Cancer is confirmed

Hi everyone,

Dr. Markel called today. Though it is NOT Lymphosarcoma, it is Lymphoma. Not good. There are some options, which consist of a 2nd surgery, which would have been more effective if there was only one lump to deal with, but since there were at least three (and I Have found at least one more), it seems to have spread. F*c%.

Another option is to take him in the car (which TOTALLY freaks him out) to Cornell to meet with a feline oncologist to discuss having an MRI or catscan, and see where all the cancer has located itself. IF it seems reasonable (that is relative) then we could move on to chemotherapy, which is something that lymphoma does tend to respond to... the $hitty part about that is... who has cat insurance? What the heck does chemo cost? Is it even going to help him? Damnit - I can't even begin to express how frustrated I am that this is not cut and dry. If she had called saying that there was nothing that could be done, I could, eventually, handle that. If she had called and said that chemo was a sure thing for a cure, I could handle that, and we would deal with the financial part as we could, but this is more along the lines of - well, you could try this or that, and maybe they will help, and maybe they won't...

If I sound sad, frustrated, confused... I am... I just want what is best for Obie.

Obie is out of surgery

Lanie and I are on our way to go and get Obie from the vet. It will be two weeks until we really know anything more about the lumps, but hopefully it will be uneventful once we get him home. I will keep everyone posted!

Obie has cancer

Which sucks. No better way to even try to say that. I am angry that he is sick, of course, not angry with him, but just angry, and terribly sad. Aubrey noticed a lump on him over the weekend, so Monday I took him to the vet's, which he hates going to (though, I will tell you, we use the BEST vet in the world, Dr. Balonek, and have seen Dr. Markel this time with Obie, and she has been tremendous). They aspirated two of the three lumps that I had found up until then to send the cells away for analysis. I have since found at least one more lump. He was fine a month ago when he went for his yearly vet visit, so this thing is moving really fast. He has lost his voice (and those of you who know him, he is a real talker, all the time), and has lost a pound in the last month, which is not good.

Dr. Markel (or Martin, I feel terrible that I don't even know which is her name) called me this morning with Obie's results, stating that they were inconclusive, BUT the lab felt that there was reason for concern of cancer, as the cells were very abnormal.

I am just praying that the tumors are ALL benign, and that he is able to recover.

Obie goes in for surgery tomorrow morning at 7am, and should, if all goes OK, come home tomorrow night. It will be two weeks until we know whether or not the tumors are benign or malignant, and what, if any course of medication would help.

For those of you who read this, please keep Obie, or "The Bus", Mr. Bussadon, Obidon Milosakitty, Gary Bussy (all silly names we call him) in your thoughts. He is a great guy, and we are really sad that he has to go through this. Thanks.

I have a website!

Click on the link (where it says above - I have a website) to see the website for my classroom - I am so excited - this is the first web page I have ever created - I am sure with more practice, it will get better!