I am thinking of just seeing the oncologist myself tomorrow.  I don't want to put Gizmo in a cat carrier again and drive him in the car for 40 minutes.  I hope I am not being a horrible cat mom.

More info has come to me that there are infiltrates in his lungs and his heart.  Lining surrounding his kidneys seems to be affected also.

This is just blowing my mind.  I have dealt with all sorts of feline issues, FIP, diabetes, hyperthyroid, IBD and even losing 3 other cats to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.  Never have I encountered this.  I fully expected to lose Gizmo to HCM not to a "rare incurable cancer in cats"

Forgive me but.....WTF

mainecoonpeg Gizmo is a beautiful boy. He reminds me of my cameo Maine Coon, Daisy, some years ago.

He has been such a good boy through all the veterinary exams. I hope you can get some positive news from the oncologist tomorrow.

Peg- You are a great Mom ! Call the oncologist & ask about your concerns with bringing him in. After you talk to them you will be better able to make decisions. I wish the results had been better for you both. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers.

     I am so sorry, Peg.  Keeping you and Gizmo in my prayers.     You are doing all that you can for him and you are a very good cat mom.  Find what joy you can with him in the coming days.

Sending heartfelt good wishes and prayers for you and Gizmo, Peg. You are taking wonderful care of him.

Oh Peg I am so sorry the news is bad.  Can you call and ask if you need to bring him?  Give your little guy big hugs you are not a terrible furmom, you are a great mom.

Hugs
Judy

Saw the oncologist tonight.  I called the office before I went and told them I was not bringing Gizmo and was that okay.  The secretary said it was fine with her but the doctor might not be too happy about it.

What I did not say was that I was awake the entire night with him because he was in quite a bit of pain.  His hind legs are lame, due to the cancer and his leg muscles are visibly atrophying.  To make matters worse, when they took the bone marrow, they took it from his shoulder.  Punched a good sized hole in the bone and aspirated the marrow.  They did not give him any pain meds for this and I have had people tell me the procedure makes them VERY sore.  I curled up on the floor with him and he finally did fall into a somewhat restful sleep.  I honestly thought that he was going to die during the night, his breathing was very labored and sometimes he even stopped breathing.

The onco offered prednisone and luekeran as oral medications and a 2 week trial for both, followed by IV chemotherapy.  I asked about prognosis and time before recurrence and he really had no answers for me.  Said he has only treated one cat in his 30 year career for multiple myeloma.  He has had successes with dogs and many lengthy remissions.  I told him that I had 10 wonderful years with Gizmo and if he could offer me 10 more months.....he did not answer.  I told him my primary concern is and always will be quality of life.  He told me he is "quantity and quality".

Anyway, I came home with the pred and the leukeran.  I may just try the pred by itself, but that is not without risks.  It will help with the pain and it will help suppress the speed at which plasmacytes are accumulating in the marrow. This could potentially make Gizmo susceptible to bacterial, viral and fungal infections.  The pred could acutely kill him, because of his heart issues, and/or it could send him into congestive heart failure.  Many things to think about.  I think that we will both curl up tonight and sleep on it.

Gizmo and I are very blessed to have all of you.  We feel your prayers, your good thoughts and your positive energy and we are eternally grateful.

Love, hugs and purrs........Gizmo LOVES to hug
Gizmo and Peg

Peg,

Wow, that is a lot to think about. Poor Gizmo! Just spend lots of time curled up together. Love does wonders in healing.

MarySmith