Conference misery::feline

    Poor Deb!  You've certainly had a rough year :^(  And poor Pip too!  I
    think I'd do pretty much what you're planning - give her whatever she
    wants, plenty of sunshine and love.  Take pictures - videos if you can,
    of her at her best and happiest.
    
    Take care,
    
    Sandy
    

    Sigh.......having just gone through something very similar with
    Sasquatch all I can say is it will be very hard on you...but worth
    every penny!   When we lost Sass it was very sad...but we actually 
    could say we did all we could...and even though it was hell for
    us...we tried to make Sass's last weeks like heaven.
    
    We tried feeding Sass whatever he wanted...Tuna, Sardines, Shrimp.
    baby food, sliced chicken or roastbeaf, but we also continue with
    his normal catfood!!    We had catnip parties just about every night
    and we would either play or just hug...whatever Sass wanted...Sass
    got!! 
    
    Deb...just be strong for Pip...and provide the love, special treats,
    and understanding.   Even though the initial prognosis does not look
    my fingers/paws are crossed for a better outcome.  
    
    Hugs to both of you...
    
    Sandy

    Spend as much time cuddling with her as you can....feed her not
    only fish....but try roast chicken, as well (sounds crazy, but
    mine loved it).
    
    I understand completelty what you feel - I've been through it several
    times and it never gets any better.
    
    Just stay close to her and cuddle her - she knows you love her and
    that's what counts.
    
    Jeanne

    Folks, thanks for the suggestions and good thots.
    
    An update. The xray showed a huge invasive tumor which is not attached
    to the bone. So, it isn't bone cancer. But, the tumor doesn't look
    benign either. A biopsy was sent to Tufts, and I hope for results
    tomorrows. Pip is home, active and purring and looks great. She is
    limping a little, but the anti-inflamatory seemed to help a lot, and
    the vet told me she is not in pain. However, he also told me that due
    to her age, and the fact that it is an invasive tumor, it is probably
    not operable. I don't want to restart the ethoxoqin debate but he is of
    the belief that that is what is causing cancer in my older animals.
    Personally, I'm convinced that Waltham's toxic waste site #22 is the
    problem, but I digress.
    
    I don't know how many of you saw the 60 minutes story on shark
    cartilidge as something that has caused near miraculous recoveries in
    some terminally ill humans with cancer  in a matter of weeks. Sharks
    are the only species of creatures that just don't get cancer, and it
    is believed the fact that their skeletons are made of cartiledge rather
    than bone has somthing to do with it. Powdered Shark Cartilidge has
    been available from veterinary supply houses for cancer treatment in
    animals for a while, but noone stocks it. It is available in some
    health food stores for humans as a food supplement and is known to have
    no harmful side effects.
    
    The vet called around and we found some in a health food store in
    Cambridge. I don't know if it is going to help, but if it can't hurt I
    see no reason not to try it. I sprinkled a half capsule on her food
    tonight, and am praying that it will help.
    
    Thanks for your support folks, I'll keep you updated.
    
    Deb

    Please keep us udpated.  I know how you feel - I've been through it
    more times than I care to remember.  Pip sounds like a fabulous cat!
    
    My calico, Gloria, had major surgery last summer with the removal
    of her thyroid....she's 12...but it all worked out great.  SHe
    sleeps on my head at night and wakes me up with her purring.  She's
    like my family....so I know exactly how you feel!
    
    Let me kow about the shark cartilidge - sounds interesting!
    
    Good luck and keep us posted!

    I wish all the best for you and Pip!  In case you weren't aware, and
    also for others that will read this:  When a cat is on steroids, ie.
    cortisone, the steroids reduce the capability of the immune system to 
    fight off disease.  You need to be careful and watch your kitty, also.
    keep them on it only as needed for this reason.  As for the shark 
    cartilage, I saw a show about it too.  Is there a way for you to find 
    out the precise dosage?
    Karen

    well,  the biopsy came back today. I can't find the paper I wrote the
    results on, but it is cancer. I remember the words "large cell",
    "carcenoma", "malignant" and "fibroidus"(?). The lab recommendation was
    to take a regular biopsy (slice of the tumor) for further examination,
    but I'm not going to go through with it. The vet that owns the practice
    was in today (finally; he's been out sick). He reccommended against it.
    He said that in his experience, cutting into a tumor of the kind Pip
    has will usually just make it take off, and at her age, puting her
    under to take a slice of the tumor for a biopsy is as much a concern as
    major surgery; also, because she is so small, the blood loss from
    surgery could do her in, too. 
    
