Jill's Journey

So now that we are almost at the one month ampuversary (I can’t believe it!), it was time to go to the oncologist to come up with a plan to get rid of this nasty nasty cancer for good!

Jill has never been the type of kitty to meow or hide when the carrier comes out, however, she must have realized by now that one of the last times she went into it, she came back without a leg, because she was not happy about going in there this morning.  For the first time since I’ve had her, she fought me and once I got her in, she cried and cried 🙁  I felt so horrible.  Have I scarred her for life?????  It is so hard that you can’t just say to them “it’s for your own good I promise!!”

So off we go to Animal Medical Center for our appointment with the oncologist.  We had been here before, but that was back in June and it was for a consult when we found the osteosaroma on her toe.  We wound up not doing the chemo then, so that was the last they heard from us.  I wasn’t sure if they would remember us, but as soon as one of the doctors walked in she said “oh it’s Jill the hugging kitty!”.

Well.  Could I be any prouder?  Everyone wanted to hug her!  They better not get any wise catnapping ideas while I leave her in their care……..!!!! Maybe I need to microchip her?? hmmmm……..

So they took Jill back to an exam room while I sat with the two doctors to discuss our plan.  She will be going once every three weeks for four weeks alternating Carboplatin and Doxorubicin.  The best part was, they were able to give her the first dose of Carboplatin today, so that saves me one trip!  So off she went behind these scary scary doors but with very very nice nurses 🙂

I then signed some consent forms and talked to the doctors about some questions I had about side effects.  The best part of the visit for me was really her “prognosis:”

OK.  I am really pretending I didn’t see this because I don’t want to get my hopes up.  So, I’m going to tuck this away in a folder and just keep praying for the best 🙂

Anyway, about a half hour later, they brought me my little one (while she was hugging the nurse of course) and off we went home.  I felt horrible, because I had to get to work, but they told me the first time, she is likely to have very few side effects.  Maybe a little nausea and she might be a little tired and hide.  I, of course, couldn’t stop thinking about her all day though.

So now I am home and I was expecting to walk into the apartment and find her under the bed or in the closet.  But no.  Shes on the couch, on her favorite brown blankie and she is DEMANDING treats and a belly rub.  Once she got that though, she did go right to sleep.  I can tell she is definitely tired, but as you can see from the video below, she is more than happy to accept a belly rub.  That’s my little girl 🙂

So.  That’s where we are right now.  The next treatment will be 1/29 and that will be the doxorubicin.

Here are some pics from her days today and a video: