Sent: Sunday, October 6, 2002
Subject: SCC website

 

Please add the fact that this is not an incurable or untreatable disease. I was very fortunate to have been referred to Smith Ridge Veterinary Clinic, Oakridge Commons, South Salem, NY,10590 (914)533-6066 which is owned by Martin Goldstein, DVM, who is a Cornell Vet. School graduate & has practiced for 30 years. He uses both traditional & alternative methods, which include homeopathic therapies, along with custom-designed supplements, which are formulated according to a metabolic analysis of the animal. His prices are not outrageous, as most are, & he uses the most non-invasive procedures possible.

My 11-year-old domestic short-haired dilute calico female cat, Effie, was diagnosed with SCC in July 2002. She had a tumor in her right lower jaw. The options given us were surgical removal of the lower jaw, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. After careful research, we learned that none of these choices had been proven effective, in the long term. Though we checked on photo dynamic laser surgery (in California) as an option, we were told that it would be useless for any tumor involving the bone, because the dye used in the procedure does not penetrate deeply enough to be effective. However, I was referred by that source, which was The Long Beach Animal Hospital, to Dr. Goldstein. I called his office on 8/23/02 & was given a consultation appt. for 8/30/02. This was his first opening for a phone consultation, because he treats only critically ill animals. The other vets in the practice handle the day-to-day appts. Although we live in Florida, we were willing to take her wherever we could find treatment that offered a possible long-term survival.

When we spoke to Dr. Goldstein on 8/30/02, he had already read Effie's records & had received the lab report from Effie's local vet. He does require that the lab be done by AnTech Labs, because he finds them to be the most accurate. Luckily, Effie's vet uses them. He also requires that the lab include a Super Chem, CBC, & T4. He began the consultation with, "I won't beat around the bush. Your cat is very sick. The only thing that will save her, outside a miracle (which he stated he does believe in), is cryosurgery." He encouraged me to try to find a vet in Florida that performs the surgery, so that I would not have to come "all the way to NY." However, I told him I wanted him. He was gracious & compassionate enough to tell us that he only performs the surgery 1x/week, on Tuesdays, but that he would fit us in, if we insisted. He did this because he had already told us that she had a 2-week window, at the most, before the surgery would be useless.

I flew up with Effie on Labor Day & the surgery, which was deemed possible, was done that same day. Dr. Goldstein stated that, once he began the surgery, he realized her tumor was more extensive than he had been able to determine upon initial examination. He estimated that even 2 days later would have been too late. The surgery would have been useless if the tumor had spread to her left mandible. Even so, her right lower jaw was liquefying & he was able to remove her lower right teeth, including molars, with his fingers.

Just so you know, Dr. Goldstein's brother, Robert, is the vet who determined that cryosurgery in animals was not working on a long-term basis, because only the tumor was being frozen. He was the first to try freezing a margin of healthy tissue around the tumor, so that healthy tissue could knit back together, after the cancerous tissue was sloughed off. That was in the 1970s. Martin Goldstein, DVM, is the author of "The Nature of Animal Healing," which is a landmark approach to treating animals. I highly recommend it, although I had never read it prior to Effie's surgery. It explains so much.

Effie spent 1 night at the clinic, following the surgery. For the next 3 days, for 6 hours/day, she was given an IV vitamin therapy, to rid her body of anesthesia & residual toxins. Each night she went back to the pet-friendly hotel in New Canaan, CT, with me, & each morning I returned her to the clinic, which was 15 minutes away, by car, for her IV therapy. On the morning of 9/07/02, we flew back to Florida. She has shown amazing progress. She was placed on a supplemental powdered therapy, which is mixed with her food, which will continue for 6 months. She now eats healthy cat food. She was formerly on Science Diet, which Dr. Goldstein will tell you, is the worst on the market. He has advocated very strongly to the pet food makers to try to get them to eliminate waste products & chemical additives. He has had some success with IAMS, but not Science Diet. I have, since, spoken to several people who experienced exactly what we did. Their pets vomited a lot when they ate Science Diet products. This cannot be mere coincidence! Incidentally, because Effie's jaw was misaligned by the tumor, she was reluctant to try eating when she first returned, because she still remembered the pain from before her surgery. She had no pain after the surgery, but she was still skittish. Because of this, we fed her with an eye dropper 2-3x/day, so that she would receive the supplement. She also is given homeopathic liquid therapies, that include carcinosinum for the cancer 1x/day, apart from meals & a multi-vitamin therapy with meals. She has regained a lot of her former muscle mass & has gained several ounces. She had gone from 9 lbs. to 7 lbs. over a 2-month period. The killed tumor is still on her jaw, but it is inactive. In time, her body will reject the scar tissue, but her immune system must first be re-built. Dr. Goldstein believes no animal should be spayed or neutered prior to 6 months or after the first heat, so that the essential hormones can enter the body. Also, he feels most vaccines are unneccessary for indoor animals, particularly the feline leukemia vaccine. Also, there is a homeopathic therapy that can be given, following the rabies vaccine, to prevent any unpleasant side effects from the vaccine. His theory regarding cancer is that cancer is an ultimate breakdown of the immune system. It is not a monster waiting to infect the animal. He also believes that our fears are transferred to animals, who sense when we think they are going to die, which only makes them feel worse.

