adriamycin this morning, his 5th chemo
treatment which he had to skip 3 days ago because his WBC was too low to
get it. His WBC was back up towards normal, but his PCV had dropped to
15 and, more importantly, his bilirubin (liver values) were back up to
9.  Normal is under .8 (that's .8, not 8-- less than one).  On Tuesday
he was at 2.5 and had been 1.3 the week before, so it has skyrocketed.
He feels very sick and will not eat but I am syringing.  The oncologist
said he could not give a full dose of Adriamycin or even a half dose
without probably killing Simon, because it needs to be processed through
the liver and his liver is so extremely compromised. He said he could
try a 1/4 dose of it, but that even this would likely make him sicker
than he is and necessitate a weekend of IV fluids for any hope of him
processing it, and there would only be a miniscule chance that such a
low dose would curb such aggressive and advanced cancer.  It seems like
Simon went into remission, or close to it, after 3 weeks of chemo, and
then came out of remission within a week. Apparently FeLV+ cats respond
to chemo like other cats, but come out of it with resistant cancers much
more quickly.  The oncologist was willing to do the 1/4 dose of
Adriamycin or another drug I can not remember starting with a C and
consisting of 3 letters, but said that he thought there was almost no
chance of such low doses helping and that Simon would spend his last
days in the hospital hooked up to IV, with strangers, and sicker.  He
said if Simon were his cat he would take him home and see if he can have
a few days of semi-comfort. He gave him a shot of dex and a shot of depo
to see if that would shrink the tumors a little and keep him more
comfortable. The dex should have set in by now, but is not having any
effect. He does not want to be touched much, fought me when I syringed
him, and is mostly hiding by himself. I am thinking of separating him
from the other cats and keeping him in my bedroom so that he can be by
himself without having to hide.  He is turning bright yellow. I do not
think he has very long at all.  I am devastated.  We fought this so
hard-- 3 transfusions, 5 days of hospitalization, 5 chemo treatments all
in the last month. Syringe feedings and sub q fluids. He has been
through so much, and all it gave him was a week or two in the middle
when he was eating some and playing some and cuddling with Ginger. At
that point I thought it was worth it, and maybe it was.  He is only 4
years old.  I am not sure how long to let him go on like this. My
partner is against euthanasia, and I usually am not willing to do it
until it is clear they are in the process of dying.  But it seems
unlikely he will ever feel even remotely ok again.
If you pray, please pray for him to get some relief from the steroids
and have at least a few more happy days, and then to go peacefully when
he does go.
Thanks,
Michelle
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