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 19, 2015 @ 3:27 pm
My Garden Cat Gracie is gone 3 years, I still grieve for Her. She was one of a kind, just like your Elvis, She loved Me, She was My Cat, Never stopped talking, and while in the Garden her Tinkling bell would always be near, ready to move when I did. She shared every project I did, I design mosaics and she would lay right next to my work, reaching out when I worked too long without petting Her. She was a peach and grey tortoise, long fluffy tail, but every summer here in Florida, She would totally shave her hind legs, so embarrassing! She looked like She had mange. But come fall.. all fluffy and beautiful again. She was a petite cat, but big in love! Your Elvis sounds so special, when the time comes, your Heart will be left with those quirky memories of all Her special ways.. and Her love.
August 19, 2015 @ 5:19 pm
I was also blessed to have an Elvis in my life and continue to be thankful that he came into my world. I was touched by your post and it made me remember all the good things that a pet can bring to your life. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
August 19, 2015 @ 10:49 pm
I lost my 15-1/2 old siamese (Eddie), on June 10th to cancer. I miss him greeting me at the door, sleeping beside me in my chair and coming to remind me it’s time to eat and later time for treats and so many other things. I am so sorry about your kitty. I tried to treasure the time I had left with him as I know you are. There are still lots of tears (like right now), and there will be more to follow. Praying you have some quality time left with your sweet girl. Elvis will always be in your heart. God be with you.
August 19, 2015 @ 11:28 pm
Hi, Victoria. I totally understand. My cat Mudpuddle died last year from intestinal lymphoma. The plus for me was that they said it is a relatively painless disease. The cons was obviously him wasting away and dying. But he was happy up until the end. They gave him Cerenia– if your vet recommends it, I’d say go for it. it’s an anti-nausea pill for dogs, but it has the side effect of sort of being like kitty Prozac. So not only do they not feel so ill, but they also feel kind of happy. 🙂 I hope things eventually find their place, there. I still haven’t really gotten over it with Puddles 🙁
August 20, 2015 @ 4:17 pm
Dear Elizabeth, I understand all too well the pain and sadness you are feeling. We lost our beloved Winston J. on Christmas Eve of last year, not even a year yet. He had had a condition called IBD (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) probably since he was a kitten. To make a long story shorter, it can lead to cancer, and it did. We had had a couple of bad spells in the past, but the last one he just couldn’t beat. He last weight so fast and then just quit eating completely, even syringe feeds didn’t work. Then, he just laid in one place all the time and we could tell it was time. It seemed he was asking for us to please let him go. We called Laps of Love, a vet company who specialize in helping the caretakers and their beloved pets make as easy a transition as possible in their own home so no anxious visit to the vet is necessary. I was given their name by my vet. I’m sure your vet probably as the information for you location. It was undoubtedly the best decision I’ve ever made.
Unlike you, we didn’t get a reprieve this time. I hope the treatments let you have many, many more happy times with Elvis and it sounds as if it might. You are lucky enough to have a vet that knows and likes treating cats. And thank goodness there are more vets beginning to realize that a cat is not treated like a small dog. We are luck enough to have several vets in the Atlanta area whose clinics are Feline only. Its the helpless feeling that hurts, too. You’ve always taken care of Elvis’s needs, food if hungry, petting if so desired, conversation so she wouldn’t be talking to herself. Not to mention all the affection, unconditional love, and the understanding she gave you. Oh, and all her funny little quirks, too, that are just “hers” and no other animals…the one and only purrsonality that is distinctively “Elvis”. Love her every moment, she will feel your unspoken love, I can promise you that. Winston J. knew we were trying to help and that he meant the world to me up to his last moments in my arms. Your writing makes it easy to tell how emotionally embedded you are in her so she already knows she is well loved and appreciated. I’m so glad you have been granted more time. Good luck to both of you.
August 20, 2015 @ 4:43 pm
I am so sorry about Elvis. You are lucky to have each other. Elvis sounds like one in a million. I cannot write any more because I will start bawling.
August 20, 2015 @ 6:30 pm
I’m so sorry. I wish you and Elvis, as many good days as possible and peace
August 20, 2015 @ 7:34 pm
Your Elvis looks like my Sammy. Elvis has been blessed to have a loving family.