I never believed my Effie was going to die, because I knew I would do everything to try to save her. However, I did experience some low times, & those were the times she got worse. Also, I want you to know that Effie never required antibiotics during the entire ordeal. Dr. Goldstein sent me home with some Antirobe Aquadrops, just in case of infection, due to the fact that it was in her mouth. But she never became infected. This is a cat who has had upper respiratory illnesses at least 1x/year for most of her life. We were impressed!! Please encourage pet owners to never give up. Also, please read the chapters in Dr. Goldstein's book on "The Healing Crisis," "Cancer," & "The Spiritual Realm." This is an amazing book for any animal lover!

Sincerely, Joyce P.S.: You may contact me at pdle@worldnet.att.net

Date: Monday, October 07, 2002 9:24 PM
Subject: Re: SCC website

 

Joyce,

dan.

Dan,

The cost for the cryosurgery, alone, was just over $1000. Along with the IV vitamin therapy, it was approximately $1300. This, normally, may have seemed very expensive to me. However, in 1994, we figured we spent approximately $2300 for our cat, Samantha's, treatment for pancreatitis. This was over a 5-week period, including a 3-week stay at Univ. of Fla.'s Veterinary Hospital. In spite of all the treatment, she died at the end of those 5 weeks. We were told in July 2002, that an MRI for Effie would cost $800. This was required in order for them to determine the size of the tumor, so they could remove her lower jaw! We don't even know how much the surgery & hospital stay would have cost, because we did not even consider this as a viable option.

Incidentally, traditional surgery was the cheapest option we were given prior to finding Smith Ridge Veterinary Clinic. Chemotherapy is approximately $8000. It is amazing how people find a way to pay for treatment for an animal, if they consider it a member of their family. In 1992, we could ill afford any extras. However, we charged Samantha's treatment, & paid for it over time. In the 1970s, when I was single & broke, I paid $120 to board a cat I found, who was missing an eye. I was not allowed to have a cat in the apartment where I lived, so I found someone who wanted a cat. Relatively speaking, Dr. Goldstein's fees are very reasonable. I was impressed not only with his fees, but his genuine warmth with animals & humans. In the 4 days I was in & out of his office, I saw nothing but happy animals & owners. Usually in a vet's office (even the nicest vet), the animals look very nervous, but this was not the case at Smith Ridge. Believe me, I am not being paid a commission. I was just very impressed with the entire operation. I hope you will read The Nature of Animal Healing. I had not read it prior to my visit, or I would not have been so surprised by the mood in the office. This is a very special place!

Effie is progressing well. However, I do want to tell you about another therapy for increasing energy in cats & dogs, who are fighting cancer. This information was supplied by a professor who does some collaboration work with Dr. Goldstein. She is going through lymphoma cancer treatment for her 5-year-old white cat, & wanted someone to contact for support. I met her the last day I was at Smith Ridge. I just received a phone call from her yesterday re: Royal Jelly with Korean & Siberian Ginseng. This needs to be mixed with liquid Siberian ginseng, in order to form a liquid. The dosage for cats is 6 drops 3x/day, apart from meals. If possible, do not allow eating for approx. 2 hours after giving the drops. An empty stomach allows the therapy to be absorbed more effectively. Also, Germanium GE-132 can be given to shrink tumors. This can be found in concentrated Royal Jelly capsules for humans. In this country, it comes in 40 mg. dosages, which is very low for humans, but perfect for cats. This should be given only 1x/day. We gave Effie 6 drops 2x today. We will start 3x/day tomorrow. She seemed to like it. We administered it with an eye dropper to the back of her tongue. Some cats will actually lick it up, because it's sweet.

I hope this information will be helpful to your website. Please keep in touch & I will also.

