Where I’ve been: sad.
Elvis has stomach cancer.
It will be terminal.
I have been wanting to write this post since her diagnosis, but it took me a while to crawl out of the sadness cave.
Figuring out what was wrong with her took a while. Lots of vet visits. Lots of blood work. X-rays. Ultrasounds. Allergy trials. Vet specialty hospitals. Endoscopy.
The official report:
Elvis is an eleven/twelveish-year-old female cat, with large-cell, gastric lymphoma.
Her treatment is chemotherapy, with daily doses of steroids.
The hope is that the chemo will induce a period of remission… although there is no hope of curing the kind of lymphoma that she has. At some point the cancer will become resistant to the chemotherapy, and she will come out of remission.
I think that chemo seems questionable to anyone who has ever watched a human loved one endure it… but it turns out that the goal of veterinary chemotherapy is different than human chemotherapy.
In people, the goal is to completely and aggressively eradicate all of the cancer. But in animals the goal is different– the concern of preserving their quality of life is equivalent to treating the cancer.
Elvis is seeing a veterinary oncologist and she explained that people are generally surprised at how well their animals do on chemotherapy… and for the most part, I would agree.
Right now Elvis has more good days than bad days, but the bad days are a bleak reminder that the good days are just a pitstop.
Her good days make me thankful— that she is here now, and hopefully for longer… I am thankful she is responding to the treatment and tolerating it acceptably, and thankful for the doctor and the oncology nurses who are so wonderful.
This is not at all the post I wanted to write.
I’ve written 57 versions of it to try to tell you how much I love Elvis. How she is my favorite thing in the entire world. How she has the sweetest heart of anyone I know. How my satisfaction rate with her is 100%. How it is not very often you get the very best thing in the universe.
And none of the versions are right. Because they do not reach through your screen and put Elvis on your lap, so you can feel her fur; which is superior.
Or see how she drools when you pet her. Or how she likes to sleep inside your clothing— while you are wearing it.
Or the way she likes to tell you how her day was. And how she will come and stand on her hind legs so that you will pick her up.
How she believes there is never NOT room on your lap.
And how she will come up and paw the covers at your neck so you will let her under… then she purrs as loud as possible while madly kneading your arm and drooling.
Elvis is my family in every sense of the word.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:08 am
Your post made me so sad, but I understand completely how much you love Elvis. Wishing you both more good days than bad, and love.
August 18, 2015 @ 1:46 pm
So very, very sorry. My schnauzer Barklie had oral cancer and she had several radiation treatments after surgery to remove the growth. One thing some of the oncologists don’t recommend (at least in our case) is to supplement their diet with extra vitamins. Barklie developed a severe case of vitamin C deficiency and lost her vision, developed a skin fungus and once we did umpteen tests at a veterinary internist, the Vitamin C deficiency was diagnosed. Put her on high doses and human Ared’s vitamins. This eliminated the fungus and she got her eyesight back for two years! Wish I had know this during her treatment because we could have avoided the side effects. I hope you have much, much more time with Elvis to spoil her rotten!
August 19, 2015 @ 11:56 am
I am sad for you. Elvis sounds like , yes, a truly superior cat, and her adorable pictures made me smile. I hope that you can find some comfort in this truth- that she knows that she is loved and always will be.
August 29, 2015 @ 8:53 am
I was checking in on you and Elvis. xo
September 18, 2015 @ 7:52 pm
Wow, Elvis is not camera shy!! She has the CUTEST face ever. Thanks for the laughs and tears,enjoy your time with your family. She knows shes the queen , I can see her saying,as shes rolling on the sofa look at me mom see how fabulous I am!!! Take Care . Elvis is one of the greatest gifts you and Paul will ever have.
November 16, 2015 @ 9:35 am
Hi Victoria,
I am a new subscriber, I read this posting first because I am a huge animal lover. I get it . . . I really do. All the best days for you and Elvis.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:09 am
Awww, tears. Just tears. And sending you and Elvis hugs, but not creepy stalker hugs. 🙂
August 18, 2015 @ 10:10 am
Oh, Victoria!!! I am so, so sorry to hear this. Elvis does sound like the perfect cat. All I can say is enjoy the time you have left together, and know that love never dies. Peace and blessings.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:10 am
Oh, I understand your sadness. When our furbabies have to go through this. Enjoy the good days with her. She sounds like such a special person.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:10 am
I hope that you will be able to feel all of our collective arms around you and Elvis. Know that you are in our hearts as you walk this tough path.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:11 am
I’m so sorry. It’s heartbreaking to see a furbaby go through this. She knows you love her ‘to the moon’ and I pray you are comforted by this.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:11 am
Now I don’t know what to say either.
