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Sammie SCC, under tongue/in throat October 2006
April 2006 Return from year long traveling. Sammie just doesn’t quite seem the same although I knew she had a vicious wound that put her out of it for a long time which she lost a lot of weight from. My task: plump up Sammie asap – feeding as much canned food as possible and upon any request! Dry kibble always out. Noticing also that Sammie snores when she sleeps – just a little and not all of the time – no concern; just figured its from old age. Also coat doesn’t seem very good but figured it is from my house sitter not caring for her and grooming her well. Since I’ve been away, I am a bit out of touch of Sammie’s normal day – her days since I’ve been back are assumed normal given her age. Not seeing any early warning signs.
9/23/06 First signs of drooling. Figured it was water.
9/27/06 Still drooling but a little more. Very odd. Thinking she’s old and just looks like a few drops of water.
9/29/06, p.m. Drooling more – thinking, something’s not right. Then she meowed and saw something red. Her tongue looks red. Take her to vet emergency since it’s the weekend. Breathing is ok so will take in early a.m.
9/30/06 Take to ER at VRCC. Blood work and urine analysis. Not sure what’s wrong with mouth but something definitely wrong. Big bill and no details – decide to wait until Monday to see regular vet. Buy a pet water drinking fountain to encourage Sammie to drink since she’s not drinking much.
10/2/06 Vet determines from needle aspirate that Sammie has a cancerous tumor under her tongue. It is too large to remove since it would take the entire tongue. The tumor is so large it is starting to block her throat so I make a rush decision to start on steroids as opposed to seeing a specialist, in the interest of time. Also administering clamavox. Decide against biopsy as the site is very red, irritated and she would not recover from the surgery very well at this point. She is still very low in weight – approx 5 lb. Also dehydrated so giving fluids. Vet also expresses concern for eyes. Vet educates me on severity of this problem and her state is hopeless.
10/4/06 Notice over the past couple of days that Sammie seems to be doing better but not drinking water. Eating ok but not much in a sitting. Sometimes she comes to let me know she wants food but when I feed her the canned food, she looses interest. Drooling seems to have stopped. I would rate on scale of 1-8, 10 being perfect w/ no cancer, she seems like a 7.
10/6/06 Take Sammie back for rehydration to get her through the weekend. Again, concern for her eyes are expressed.
10/10/06 Sammie still not drinking water. Check up by regular vet. Tumor seems a little smaller to me – not much change to the vet but still no drooling so far. Vet educates me on A/D canned food and Nutri-Cal. Wants me to continue Clamavox. Weight is at 4 lbs 9 oz – she has lost 7 oz in 8 days. Sammie threw up one day prior. Vet thinks perhaps Clamavox could upset the stomach so also gave me some anti-nasua liquid medicine. Still concerns of possible nuerological issue or eye issue present. I decide to go for an appt with Opthamologist that I’ve used before for my dog.
10/11/06 Noticing that Sammie is starting to drink water. Eating is still fickle. I’m offering chicken & tuna now. She ate the heck out of some chicken I had cooked! Just having troubles getting it swallowed. Still eating canned food but sometimes she isn’t interested – so I switch brands and she likes that for a day – then back to the other b/c of non-interest.
10/13/06 Dr. Chavkin, Opthamologist at VRCC, sees no issue that is related to tumor however he discovers that Sammie has been blind in her right eye ever since birth – I never knew! Otherwise, her left eye is great. Recommended seeing Oncology. Received more fluids for Sammie. Noted that he thought Sammie seems a little depressed. Sammie still drinking a little which is good to see.
10/15/06 Out of town over the weekend on a retreat previously scheduled. Had special friends of Sammie’s and mine looked after her over the weekend. Said she ate and drank ok. Still on the Clamavox. Seems the same to me – a little down. This day she is more at a 6 rating. Spending more time with Sammie. Sammie actually went outside on a lovely day – she hasn’t done this in a while. We also played together in one of her favorite spots! She was purring well and seemed a little happier.
10/17/06 Sammie is still sometimes eating, sometimes not. I keep switching the food which seems to help. She drank some tuna juice and then didn’t want to have anything to do with what was left over. Eating dry kibble and has been a little more since the 15th. Drinking water still but prolly not enough.
Had appt today with Oncologist, Dr. Elmslie at VRCC, Denver, CO. Sammie is diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma, SCC of the tongue. Upon exam, it is large and is taking up the whole tongue except the top 1/3 making it difficult for her to eat/swallow, etc. Also explaining why she doesn’t groom herself and the poor coat condition. It has extended back into the throat. It is too large to do anything and more reality is given that she won’t live much longer. Vet also explains that this condition is very difficult to catch early because it is virtually undetectable, which made me feel better. Only upon a dental cleaning is it possible to notice early enough. Once an owner sees the drooling it is usually too late. Dr. Elmslie stated that Kemo is not affective on this type of cancer. She recommended continuing with the steroid shots. She also explained that humans salivate about 3 litters of saliva that we swallow in a day – cats, about 1. The drooling causes them to loose a lot of water because they are unable to swallow it and thereby causing the dehydration. They showed me how to give fluids myself. She recommended stopping the Clamavox since at this point it is doing her more harm than good since it affects her appetite and ability to stomach the food.