    However, he said so long as she is otherwise in good health, and not
    in pain, we can keep her comfortable. In the interm, I"m going to
    continue with the shark cartilidge; I'm giving her one capsule with
    breakfast and one with supper. She seems to like the stuff.
    
    I'll keep you folks posted on how she is doing. 
    
    And thanks for the support and suggestions. I do appreciate it.
    
    Deb

    Deb, I know that sometimes prednisone can help make a kitty feel better
    too.  I wish there was something they could prescribe for all us feline
    lovers. :'{
    Karen

    So sorry to hear the sad news.  I think it is great that you are making
    this time special for her and for you.  I was always grateful for the
    time I had with Kalliste between his diagnosis and when I lost him.  We
    spent a lot of special time with him.
    
    Jo

    
    Deb, since you are willing to try the shark cartiledge, there is also
    an herbal product called ESSIAC that has done some very good things for
    people with cancer.  If your interested it can be ordered from Wow-Bow
    Distributors in NY.  (800) 326-0230
    
    MaryAnne

    I havn't been in for a while, but I thot I'd provide an update. Pip is
    doing fine. She is running and jumping and playing. She is wathing
    birds and squirrels from the garden window (she is even making that
    little chattering noise while she watches them). She seems to be a
    happy little cat, she isn't in pain, although it is obvious she favours
    the leg because of the tumor (i.e., she sits with it a bit out to the
    side, she lies down on the side that the tumor isn't on.
    
    I had been told by two vets that weren't my "primary" vet that Pip had
    about 2 weeks to 2 months. I spoke to the vet that owns the practice
    (and that has been her primary vet for 11 years), and his take on the
    situation is that those times are low; since the cancer is not in a
    vital organ, so long as it doesn't spread, and she stays otherwise
    healthy, she could have a year or two. All in all, we are enjoying 
    the time we have togeather. 
    
    
    Maryanne, thanks for the info about obtaining ESSIAC; does it have
    shark cartilage? Can you tell me any more about it?
    
    Deb

    Pip passed away about 50 minutes ago. She was doing so well up until
    Saturday night. Heck, last week she was eating 2 cans of food a day.
    She didn't want to eat much last night, and this morning I found her
    in the kitchen, by the water dish, with her tail and back feet smelling
    like urine. I cleaned her up and put her in her cat bed on the couch.
    She seemed a bit cold but seemed to be warming up in the afternoon, but
    she still didn't look good; she was sneezing, and acting like she had a
    cold, and she seemed very tired, but didn't seem to be in any pain; in 
    fact, she spent the better part of the afternoon purring. Still, I had
    a feeling that the end was near and was trying to drum up the courage to 
    call the vet on Monday morning. However, Pip passed away in her sleep,
    and spared us both the trauma of that final ride to the vet. I was planning 
    to spend the night on thecouch next to her. I had just come down with my 
    pillow, and sat down until the next commercial, and held her paw. About 
    a minute later she seemed to wake up, hissed twice and passed into the 
    hereafter.
    
    Pip has meant so much to me, and even though I have 8 others, I feel
    something missing already. 	I hope she had a good life with me.
    
    Deb

I am with you in my thoughts - until all we'll meet somewhere over there.
Nat

         My condolences, Deb.  Pip will join our other kitties in
    "kitty-heaven", where there is no pain or suffering, only lots of kitty
    toys and treats.
    
    					- Andrea

    I am very sorry, Deb.  The tears are already welling up in my eyes. 
    What a lucky kitty Pip was to have you as her "mom."
    
    Take comfort in knowing she passed on in comfort and with lots of love.
    
    -Roberta
    

    thanks for the good thots. I spoke to my vet this afternoon. I misheard
    him when he had given me the biopsy results. It turns out that the
    biopsy results said "fibrosarcoma or a malignant giant cell tumor"
    and reccommended that a slice biopsy be done (which the vet advised me
    against); basicly it was the death sentence variety, but I truely
    beleive that the shark cartilage, beta-carotine and other anti-oxidents
    that I started pumping into her is what kept her alive.
    
    I consider myself fortunate that I she lasted 5 months after
    this tumor was discovered (a lot more than the 2-8 weeks that were
    predicted), and that all but the last day and a half she had an
    excellent quality of life. I'm on vacation all of the month of July,
    and I was very glad that she lasted for my vacation so that I could
    spend as much time as possible with her. I've made  burial arrangements
    for Wedensday; she will join Argus and Spiro in the family plot. 
    
    Once again, Thanks for all of your support
    Deb + The FIRM

    Deb...my thoughts are with you.  Even though you have multiple cats...
    each cat is so special it hurts just as much when they finally decide
    to leave us for kitty heaven.    Take comfort with you other cats...
    they will help you through this sad time.
    
    Sandy