Friday, February 27, 2009

Mews Update on Buster

DAPHY, BUSTER & CLEO (Kittens in 1994)


Well, we had him back on Tuesday to have his 23 staples removed. His incision was a long one! The biopsies had come back...not good. Both were carcinomas, each a different type. So the growth on the liver and also the lymph node that is wrapped around the blood suppy to his intestines were both malignant, which we suspected, anyhow.

This morning he was started on a different type of chemo, and the GOOD news is that this type will not make him sick at all! He won't even need meds this time. Last time they gave him appetite pills and another type of med, as he had just one day each time that he wouldn't feel well. After they gave us that second med to give to him, you'd never even have known he was taking chemo...he was just like he always was. This will be better for him getting it on Fridays, as my daughter will be home with him on weekends, and he can sleep in the crate and then she can keep him on a leash during the day. He and Sweet Pea can't share a litterbox for 48 hours after he has received the chemo...seems it is excreted through his stool and urine, so Sweet Pea can't be exposed to it. And we must wear rubber gloves when we scoop his box, etc. So he can be a free man again on Sunday at noon each time he gets a treatment. Before, we kept him in her bonus room by himself, and that had to be lonely for him. But I always went over every day to feed him and keep him company every afternoon for a couple of hours.
They are very optimistic with this type of chemo, stating that they are hoping instead of 3-6 months prognosis, that he will have 6-12 months, and the oncologist said they are hoping for 12 months! Like my daughter said, he isn't ready to put to sleep yet...you'd never know he has cancer at all to see and watch him. He's just like a normal cat. He loves to cuddle, he loves to play, he LOVES to eat...just like a healthy cat. So she decided to go ahead with the chemo again. He will get a treatment every 3 weeks, with a total of 5 treatments altogether. He got 8 more months of life this last time, so we are optimistic this time for him, also. He's such a sweetie! I have been going every afternoon to let him out of the crate and feed him and love on him, plus we walk on a leash around the house. But since Tuesday, they said his incision looked great and was healed, so he no longer had to be crated! So he's been a free man since Tuesday! We are looking forward to having him a while longer. But rest assured, when he starts showing signs of not doing well, we will do the right thing by him, but for now we are going to love him all we can!

13 comments:

Patty said...

I wish the best for Buster. I'll be so happy if they can ever find a cure for cancer. But there are so many different kinds, I wonder if it will ever happen? I'm going to a luncheon tomorrow, The Noble Circle (a cancer group out of Dayton, Ohio) puts on this luncheon and a fashion show. My one daughter has been buying me a ticket to go with her for the past three years or longer. All the women that model are either cancer survivors or going through chemo and or radiation right now. Some parts are pretty sad. They show a video of past parties they have held, this one will be for 2008 and they've had quite a few that have passed on. Take care, have a great week-end.

Gigi Ann said...

I am so glad to hear Buster is doing as well as can be expected. I too hope that someday a cure for cancer will be found, in the meantime we do what we have to do to stay alive and comfortable.

Have a nice week-end!

Ann

Jess said...

Such good news about Buster... and I know that you will do the right thing about Buster... It's so good that you guys do so much for your cats and you love them so much.

Glad he is taking the chemo so well and that you will probably have a lot more time with him!

Lots of love to you dear friend,
have a good weekend.
Jess

Jess said...

Such good news about Buster... and I know that you will do the right thing about Buster... It's so good that you guys do so much for your cats and you love them so much.

Glad he is taking the chemo so well and that you will probably have a lot more time with him!

Lots of love to you dear friend,
have a good weekend.
Jess

hippo chick said...

Hi Nancy,

Glad to hear the good news about Buster. I'm sure you guys take the best of care of him.

They are sweet cats. Keep us posted, okay?

I'm always happy when you have a new post.

~hippo hugs~

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Nancy,

I love the picture of Daphy, Buster and Cleo as kittens. They have such adorable faces. So Buster is almost 15??

I am glad he can be treated with chemo for a while, and that he isn't acting sick or anything. What a little trooper he is! Who knows, he may make it even longer than they say. And I know your daughter will do the right thing, when the time comes. Meanwhile, love, spoil and enjoy the little Buster cutie pie!

Have a great weekend, dear Nancy!

Hugs and prayers,

Renie xox

BClark said...

Good for you guys, as long as he is happy go for it. Our pets become so much a part of our lives. Molly has pulled back the spread and is streatched out on the warm sheets. Happy as can be. Charlie is down on the couch with Jim. The cats are scattered here and there, all is right with the world. I think they do as much for us as we do for them. I know that one morning i will wake up and will have lost Sabre or Peach, they are so old. Until then, just love them.

Monogram Queen said...

Yes ma'am - love him all you can! Each moment is precious as gold

Mrs. Mom said...

YAY BUSTER!!! Please give the old fellow a big rub from me Miss Nancy!!

Heidi said...

At least his last days wont be spent feeling crappy from the chemo... nuzzle him for me would you - me and Mrs. Mom must think an awful lot alike.... poor feller - but good for him that he wont be away from his family....

Nancy said...

Hi Heidi and Mrs. Mom...

Buster is better off than most cats, as we would never allow him to just lay til he dies on his own. I have heard of some dying a horrible death from old age or by being hit by a car and dying along the road somewhere. We WILL have him put to sleep when his quality of life goes down, but right now he's as active as a kitten. Plus, his appetite is strong, and he is feeling no pain at all, the oncologist said. I could tell you some horror stories about animals dying horrible deaths...we don't let our pets suffer like that. So for now, we will love on him all we can, as if we don't already do that. Nothing but the best for this little guy.

((( HUGS )))

Talk..to..Grams said...

So glad to hear Buster is doing so good on his Chemo. We love our cats, too!! I am more a Cat person then a dog person.
We had snow yesterday,6 inches of it!! The most we have had this year! We are real dry so this was needed! Hugs Grams

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Nancy!

I'm so glad Buster is doing better! What an ordeal for that sweet guy. It's sooo hard to see our pets not feeling good. You are doing so much for him Nancy! I pray the results of the chemo will be great!

Hugs, Sherry