Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Good News!

Now, first, PLEASE don't get too excited cuz the overall news is still furry furry bad. But for now, right this minute, I am improving! My appetite is great, and the wobbling/limp tail is just slightly improved. My energy level also has improved by leaps and bounds. I am about at 100% of the energy level that has become normal for me as I go through these treatments (about 90-95% of my pre-cancer normal energy level). When you go through cancer, you have to savor every good moment, and we are definitely having one for right now!

I also need to briefly mention that Mom heard from some friends on the lymphoma boards, and they weren't so convinced it was in my nervous system. Mom relayed those thoughts to the vet, but the vet remains very certain that it is indeed the lymphoma.

Please remember, the treatments I've had this week aren't really designed for nervous system cancer. I got the vincristine Monday before we knew it was in my nervous system, and while it's better than nothing, it doesn't penetrate the nervous system the way the Cytosar should. Also, my parents upped the steroid dose per the vet's direction, but again, it's more of a "band-aid". For proper treatment of this, I need to get the cytosar, starting Tuesday. I think it will be weekly. It will probably buy me 1-3 months, and that is it. Once that it is done, I don't think there are any other real options. Mom has yet another call in to the beyond patient vet about this. She has called the vet so many times this week trying to figure out these tough decisions! But so far, Daddy is very much against continuing any more chemo with me, and Mom isn't so sure either. Although my quality of life has been good, it isn't what a normal cat's quality of life is, and frankly, my days are getting very numbered no matter what the Beans decide. I may not even respond to the Cytosar, if the Beans do elect to give it to me. If this current form of the cancer gets me, it will be quick, and painless. The Beans are aware that if they treat this, I may get a tumor somewhere else, and the end be not as peaceful.

So, the bottom line is for right this minute I am OK. But if I do not get treated Tuesday, I will probably not be here more than another week, two at the most. If I do get treated, anything more than 3 months would be like winning the lottery. We haven't decided for sure, but we probably are not going to do the Cytosar, and instead let me live out my last few weeks here in peace without more vets and drugs.

I want to take this time, while I am still here, to celebrate life. It seems a bit more likely now that I will be here this Friday, and although Mom or the fevvers or any new cats the beans get will continue the tradition, there is a decent chance this might be MY last funny picture friday. If it isn't, great. But we don't know that, so please, for me, everybody enter. My Beans will be greatly needing laughs over the next few weeks. And this is a way for everybody to show their love for me without having to pay or really do much of anything. And if for some reason I get worse again and don't make it to Friday, still enter- Mom will run it for me in my memory. Please, let's make this Friday one to remember!

25 comments:

Brownie said...

Texas, I got happy, very very happy! Every good news, althrough they are little or few, are good!
Keep goin'!
-Brownie

Stellaluna said...

Texas, don't be negative, we are still purring for you. You'll never be sad with the friends you have.
As we have to think pawsitive, that noos are good. We has to be happy 'bout it :o3

Castle said...

hey texie...meowmie is writing yo your meowmie right now, she just got your mum's emails...and you will have a very special entry from Storm for this Friday,...sending you lots of comforting purrs dear friend, stay brave, we fully understand that the decisions you are facing are incredibly tough x

The Misadventures Of Me said...

As Daisy told my TT, fight fight fight! We all are sending good healing vibes and purrs to you.

Mommy Bean

The Taylor CatSSSSS said...

Oh Texas, Mommy has leaking eyes reading this! We want you to fight, but we also want you to be comfortable. Your parents are facing some tough decisions. Please know that our thoughts are with you.

Many purrs!

Sweet Purrfections said...

Texas, we are thankful for any good news, even if it is short term. Out beans would love for us to live forever and never go to the Bridge, but unfortunately, that is not the way God designed it. Please know you and your family are in our prayers.

Robyn and The (Mostly) Badass Cat said...

We's still purring for yoo and yore Mommy too and whole fambly. We knows it's tuff. Yoo do what yoo haf to do, and that's just the rite thing to do. We hope yoo can stay with us longer tho, we's selfish that way :)
Luv n purrrrrrrrs,
Sanjee and the resta the Hotties

The Florida Furkids said...

Texas,
We're going to continue purring and purraying for you. We know your beans will do what is best for you.

We promise we'll enter the contest on Friday too!!


Sniffie and the Florida Furkids

MaoMao said...

Awwww, Texas, we Ballicai are glad yur feelin bettur and we will purr with alla our might fur you.

Sendin lots of love to yur fambly.

Kittyhugs and purrs from MaoMao!

Tina T-P said...

Texas - sorry to hear that you are so ill. I know your beans love you and don't want you to leave. It's a hard place to be, isn't it? Sending you lots of Love. T.

muffinmidi said...

We read your blog but we've never commented before.My Mommy is a lymphoma survivor and her eyes are all leaky.She wants me to tell you that before you decide anything, get a second opinion as to whether the lymphoma is actally in your nervous system.We're purraying for you all.

Figaro the Therapy Cat said...

I gotted happy that you are feeling better. I hope you gets better and better from heres!

Gemini and Ichiro said...

Texas I think it is very happy news! Even if only for a moment--a happy moment is better than not having a happy moment.

Purrs! I am looking forward to Stormie's entry that Castle wrote about. I, myself, refuse to be photographed in any compromising positions...

Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...

Oh Texas, yoo are so strong. We is all leaky and here yoo are encouraging us to enter yoor contest and have fun! Well, Speedy has just da piksher so he is gonna enter. We is still purraying fur yoo and dat da vet is wrong!

Anonymous said...

You are one brave little kitty Texie, those treatments are so tough. I'm glad you are feeling a little better and you have a patient vet who can answer your Mom's questions when she needs to know things. I am still purring for you and sending you all love xx

The Lee County Clowder said...

Texas, we're all pulling for you. Hang in there as long as you can.

We're looking for some sort of funny picture of us for your contest. So far, we haven't found anything really funny, but we'll try to enter with something, anyway.

MISS PEACH ~(^.^)~ said...

Dearest Texas and beans....you are all three very brave. This will be a hard battle for you to fight. We will be here for you and mommy is looking for a funny photo to cheer you up!
Keep the faith and I will purrrray for you...love Miss Peach

The Lee County Clowder said...

PS: Where do we send entries? Your instructions say to send them to you, but we haven't found out how.

PPS: ppuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Goldie, Shade and Banshee said...

Texas, you just have to take it minute by minute and soak up all the love you can.

We are stilling purring loads!!

~Goldie and Shade

ZOOLATRY said...

Hey Texas... your name is "big" and we know you'll be "big" in fighting this awful thing... hang in, hang on, hang around...
One never knows what tomorrow may bring and for you, we want it to be the biggest and the bestest!

Tama-Chan, Benny, Vidock, Violette, Ollie, Heloise, Momo, Ryu said...

You hang in there, big guy!

Purrs,
Sen-Chan

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

We are glad you are feeling better. Our purrs are with you and our funny pics are coming. We will find one of each of us. ~Socks, Scylla & Charybdis

Anonymous said...

here are some purrs and purrayers for you hope you feel better.

The Meezers or Billy said...

Texas,we are still purring for you. We unnerstand that this is just so confusing and frustrating and just plain HARD for your mom and dad. Our mom went through this with The One Who Came Before and she knows the roller coaster that your parents are on. All of our purrss and purrayers and love are going out to you and your mom and dad.

Nomi said...

Live for the moment sweet Texas ! Whatever happens it will be for the best.