Jeddie first chemo and prognosis

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Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA

Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA

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Well, at this point there is no really good news. Jeddie has cancer and it will take his life sooner than what should be his time. The best that chemo can do is extend his current good quality of life by shutting down any microscopic cancer cells and stopping the tumor from creating new blood supplies to itself - and maybe close down existing blood supplies as well.

The vet said "Chemo won't cure him", or shrink the main tumor, but that I can hope to keep him at his current status quo for up to 9 months or so. She, like the surgeon, reiterated that quality of life is everything and I agree with that.

I decided to go with what she thought was his best chance (and, of course, the most expensive), an IV chemo that alternates between two drugs. He gets a treatment every 3 weeks. I will do this for as long as I have money to cover it. Optimum is 4 courses over 6 months. At that point they need to switch to a different med anyway and all other meds are given at home (oral medication).

His prognosis without chemo, or if he does not respond to chemo, is 2-4 months. With chemo/response to chemo, it is 9-12 months.

Jeddie could still use prayers that he responds to the chemo and doesn't have side effects from it.

Thank you to everyone that donated to his fund to date. Without all of you, we could not have come this far. And thanks to everyone offering up prayers - they are felt and greatly needed. We could not have come this far without those as well.
 
Sheila, this is just heartbreaking. I've been catching up on your posts and am so sorry you and Jeddie are going through this.

I lost a cat to oral adenocarcinoma a few years back and I sympathize with you and the journey on which you have embarked. It seems so unfair ... I remember when Jeddie was first posted as needing a home, the adoption and transport, and the "glitches" on the path to happiness. All I can say is that I'm truly glad that he has you in his corner, fighting for him, caring for him, and loving him for however much time he has left.

I'm sending positive thoughts your way, and will continue to do so in the days and months ahead.
 
((((((Sheila & Jeddie)))))

This is so not fair...Not Jeddie! He has come so far in your loving care it shouldn't be ending like this. You both deserve a Happily Ever After...You both will be constantly in our prayers here. May he defeat all odds and live well far longer than they say he will.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette, Autumn & The Fur Gang
 
(((((Sheila, Jeddie and Beau too)))))

Crossing all paws, toes and tails that the chemo is able to give Jeddie more time and quality of life.

How is he feeling today? Is he experiencing any side effects form the drugs?
 
He is ok today. I think a little lethargic, which is an expected side-effect of chemo. Or it could have been the heat from yesterday.

He did sleep next to me most of the night and was wanting me to get up and feed him early - although there was food in a few dishes still, which I had to point out and then move the dish to another feeding station before he would eat.

His appetite has been down and/or it is difficult enough to eat that he isn't eating as much. He dropped a half pound in the past 2-1/2 weeks and his BG has been low in the mornings and higher at night. I may need to reduce his dose again to .3u to try and even that out.

I will be looking for foods that entice him more. I wonder if the canned food is too watery so just sort of runs out of his mouth. He handles a plate of shredded chicken ok, if slowly. Seems like small, soft, but solid works best.
 
((((Jeddie and Sheila)))

I hope you find some food that Jeddie likes and finds easy to eat.
We want him to get stronger so he'll feel better and give lots more hugs to you.

All my best.
 
Awww Sheila, sending hugs and prayers for you both. This has got to be so very hard for you. I hope the chemo helps and that he is with you for a long, long time yet, surprising the vet's with their prognosis.
 
Sheila, did the doctors mention what side effects to look for either of these chemo drugs? I've not had direct experience with chemo before, but members of the Yahoo Lymphoma group mention that chemo can cause nausea and innappetance for a few days afterwards. They give ondansetron (Zofram) to help alleviate the nausea and entice eating. Just something to keep in mind if trying the different types and sizes of foods first doesn't help.

Hope he feels better soon.
 
From the handouts they gave me, lethargy, nausea and innappetance are the most common side effects for all of these drugs. Usually they are seen 2-3 days after the treatment and can last 1-2 days. They sent me home with Cerenia for nausea and vomiting to use as needed. There are other side effects that can happen as the chemo builds in their system such as bone marrow suppression, diarrhea, and whisker loss. Still other possible nastiness are allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) and tissue sloughing or burning. Those would actually be immediate to administering the drug and require emergency care.

It seems like the worse side effects are all associated with the two IV chemo drugs he is starting with: Carboplatin and Adriamycin (Doxorubicin) - especially the Adriamycin, which is diluted and given under sedation to prevent movement (and spilling onto the skin). I guess giving the drug right into a vein prevents tissue burning. Makes you wonder about the effects on the veins, heart, arteries, and internal tissues once the stuff reaches them. Sounds particularly nasty, and to be honest, too scary to want injected into him. That's the thing with chemo - the balance of enough drug to kill cancer cells (I still want to know how it knows which are the bad cells) and not so much as to kill the good cells - or at least not too many of them. Sigh.
 
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