Also spoke more about knowing when it is time and what to do with your loved one once it has deceased. This was very helpful although painful to hear.
Sammie is eating dry kibble but not much canned. Looks a little more down. We snuggled on the couch as usual.
10/18/06 Sammie ate just a little wet food, a little kibble, then back to the couch – no water before I left for work. I found your website and am taking in all of the accounts – nice to hear I’m not the only one going through this ordeal (as well her Sammie).
10/19/06 Took Sammie in for steroid shot. Received fluids. The documented her weight at 4lbs. 14 oz. which is an improvement. More discussion about euthanasia and just the preparation for that.
10/20/06 Have heard back from various other veterinary clinics/institutes that I researched on the internet in hopes of finding something that might help/cure Sammie. Photo dynamic therapy is practiced at a few places across the country. Dr. Pevy from Beckman institute in CA called me back and was very nice/sympathetic about Sammie. However he stated that based upon my description of Sammie’s condition, it is too late for Photo dynamic therapy for her. He recommended just continuing the paleative treatment. I also got a call back from the oncology department at CSU, Fort Collins - Veronica. Again, there is nothing I can do since it is so advanced although she did mention Peroxicam which is an anti inflammatory - .3mg/kilo every other day and acupuncture for the pain. I will not do this since the steroid treatments seem to be ok so far. I even called a vet clinic in Salem, NY – 914-533-6066 for a Dr. Goldstein that one of the docs I spoke to in California recommended giving a call. He is known for homeopathy and holistic methods and has had some good reviews. But upon calling the office, the secretary or whatever she was, was not very nice nor did she seem willing to help. I finally was able to leave a message with a tech there but have not heard back yet.
10/23/06 Sammie has been eating really well the past few days/weekend. Pigging out, really. She ate 5 helpings of canned chicken on Friday afternoon/night – I was astonished but also careful not to feel false hope. I’m feeding her back and forth with canned chicken and salmon along with mixing in some of the A/D canned cat food and a small squeeze of the Nutri Cal. She loves all the canned food although she does get bored with the A/D or whatever proper cat food I give her. Yet she still manages to keep going back to the dry kibble – currently she’s on Science Diet Sensitive Stomach. In my opinion her appetite has improved since going off the Clamavox. She got to spend an hour outside in the sunshine which has been a favorite ritual for her in the past. She was even cleaning her face quite often yesterday and at one point, her face was completely wet! I took pictures of her in the sun knowing those might be some of her last pics. This morning again, eating well with the canned food combo. Administered 100 cc? of fluids myself on Sunday.
Noticing that she is having a little more difficulty eating/drinking although she’s being quite the trooper. She has to dig her face in a little more since her tongue can’t reach out to lick it up. Have had to wipe her face/chin off several times over the weekend and noticing more food/water on the floor. I will say she looks adorable with a dirty face – just makes me happy to see her eating. Definitely seemed a little more like herself on Sunday. Although she seemed to be feeling good this weekend, I know the end is near. Can’t quite tell if she’s truly struggling with eating/drinking esp. since she’s digging in to it so well. But any more difficulty and I know it will be time. Hm, after reading these last few sentences I’m thinking to myself, “Who am I kidding – of course she’s struggling a bit – her tongue isn’t normal.” I’ll just keep monitoring. I’d say she’s at a 7 on scale. According to my scale, she’s gained a little weight – went from 5 to 5.5 (although it rounds to .5 lbs increments).
10/24/06 Sammie continued to eat like a King last night and this morning. She even ran to the food bowl, tail in the air, when I first got home and served her first helping of canned delights! Food all over her face and some drool. I’m worried this is a sign its getting worse or is this just a function of the fact that she’s eating more now and feeling better? It’s hard to tell. Certainly the tongue is difficult to maneuver for her. No other signs that she’s feeling bad though. Seems to be feeling still a 7. Weighed her last night and she’s still at 5.5 lbs. Tonight is another round of fluids.
10/26/06 Still going – had her weekly steroid shot and fluids. Received a call back from Dr. Anderson at CSU, acupuncturist/herbs. Again, no medical experiments going on but suggested trying Dr. Nardo Robinson a try - Medicalaccupuncture.org. (As I’m writing this a few weeks later, not sure exactly what to look for on this site.) Also received suggestion to try Dr. Gurney at Aspen Park Vet who does works with moleculars. The doctor at CSU is unsure of what exactly this is especially since there’s no medical documentation to support his methods. 303-674-0280. But she had heard some good feedback of it working – not sure to what degree or any specifics. I checked him out but decided against it. Also referral for Reiki healing, Brenda McClelland, DVM at 970-795-9602. energyworkdoctor.com. Sammie is still eating well.
