Kitty News isn't Great

[lydamorehouse]

Ms. Ball is sick... and recovery is extremely iffy.

The doctor isn't a hundred percent sure what's wrong with her, but he's worried that it may be bladder cancer.  They did radiographs/ultrasound today and the vet could clearly see that the bladder wall was thickened and lumpy. Combine that with the fact that her weight decline was lightning fast and a urine test showed abnormal amounts of "transitional bladder cells," the prognosis is poor and points quite strongly towards cancer.    

Until we get some more information--radiographs are headed to the University of MN and should be back on Wednesday--the treatment plan is prednisone for anti-inflammatory/cancer inhibition, anti-nausea pills and appetite stimulants.  

But, it's never a good sign when the doctor's notes end with "At this time we can make her feel better with medications."  You don't have to go very far down the internet to find out that transitional cell carcinoma in the bladder is not only fatal, but it's fast-acting.

So, that sucks. Not the news any of us wanted on Christmas Eve.  

Comments

[bibliofile]

Aw, crap. Poor Ms. Ball. Poor Ms. Ball's people!

[lydamorehouse]

Yeah, though she's happily snoozing on her radiator right now.... :-( It's going to be a tough road, alas. But we're going to try to be grateful for what time we have.

[zhelana]

I'm sorry. Losing someone at the holidays is difficult. We lost my grandfather Christmas night a few years back, and it really looms over the holiday now.

[lydamorehouse]

Yeah, I lost my grandmother on Christmas eve several years ago. And, at least she's not gone yet.

[strangesistas_writings]

We just buried my grandmother on Saturday and it's so bittersweet because losing her is so hard, but it also meant all of our family was together for the holiday.

[satoyan]

I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope it goes as well as it can going forward, and I hope your Christmas, despite this sadness, has many moments of joy. ♥

[lydamorehouse]

Thanks.

[naomikritzer]

Well, shit. :-(

[lydamorehouse]

Yeah. She's responding pretty good to the prednisone, but the doc said that would happen no matter what.

It would have to be Mason's baby, you know? :-(

[strangesistas_writings]

Aw I'm sorry. Enjoy her as much as you can and maybe it will turn out to be something treatable.

[lydamorehouse]

I will CROSS ALL THE FINGERS. As I told Naomi above, Ms. Ball is responding well to the prednisone, so maybe she will be able to gain a little weight for whatever the fight is ahead.

[evilpettingz00]

Oh, no. :( I'm so sorry to hear that! My kitty is sick, too. It sucks. :(

[lydamorehouse]

Oh no! I'll put yours in my thoughts as well. I set up an altar to Bast, so I will add thoughts of yours to my own, if that's okay?

[evilpettingz00]

That's very kind of you, thank you! <3

[j00j]

<3 much love to you all

[lydamorehouse]

Thanks.

[xochiquetzl]

I’m so sorry.

[lydamorehouse]

Thanks! I know you've been through a ton with your kitties, too.

[umadoshi]

Oh no. ;_; I hope things go as well as possible.

[lydamorehouse]

Thanks. I may write an update soon as she's making a bit of a rally? (Fingers crossed, anyway.)

[sauscony]

I'm so sorry about your kitty.

[lydamorehouse]

Actually, her prognosis changed SIGNIFICANTLY about an hour ago after seeing an ultrasound specialist. So, recovery is actually now much, much more possible.

THANK GOODNESS.

I have literally never had it happen that I've asked people to keep someone in their thoughts and ACTUALLY HAVE IT WORK, but... maybe this time?

[opakele]

I'm sorry about kitty news...

[lydamorehouse]

The news at least got better after a recent trip to an ultrasound expert--no cancer detected! But she has a very curious amount of fluid in her intestines, but the vet is treating it as IBS. And, knock on wood, that seems to be working.