Thanks,

Joyce

Sent: Saturday, October 12, 2002 8:28 PM
Subject: Effie

Hi Dan! I took Effie for an exam, at Dr. Goldstein's request, on 10/10/02, & sent digital photos of the inside of her mouth. This was following a concern we had with an area just to the right of her remaining lower canine tooth, which seems to be loose. I received a phone message from Dr. Goldstein, who cannot really determine for certain without feeling the area. It could be a return of the sloughing of dead skin, due to her being on the supplement for the past month, or it could be a spreading of the cancer. Also, Dr. Goldstein's wife is expecting their 2nd child in the next 2-3 weeks, so he could be suddenly called away after this coming week. Due to the above reasons, & because of my not wanting to take any undue chances, I am returning to Smith Ridge next week. Hopefully, he will examine her on Monday & determine it is only sloughing, but if it is a spread of the cancer, he can do a re-touch cryosurgery on Tuesday. Re-touching is not uncommon with this type of cancer. I've been home sick the past few days with a bad cold, so I'm not too keen on the idea of flying, but I have to do what I have to do. I'll let you know how it goes when I return. Joyce E.

Sent: Sunday, October 20, 2002 11:46 AM
Subject: Effie Update

Dan,

Effie was examined by Dr. Goldstein on 10/14/02 & it was determined that she needed touch-up cryosurgery. However, the original tumor was not involved, which is a positive note. Her surgery was on Tuesday, she spent the night at the clinic, & her 3 days of IV vitamin therapy began on Wednesday. She spent each of those nights with me. She really hated that Elizabethan collar she had to wear on Wed. & Thu. nights, but it kept her from biting her IV catheter site on her front leg.

He didn't tell me until Friday, but if Effie had not been able to control her tongue & swallow, following the latest surgery, he was planning to advise me to euthanize her there on Friday. I would have agreed under those circumstances, but I'm so glad that was not the case. He said she is a "real trooper." I've always said that her most outstanding trait, other than her gentle disposition, is her bravery, and I hope it saves her in this battle.

On Wednesday night, the first night I had Effie back with me, she was sleeping so soundly at one point that I thought she had died. I was watching T.V. & she was asleep on the bed with me. I couldn't see any movement & when I made a noise near her ear, she didn't move. It scared me so bad, I put my hand under her. Poor little thing, finally moved her front feet. Boy, was I relieved! I later found out the anesthesia causes them to sleep very deeply the first few nights. She is still getting used to using her tongue & swallowing, but she can do it. We feed her with a special feeding syringe, called Monoject, that they gave me up there. Otherwise, she doesn't lick up enough food. Also, we need to make sure she gets her supplement, which is what supports her immune system. Of course, like any cancer, there is no cure. She is just being given time to try to let her immune system build. It is very scary to watch anyone, human or otherwise, go through this. She is just like a sick baby. She can't talk to tell you what's wrong, but you know you have to do whatever will help. I'm sure you are very familiar with these feelings & I want to tell you how much I appreciate knowing someone who can relate to this.

When Dr. Goldstein was talking to me about Effie on Wednesday, I just started crying. I felt like such a fool, but he said that he would be very disappointed if I acted any differently. He said cancer is a very frightening disease, & that my fear was normal. I don't know what I would do if I had to deal with a typical detached doctor. He actually called me on my cell phone, while I was driving around New Canaan on Friday, just to have a final talk with me, because he had been called away early on an emergency. He talks like he is a friend instead of a doctor. Here he is, working 124 hours a week, his wife is expecting a baby anytime, & he took the time to have a long supportive talk with a patient's owner. It meant a lot to me, because I know how many people come to him from all over the country. It's hard to explain the feeling in that clinic. It's almost like you have stepped into another dimension of life. One of the techs told me Dr. G is so easy to work for because he just lets them do their job & he just wants to help animals & their owners. Too bad all bosses aren't like that.

I'm sure glad we have e-mail. I don't think I could talk about any of this right now. Effie is currently asleep in her chair on the back porch (her apartment). She slept on my lap all the way home on the plane. She wasn't supposed to be out of her carrier, but she wanted to be with her Mommy. The woman next to me encouraged me to keep her there. Thank goodness for animal lovers! I had her in one of the airline blankets & I was reading a magazine to hide her head. She was so good.

Joyce

P.S.: Sorry my notes turn into letters, but I don't want to leave out anything that may be important.

Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002
Subject: Effie

Dan,

Effie is really eating up that baby food! She has started to regain muscle mass, which is a really good sign when cancer is involved. The sloughing of the dead skin from the cryosurgery continues, which is also good. I devised a way to make sure she gets all of her supplement. I place the supplement with a tiny amount of baby food in a Monoject syringe. It is best to pour the mixture in the top of the empty syringe (with a finger covering the open tip, to keep the mixture from going down in the tip), then place the plunger section in, while holding the syringe upside down (removing the finger on the open tip). With this method I'm able to feed her the mixture in about 2-3 squirts, allowing time for her to swallow between each squirt. She is then given her multi-vitamin homeopathic liquid, which is followed by a bowl of baby food, which is mixed with a small amount of distilled water. It should have the consistency of pudding. If it's too thin, she doesn't like it & if it is too thick or cold, it is difficult to lick up. She is also drinking distilled water. Things are good today.

In addition, I groom her fur with a small plastic teasing comb, which clears out the matting. If the matting is stiff, I gently rub it with a paper towel soaked in warm water, then slowly comb through it. The sloughing gets caught in her tail, chest area, & paws when she sleeps. She always liked sitting in our laps & being petted, but she never cared for combs or brushes on her fur, prior to her surgeries. Now, she actually waits for her grooming. She can groom herself, but seems to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of being groomed by us. Also, I think the sloughing is difficult for her to lick off. Honestly, I think the therapeutic benefits work as much for us as for her. I try to do it at least 2x/day. By the way, it isn't necessary to groom animals' chin & chest areas until about 5 days after the cryosurgery, because they are still a little stressed & might resist. The only necessary care is swabbing of the sloughing skin around the mouth, & then only gently with a piece of paper towel or gauze soaked in warm water. That was the advice from Dr. Goldstein.

Joyce

 

Sent: November 2, 2002
Subject: Effie

Effie has been eating Pet Guard Premium Cat Food for the past week. She let me know she was ready for "big cat" food last Sunday morning. She had just finished her baby food & she looked up & meowed really loud. I somehow knew she didn't want anymore baby food. I opened a can of Pet Guard Premium & pureed it in the blender. She absolutely loved it!! I realized that by pureeing it, she wouldn't have to deal with the little bits & pieces of the food that lodge under her tongue. Because her lower jaw is now shorter, she doesn't need anything aggravating her ability to lap up her food. With cats, sometimes any aggravation will prevent them from eating. Now that Effie is eating the health store cat food, she is starting to fill out. She also gets purified water, but she has never been a big water drinker. I have never been able to get her to eat the supplement in her food, & it is the most important tool in her recovery. As I had mentioned previously, I was giving her the supplement with a syringe. That was still too stressful, in my opinion. Tonight I devised a new method. Necessity truly is the mother of invention! I mixed her supplement dose with a small amount of her food, so that it formed a paste. I then put the paste on my index finger, gently placed my finger in her mouth, & rubbed it on the roof of her mouth. I did it in 2 doses. She seemed to tolerate it well & didn't spit it out, so I feel it was successful.

Her recuperation, since the latest surgery on 10/15/02, has been much faster than the first time. She has returned to all of her old routines, except for wanting to play. However, I do feel that's because she gets so much attention from all the treatment & grooming, that she doesn't require the interaction she needed from play. However, nothing has hampered her hunting abilities. She is faster than a speeding bullet when it comes to chasing lizards on the porch & attacking the screen when another cat happens to walk by. After the first surgery, she never got this far, even after 6 weeks.


 

Sent: November 23, 2002

Hi Dan!

I hope all is well with you. Thought I would update you on Effie's progress, since the last update was almost 3 weeks ago. She has come a long way. She has gained somewhere between 1 and 1 1/2 lbs., which is good. Her sloughing stopped after 3 weeks, so it was around 11/05/02. She continued to drool on her front fur under her chin, because of the shorter lower jaw, but that has subsided in the past week. I continue to clean her with damp paper towels & comb her after every meal. She still only grooms her face, but time will tell. Anyway, I enjoy the bonding experience of combing her, since she never let me do that before her illness. She continues to eat her pureed Pet Guard Premium Cat Food & I give her the homeopathic therapies & supplement.

The biggest news is that I am returning to Smith Ridge on Mon., 11/25/02, for a check-up. I sent digital pix on 11/19/02, so he could look at her progress & also to check out a reddened area in her mouth. I spoke to Dr. Goldstein yesterday. The new skin that has grown over the remainder of the jaw bone is the area that concerned me. He explained that when we (or an animal) cut our finger, the skin has a built-in memory for restoring the same type of tissue as before. However, once skin is affected by cancer, the cells lose the memory of the original skin. Instead, what grows back is sometimes an internal type of tissue, as opposed to an external type. This internal tissue is much more delicate, because it is usually inside the body. He said in horses, it is referred to as "proud flesh." The problem that has arisen in the past few days is the fact that every time she eats, the skin under her tongue tears just a little & bleeds, so we need to have it checked. This would make sense if the skin is delicate internal tissue. He said there is an outside chance it could be cancer cells, but he can't tell unless he feels the area. The fact that she has been doing so well tends to favor it not being cancerous. He has really tried to encourage me to find a cryosurgeon in Florida, whom he could guide through the surgery, but I want him. Also, I don't trust most vets, because they tend to become very negative if they enter unfamiliar territory or they don't know when to back off & let the body heal itself. Dr. Goldstein is willing to take risks, but is not foolhardy with animals. He also sets limits as to how far he will go with treatment. If the reddened area is suspicious, he said it appears to be topical & can be touched up easily, without having to be followed by IV vitamin therapy. This way we can return on Wed., 11/27/02, in time for Thanksgiving.

Thank goodness for Jet Blue prices & a bargain rate on an Enterprise rental car at JFK! I hear the temperature was in the 60s yesterday, with scattered rain & fog. However, they were predicting a clearing, with nicer weather, beginning Monday. I hope that's true! Well, Dan, off Effie & I go on another excellent adventure! I hope this gives you happy memories of your travels with Snoop. My birthday is tomorrow, & the only present I want is good health for Effie. Well, I'll sign off for now & wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Warm regards, Joyce Evans
P.S.: My greatest reward came yesterday, when Effie was sitting on the kitchen floor & I kneeled down to see what she wanted. She put her paw out to shake my hand. Yes, she shakes hands! My husband taught her how to do that when she was 3 years old, & it only took him 20 minutes, with a little help from Pouce Tartar Control Treats! She continued to do it even without being rewarded with treats. She hasn't initiated a handshake since before her first cryosurgery. She also has been checking all the windows & rooms, like she did before. It really warms our hearts to see her feeling feisty again. I have been getting e-mails from people all over the country, who are encouraged by your website. Please continue it!

Sent: December 18, 2002

Dan,

With great sadness, I want to advise you that Effie lost her battle with cancer on Saturday night, 12/14/02. We had taken her to the Emergency Vet Clinic, because she had become dehydrated for the second time in less than a week. We had been force-feeding her, but were unable to get her to eat enough food to sustain her. We were very fortunate that an excellent vet was working that night. She advised us, after examining Effie, that the cancer had progressed, & was probably the cause of all her problems. She was able to show us the area that was affected, which was important to my husband & I in making the hardest decision we've ever had to make. We chose to have her euthanized. I groomed her before the procedure. She was holding her head high & enjoyed the combing along the front of her neck. We did not go into the room while the procedure took place, although we were given the option. The vet told us that she went very quickly. I had asked that the IV be placed in her front leg, because she did not like anyone pulling her back legs. The vet told us Effie held out her leg for the IV, & was very calm. Effie, as I have always said, was the bravest cat I've ever known. She was also very wise to let us know she was ready. She usually never gets excited in the car until we turn onto the street where we live. However, that night, when we turned onto the street with the vet, she became very excited. I only realized in retrospect that she was excited because she knew she was going somewhere she would find relief from the suffering. We buried her Sunday morning in a backyard garden, under a giant split-leaf philodendron bush, which is shaded by a palm tree. We placed a large white granite rock over her grave.

At times like this, I am very grateful for e-mail, because it is still very painful to talk about her death. Dan, I was planning on e-mailing you tonight, but I checked my e-mail when I got home & see that you have already heard something. I don't think I know Vicki? The only person I have contacted is Susan Caruso, because she had been giving me some advice last week re: home remedies. Anyway, I appreciate your e-mail, & you are so right that it is the living that suffer. This 3rd day after her death has been the hardest for me. I keep getting flashes of her little head coming up & her running to greet me when I walk through the door in the evening. My husband & I are planning things to do each evening, in order to get through each day. It has been extremely painful for both of us. I didn't grieve like this when one of my best friends died of cancer this past summer.

Effie was the purr-fect cat. She never bit or clawed anyone. She had the sweetest disposition & the best sense of humor. I don't know if I ever told you this, but she would shake hands with you, if you put your hand out. My husband taught her this in 20 minutes, when she was 3 years old. She was very bright & very sensitive. She always brightened our lives with her presence. We miss her deeply.

Thank you so much for being there. I am so glad this terrible illness has created something good....new friends. I know you, too, are going through grief at this time, & the holidays seem to make grief more poignant. Let's keep in touch. Dave & I still believe we did the right thing re: cryosurgery. What Dr. Goldstein did is buy us some time to prepare. He always said that & he was so right. We are very grateful for the 3 1/2 extra months we had with our little girl. They were very special.

Joyce Evans & The Spirit of Effie