10/29/06 Sammie’s eating has declined quite a bit now. Hoping its just today. She is still hungry with good appetite it seems, but after 4 bites, she looks to me for more food even though its sitting right there. I’m trying other stuff and cooked her and I some scrambled egg. She perked up with a quickness, got maybe one little parcel down but the others just came back out of her mouth. Looks like some of her food is getting stuck in her mouth and she can’t swallow it and she sits on her hind legs with her front feet in her mouth trying to get the parcel back out. This doesn’t look good but hopeful for tomorrow.
10/31/06 Same thing – not eating much but super hungry. Trying all kinds of foods and have about 3-4 types of food out for her. She’s interested in some brown rice I cooked so gave her some of that. Again, she got a few parcels down but the rest, she fought back out of her mouth. Oh, I’m getting worried. This is good. She keeps looking at the kibble. Wants more food. Hoping tomorrow is better. Surely this is just a hump in the road.
11/1/06 More of the same. I’m pretty stressed about this now. She needs to turn around here soon or I know what I must do. Breaks my heart to see her like this. I’m trying everything I can to get her to eat. Refuse to force-feed her – just doesn’t seem right. Appetite isn’t the issue – it’s gotta hurt to swallow. She keeps following me to feed her but I have tons of food out – canned salmon, canned chicken, Fancy Feast which she loves, canned Cat food A/D, etc. I’m pulling the chicken b/c although their tiny bits, its still stringy and now its clears she can’t swallow it. Hope tomorrow is better.
11/2/06 More of the same. Called the vet – not sure what to do as I think I may have to put her down soon. He advised me to go through with her weekly steroid shot tonight. Took her in. She’s lost a half pound since week ago now she’s at 4.02 lbs. This is too much, I feel. Again we talked about euthanasia. He explained how it must feel sore in her throat to swallow and he comforted me on the decision I was probably about to make. Later tonight she ate a little better. Microwaved the fancy feast goop with NutriCal in it. She sopped up some of that but still not a whole lot. Still meowing at me with a vengeance to feed her more yet I’ve got everything out but the kitchen sink! Still drinking ok – I follow her around and pick her up when she heads for the bathroom – she loves and has always loved to drink out of the bathroom sink and it helps to wash out her mouth. Still drooling but seems worse. Warm wash rags on her face. Her coat is terrible but aside from combing which she hates, not sure what to do about it. Don’t want to make her uncomfortable any more than she is. Finally I think she ate at least enough for the moment that she can relax in my lap for the evening. Not for long though. I’m thinking all week that if she doesn’t come out of this, I need to put her down. Agony. I think tomorrow may be the day. Going over in my mind where I stand on this and her current condition. I love her so much. The agony of seeing her meow at me for more food and I give her anything she wants but it doesn’t help. What a helpless feeling this is. Horrible. It kills me to see her like this. I don’t know what else to do.
11/3/06 Wake up early as usual at work time but I feel in my heart I must take the day off and put her down. Part of me can’t believe what I must do but the other says loud and clear, its time. I decide to spend the morning with her, let her outside – it’s a nice day and she loves the sunshine . . .except today, she just can’t seem to relax. Its more clear as the morning progresses – its time. She can’t get comfortable. She’s even upset I’ve put her outside in the Sun. she won’t sit with me outside. Won’t sit with me on my bed. And won’t sit very long with me on the couch which is her sleeping place! That’s not like my Sammie. She’s not eating anything. 3 tiny bites and that’s it – that’s all she can get down yet she cries to me for more. She keeps looking at the kibble. Wish I would have thought of it sooner but I soak the kibble in warm water to make mush – she tries to get some of this down, mostly liquid. I must do this; it’s the right time. I truly do not want to see her starve herself. Its killing me to see her like this and I feel she’s on the verge of suffering, if she isn’t already. She’s certainly uncomfortable – this is clear to me. I had one request of my vet – please tell me regardless of doctor/patient relationship guidelines, that if he felt at all that this was premature, to please tell me. He again reassured me that given the details I’ve provided and her condition as he sees it, it is time. It was hard – the hardest thing to ever do as an owner. I cried and told her how much I loved her and how sorry I was that this happened. But afterwards, I felt so at peace. It was the right thing to do and at the right time. She was my longest living loved one and a very special friend.
I had her cremated with one of her favorite play mice. She will be with me until my demise and all my deceased animals and I will be released together – forever. They are so special to me.
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