All I can come up with is that Elvis sure is a sweetie pie. Not all cats are the kind that can make you smile all day long. I have one like that. You do too. We are the luckiest people.
Wishing Elvis as many good days as possible. Wishing you as many days of only feeling regular sad, not overwhelmingly sad.
xoxo,
Carole
August 18, 2015 @ 10:12 am
Sending you TONS of white light and healthy vibes. I see Elvis as happy, healthy and doing exceptionally well for many years to come. I believe in spontaneous healing and send that energy to Elvis. Imagine/see her as 100% healthy with me people. :))) Wherever 2 or more agree…. and so it is. Done! 🙂
Hugs galore!!!
August 18, 2015 @ 10:13 am
I am so very, very sorry to hear about Elvis. It is heartrending to watch a four-legged member of the family go through a no-real-win disease.
Elvis is in the best family ever for her and I’m glad she’s got you to go through this with.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:13 am
I’m so sorry your kitty is sick.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:13 am
My dear Victoria,
This made me cry. I totally understand and have two dogs of my own that I adore and are totally my family. I shall pray for Elvis that she doesn’t suffer. And I shall pray for you to be strong. I just dropped my son off yesterday for his second year in college in Knoxville, Tnn. I thought it would be easier this year but it wasn’t. And as we drove those ten hours home yesterday I swear I wept for about 8 of them. The other two I held it in. My husband has had enough with me. (But I also managed to pick up that gilt mirror I had saved and purchased months in advance.) Anyway, I’m in Bucks County PA and today I woke up to an empty house. But the comfort I got was not from my husband who just landed in Boston, but from my doggies faces when I picked them up from Petsmart. I do do do understand. They do give us comfort and unconditional love like no one else can at times. So my heart is heavy for you too.
Will be thinking of Elvis.
I did email you. Don’t know if you got it. Would love to meet up someday.
Lisa
http://www.leeshideaway.blogspot.com
August 18, 2015 @ 10:13 am
Your news made me tear up, but the pictures of the Elvis made me smile – a lot. Sending healing thoughts.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:14 am
I’m so sorry. Nothing can compare to our loved, furry little companions. I hope you and Elvis are doing well and having as many good days as possible. Give Elvis a cuddle and know we’re thinking of you.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:14 am
Sending you and Elvis good wishes. I totally understand how you feel. I have beloved pets myself. They are family indeed. Enjoy Elvis as much as you can, she is truly a treasure.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:14 am
I’m so sorry. All cats, in my opinion, are special but some are extra special. Elvis fits into that extra special category. My 16 year old cat was a lover, too, and would rest on my chest with her head under my chin. She would reach up and pat my face gently with her paw. She’s gone now and I miss her all the time. They do live on in our hearts, which brings pain and joy at the same time.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:14 am
I’m sorry. I just lost my cat in April. We adopted him in 99 and he was 18. I cried every night when I went to bed, because he always slept above my head and reached out a paw to touch me. Much hope that the chemo does what it’s supposed to and you enjoy her for a long time to come.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:15 am
Oh Victoria Elizabeth! Oh!!! I am SO sorry!!!!
And I’m so glad you have such a great set of photos
And some time left to let Elvis know how much you love her
And Paul to get you through the end.
I’ve heard we die three times.
The first is when we stop breathing
The next is when the last person who held us in living memory goes
The third is when our stories are no longer told.
Elvis has a while yet….
Love/Fl!p
August 18, 2015 @ 10:22 am
That’s really nice. 🙂 Damn, now I’m crying at my desk, remembering…
August 18, 2015 @ 10:15 am
I’m really sorry that you are going through this. I’ve been there, done that, with a similar lymphoma … more good days than bad, and grateful for every day. Thank you for ‘pulling back the curtain’ on veterinary use of chemotherapy. Too many people equate it with human use, and they don’t understand how helpful it may be for their pets.
Sending love and peace for you and Paul and Elvis. Through your loving words, you have made us feel that she is a very special cat.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:16 am
I’m so sorry. I know how you feel. I love my cat so much that I wonder what I’ll do when he’s no longer with me. Our pets take up permanent residence in our hearts.
August 18, 2015 @ 10:17 am
I completely get it, my pets are my heart! When it comes to the end of their stay with us, it is sad, fulfilling to remember every minute, and really hard to let go. I have really enjoyed Elvis through your posts and wish you both well.