Pathology report on Siren

[ellid]

It's fibrosarcoma, aka cancer. The suggested treatment is either debulking the tumor or amputating her leg, neither of which is a great idea for a 17 year old cat who a) has deteriorating kidneys and b) has always been sensitive to anesthesia. Neither option would gain her more than a few extra months, plus the cost would be approximately as much as I bring home in a month.

I'm numb. Just numb. But given her age, and everything else, I'm inclined to think that it's best just to provide palliative care and let Siren when the time comes. I love her dearly, but I have to think of what's best for her, and I can't imagine that putting her the ordeal of surgery and/or amputation would be in her best interest at her age.

My poor little girl.

Comments

[chazpure.livejournal.com]

Oh, honey! I'm so sorry. :-(

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[celandineb.livejournal.com]

Oh hon, I'm so sorry for you and for Siren, but I think you are right and that is the best choice.

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

Oh no! Poor little girl.

My deepest sympathies. *hug*

[tree_and_leaf]

Oh, I'm sorry. For what it's worth, that sounds like the right choice, but it's not an easy one to have to make.

[rivendellrose.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear that. I'll be thinking of you both. *Hugs*

[caitlin-sd.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear it. Siren is a darling girl, in spite of that high volume wail of hers. I think surgery might have been an option when she was 10 or 12, but I agree that the best thing you can do is look after her and keep an out out for any major changes.

If you want to talk, you know where to find me.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I'm going to miss that squall - the house will be awfully quiet without her. And you're absolutely right - if she were, say, Malfoy's age (almost 11) I'd be looking at surgery. But at 17 and four months, the gain in lifespan would be offset by the pain of the recovery, and at her age she deserves better than that.

thanks, hon. I appreciate it.

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

Thinking of you.

[cathouse-mary.livejournal.com]

*hugs!* I'm so sorry, and I think you're right. Palliative care and time at home with her person is the most loving thing you can do.

[ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com]

**Hugs**

It's hard to make these sorts of decisions. My sister just had to do this with her cat that she had for a good 13+ years.

Hang in there.

[tx-cronopio.livejournal.com]

Oh, honey. Of course, your decision is right. Doesn't make it easy. Big hugs.

[chrisilin.livejournal.com]

*hugs* so sorry to hear it, but I know she's always had good care with you and always will. Thinking of you...

[brieza.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry to hear that the report came as cancer. It sounds as though given her age, you've made the best choice for her. I worry that surgery might cause her quality of life to deteriorate rapidly. hugs.

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry :(

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I can't really see any other way - she's old enough that she might not survive the surgery anyway, and I'd rather have her as happy as possible for whatever time she has left :(

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

It's not easy at all, but I want to do what's right for her. She's been a wonderful little friend, and she deserves the best care I can give.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

[ellid.livejournal.com]

I just can't see that putting her through the strain of an operation that might give her a couple more months (or might not) will benefit her. It might make *me* feel better, but it's not about me. It's about Siren.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon. I appreciate it.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Saying good-bye is never easy...but at least I'll be able to love her and spoil her the way she deserves :)

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Given her age and her kidneys, I just can't see any good reason to put her through anesthesia and recovery, either from debulking or from amputation. If she were Diamond or Malfoy's age, maybe, but at 17 she deserves as much peace and quiet as she can get.

Thanks.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

That's my fear, too. She's never reacted well to sedation and I don't want her to die on the operating table, or suffer from after-effects of surgery and medication. Better to do the feline equivalent of hospice and then say good-bye when it's time.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

[hugh-mannity.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry.

Basement Cat and Moral Grey Area Cat send sympathy.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

[cathouse-mary.livejournal.com]

In the end? It wouldn't make you feel better - and you know that or you would not be following the kinder course.

[rufus.livejournal.com]

Oh Ellid. I'm so sorry. *hugs* for both of you. Poor, poor kitty. For whatever it may be worth, I think you're right to make her comfortable for as long as you can. My deepest sympathies, because this is always the most wrenching and awful decision to have to make.

[helwen.livejournal.com]

***hugs to you both***

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks. *clings*

[ellid.livejournal.com]

It really is awful, isn't it? Thanks for your support and kind wishes :)

[elfflame]

*hugs tight*

[lherelenfeline.livejournal.com]

Oh Ellid, I'm so, so sorry.

[hugs]

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks :) *hugs back*

[animangel.livejournal.com]

*snugs kitty and owner both*
That's tough. I think that' its the right decision, though. I'm sorry I can't think of anything more inspiring to say except you have my sympathy.

[lord-vandemort.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry!

For what it's worth, I think you're making the right decision too. We'll be sending warm thoughts and wishes your way.

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I greatly appreciate it. Right now she's got a good appetite and is mewing up a storm, so she's not ready to go yet...but it's inevitable. Poor kitty :(

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Thank you :)

[hak42.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry for you and for Siren. It's always hard to make these sort of decisions. *hugs*