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 @ 2:03 pm
Victoria I am so sorry to hear about Elvis. I can so relate to all the things you are saying about her. We lost our cat of 20 years just last month and I feel like the joy has left my life. They love us without question and leave a very large hole in our lives when they are gone. I will say prayers for Elvis and for you. Hugs.
August 18, 2015 @ 2:08 pm
I am so, so sorry. Those without pets don’t understand the depth of devotion we have to our pets or they to us. I lost both my black and white toy poodles last year, within 6 months of each other. Both died in my arms. One died at the vet’s office while just awaiting test results. (Pancreatic cancer but found out after she passed). Please know you are not alone and that many of us understand. God Bless you and savor the days you still have with Elvis. ❤️
August 18, 2015 @ 2:16 pm
I am so, so sorry to hear about Elvis’ illness. I still cry when I think about my childhood cats, even though I have two wonderful living cats. And the thought of losing my two current kitties also makes me cry. I can’t imagine what a wreck I would be if I had to watch either of them suffer through cancer treatment. Sending you lots of hugs and warm wishes for Elvis.
August 18, 2015 @ 2:16 pm
We just put our last cat down last night. Missy was 21 and just deteriorating quickly. Arthritis and kidneys. She laid in her window in the sunshine on some good kitty drugs while the vet snuck up on her. She purred to the end, sweet kitty. I will miss her. The anticipation of what we were going to have to do was way worse than the feelings afterward of relief – that she was no longer in pain and would rest in peace. She was black and white…very similar cute little chin!
Good luck with your kitty’s treatment, sounds like a good way to prolong her life with quality. hugs to you and your sweet kitty.
August 18, 2015 @ 2:22 pm
Sweetheart,
Your darling fluffalorium is part of your world of love .. . of course it will be sad to lose Elvis. I’ve a Miss Kiss who also burrows and cuddles and (yes) kisses and head butts to get more petting. Blessings to you, with great wishes for as many good days as are possible. Fancy kitchen islands are good things, but Elvis love is priceless.
August 18, 2015 @ 2:30 pm
My cat Ewoke was / is my love. When she got sick I remember thinking that she couldn’t leave me because I absolutely needed her. Sometimes I think I still need her… like more than a want, I need her. She still makes me smile everytime I think about her. Its been 5 years and just the other day one of my friends brought up how she was thinking about Ewoke and what an amazing cat she was. Some animals leave a permanent place in your heart. I’ve since gone on to have 3 dogs and 2 cats and although I have new furry love, none will ever be the same. We are the lucky people, the ones who get pets who truly become a part of us.
August 18, 2015 @ 2:31 pm
I’m so sorry. You and Elvis shared the best of each other — brought out the best in one another. Cherish the time with your loved one and celebrate your beautiful bond.
August 18, 2015 @ 2:43 pm
I am so very sorry for your loss. I have been very lucky to have had two such cats, Musser and Pookie, in my life. Musser was 19 when she left me and Pookie left me at a short age of 8. I still miss them to this day, and I feel them around me all the time (I know it is crazy sounding).
Take care of your she Elvis. Give and take all the love for this time.
August 18, 2015 @ 2:44 pm
I am so sorry. It is difficult putting on a funny face when you are sad. I wish I could send you the beautiful poem our Vets office sent to me when I had to put one of our kitties down — she was so sick she couldn’t hold up her head. Anyway, I opened the beautiful note and card and it made me cry but a happy/sad cry. It made me realize that others can feel your pain too. We do and we are here for you.
August 18, 2015 @ 2:44 pm
I read this early this morning and could not even comment I was so sad. I hope there is good quality time left with Elvis and that you will be granted the blessing of strength when the time comes to say goodbye. xo
August 18, 2015 @ 2:47 pm
I am so sorry to hear about Elvis, this made me very sad. Big hugs to you both.
Stacey
August 18, 2015 @ 2:48 pm
For me, the hardest thing about losing someone I love is that I can no longer touch them. But the truth is, they never stop touching me. Once any of us has truly loved with our whole being and been loved in return, we are changed. For the good, I think. No. For the great. My animals have made me a better person. When they pass my heart breaks, but it is somehow bigger for having opened myself up in the first place. They give that gift to us, and that’s part of what I find so incredible about their unconditional love and trust.
I know you’re hurting because goodbye seems so much more real. But Elvis is here with you now. Celebrate her. Cuddle her. Enjoy every purr and wet drooly kiss. She loves you. How lucky you both are to have found each other.
August 18, 2015 @ 2:49 pm
Heartbreaking. I’m so glad you have some more time with your sweet girl and I’m hoping it’s more time than you think. Sending you lots of positive thoughts for strength during this hard time.
August 18, 2015 @ 2:56 pm
After reading this, I love Elvis even more. Maybe there’s a Droolers Anonymous in Kitty Heaven that she can join with my sweet girl Piz. If not, they could totally start one.
August 18, 2015 @ 3:03 pm
There is nothing nothing nothing like that special bond between you and your pet. I am glad that she is getting the best of care and that you have documented some of the unique and adorable traits that make her so special. My thoughts and prayers are with you both!
August 18, 2015 @ 3:09 pm
Victoria I sooo understand and am sad for you and Elvis. Thats the right thing to do, to improve her quality of the life she has left. Look on Facebook for the Turmeric Users Group, sick animals have been helped so much, to live a better life before the end. Hugs to you all xxx
August 18, 2015 @ 3:12 pm
She is a sweetie. Look, I’ve had two cats who had cancer. My one just passed away at the age of 20 after being diagnosed at the age of 17. She had steroids, no chemo.. and she lived another 3 years. And they were good years. She was active, she ate, played.. My other one did have the same type of cancer that Elvis has. We opted for just surgery and he lived another year: again, good living, ate, played. But then this was about 10 years ago. Nowadays the use of steroids and chemo is more widely used and cancer treatments have come a long way in animals.
Every kitty is different. And for some reason, they respond well to both treatments; better than people do.
I know it’s hard. Enjoy every minute you have with that little sweetheart. Take care.
August 18, 2015 @ 3:25 pm
Really understand about losing a precious, family member kitty kat. We never ecpect it to happen by their having a disease. Ours was 17 yrs old…a Maine Coon – a kingly, majestic fluffy kitty who lorded it over my granddaughter and protected her when she was sad and also when there were sparks coming out of an outlet! He hated any kind of tension between us and would let us know! He never climbed on furniture or the counters EXCEPT when he didn’t want her on the computer-then he’d sit on the table and stare st her. It’s true…the love & memories are always there.
August 18, 2015 @ 3:39 pm
Oh, Victoria, I am so sorry to hear that! Elvis is such a sweet cat! Sending you tons of positive vibes and love! xoxo
August 18, 2015 @ 3:57 pm
I second what others are saying. My heart goes out to you. Not finding more words. Enjoy all the borrowed time. Blessings.