August 20, 2015 @ 10:11 pm
Wishing you and Elvis many good days ahead. She is clearly such a darling & so very fortunate to be yours. Much love & light.
August 20, 2015 @ 10:14 pm
I will never have the right words for you. I am sad for you. We haven’t ever met, but I have been worried about you and yours. You have more friends than you know.
August 21, 2015 @ 1:04 am
Oh Victoria. I am unbearably sorry to hear this. I am sitting here with tears in my eyes and impending sobbing. I have two feline angels and two canine angels and my heart is breaking for you. Just love her with everything you have while you can. Save some of her hair and put it in a locket so she will always be close to you. I am sending love and support to the three of you.
August 21, 2015 @ 1:48 am
Victoria, I was relieved to see a post from you and was hoping it would be a fabulous post on one of your special projects. The absence of posts was worrisome. I know that life can change in a spilt second – my beautiful son died 2 years ago. I have an Elvis cat too and he provides with great comfort. I’m thinking about you and Elvis.
August 21, 2015 @ 1:06 pm
OHHHHHHH…. I was excited to see a post from you but sad to hear what has been going on… Elvis is a lovely lovely cat. She is fortunate to live in the honey pot of your life/heart. Continue to enjoy her… xoxox from an extreme cat lover from Portland, Oregon…
August 21, 2015 @ 1:49 pm
Your post was touching. Your words were elegant, beautiful and loving. Elvis is a very lucky cat to have you care for her throughout her illness. Keep us posted about Elvis’ progress. Sending hugs over the Internet.
August 21, 2015 @ 5:27 pm
I completely understand how much you love Elvis , and I wish her all the best of her treatments.
It’s just torture when out pets are sick with cancer.
August 22, 2015 @ 7:52 am
I felt a little of Elvis in my heart as I read your post. I wish I had magic words. I’m glad that you have the time to spend with her that you do. It doesn’t make it any less heartbreaking but it always made my transitions and acceptance a little less harsh. And thank you for educating me on the purpose of chemotherapy in pets with cancer. Someday I know that I will inevitably have a pet with cancer and I’ve thought about what I would do. Thoughts and prayers for you and your baby.
August 22, 2015 @ 6:09 pm
I am so sorry about your dear Elvis…We lost my sweet Callie to large cell Lymphoma that started in her stomach. We did the chemo treatment with University of Georgia Vet Services–Callie had an extra 10 months of very good life–she was about Elvis’ age when she was struck. Peace be with you and enjoy every day you have….
August 22, 2015 @ 11:43 pm
I’m so very sorry to hear your news, Elizabeth. Elvis is a beautiful kitty and sounds like a very treasured family member and friend.
August 23, 2015 @ 9:25 am
I’m so, so sorry to read this awful news about Elvis. I love the little heart on her face; like that’s the exact right spot for you to kiss her. I love when she makes appearances in your photos or videos, and it looks like she has the kind of fur that’s silky, not cottony.
I lost my best friend and soulmate this summer. He was all gray, and he was the cottony kind of soft. He took care of me when I was sick (even when I had cancer) and he would never leave my side, even to the point where he had to be reminded to eat and drink. I loved him entirely. I won’t lie, it hurt so much, and I miss him. But he was very, very old, (almost 20!) and when he started to suffer, I knew it was time. It was so hard, but I know that the very last things he felt were a massive wave of relief and love. The hurt was awful, but it’s not as bad as knowing he was suffering, and the truly awful part of the pain didn’t last very long. I’m so sorry you have to go through this with her, but I know that you will do what’s best for her for the rest of her life. Sending love to you and Elvis. (And Paul. And the Kingdom Mirrors.)
August 23, 2015 @ 11:34 pm
I’m sad for you and Elvis and, of course, Paul. When your pet is the absolute best in the world!, it’s hard to loose them. I know because I had THE BEST horse in the whole wide universe- Cheyenne, aka “Big Red”. I still miss him. I bought an old,red, 1980 Ford, long bed pickup and in his honor I named it “Big Red”. You too will find comfort in rembering Elvis in ae similar way. Enjoy her now- give her kitty scrunches and kitty belly rubs.