Meezer Rule Wednesday

Well, my rule today would be, if your sibling constantly sticks his nose in your bum after you have come back from the Vet Place, then you have every right to whap him/her round the head until he/she backs off and leaves you in peace!

I did OK last night and ate well and was relatively perky considering, and I clambered all over Meowmie when she was eating her dinner (she had chicken, what did she expect!)...but at around 10pm I got a bit quiet. I went to bed with Meowmie and Castle but when Meowmie woke up at 6.30am I was sitting in the hallway, peacefully on my own. I didn't want any breakfast either. Meowmie wanted to take another day off work and be with me but I looked at her and told her to go get the Vet Tokens, we will need them!!! So in case I was in pain she gave me an opiate-based pain-killer and then a periactin appetite stimulant to give me a boost. Just before she left I decided that I wanted to sit quietly in my Habitat paper bag, alone. Meowmie came over and gave me some strokes and kisses on the 'X' on my nose and I settled down in my bag for a litle chill-out. Hopefully I will have perked up a little by the time she gets home (aren't I clever...blogging without her help!).

When Meowmie got to work she called Ben Vet and he said that I am probably feeling the effects of yesterday's chemo - he reassured Meowmie that it wouldn't be something drastic like my White Blood Cell (WBC) count falling to a level that would make me ill - it is too soon after the chemo and impossible to happen in such a short time-frame. The anti-nausea I was given yesterday lunchtime should in theory work for 24hrs, so Ben Vet didn't think it is nausea that is making me quiet and puttin me off my food. He also said to Meowmie that he and Caroline Vet had a very good feel around my problem area yesterday and I showed no signs of pain when they were squeezing me and stuff - so this is what makes him think it is possibly the chemo making me feel odd. If I don't eat tonight or tomorow morning though I have to go back and see Ben Vet for some fluids and stuff in the morning.

My adorable friend and face-twin Yao-Lin sent me this picture he made yesterday, with the following message "Here is a little picture for you, just to let you know that I am thinking of you during this dreadful time. You are my face twin - rest assured I am with you all the way, my fighting friend. I promise that you will never be far from my thoughts and I will pray for your speedy recovery as often as felinely possible". I am so honoured that Yao-Lin did this for me - what a bootiful gesture, I hope he doesn't mind me showing his softer side to the Blogosphere...See if you can spot who is who! If we had had kittens together they would have been show-stoppers!



We have been checking out blogs and stuff, but not commenting so much. We are totally overwhelmed by all the support out there for us...it is just unbelievable that so many kitties and beans are sending me so much love and strength. If love and strength could cure cancer I would have been back in remission within moments of telling you all I had it again. Thank you xxx

Toxic Tuesday

I'm am now officially toxic. Here's my day...

I was quiet this morning when Meowmie woke up, and did not want any foods at all, I licked my lips and backed away from the food bowl when Meowmie tried to tempt me, and I had a watery mouth. This means I was feeling sickie. I wasn't supposed to eat this morning anyway cos of the impending chemo so it is a blessing in disguise that I didn't want foods...

My favourite driver collected me this morning, the lovely one from Bangladesh. I checked in at the Vet Place and Ben Vet explained the protocol to us that I will follow:

Induction Protocol - 8 weeks
- Vincristine weekly
- Cyclophosphamide every two weeks
- Prednisolone steroid daily for 7 days then every other day
- Blood samples at weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8.

Maintenance protocol (if we get that far) as follows:
(insert one week off treatment for every week on treatment)
- Vincristine every 2 weeks for 8 doses
- Cyclophosphamide as induction protocol for on weeks, no treatment in off weeks.
- Prednisolone steroid every other day.
- Increase interval between treatments to 4 weeks after 8 cycles of fortnightly vincristine

Ben Vet said if I am slow to respond that he may bung a dose of Doxyrubicin into the protocol from time to time to give the lymphoma a good blast of chemo.

The Meowmies then left me, I purred so hard for them not to go and I headbutted them but they had to leave me there so I could get treated. Ben Vet and Caroline Vet put me on a drip and got some fluids into me to build up my strength ready for the chemo. They also did some blood tests. The tests were all OK but the platelet count was a little high which can indicate bleeding (amongst some other very normal, unworrying things), but there is no sign of bleeding in my poos and other bodily fluids. Ben Vet was not overly concerned by this as a higher platelet count is to be expected with lymphoma and cancer. Ben Vet will monitor this though as it could also be a sign that there is a problem with my bone marrow - although none of the other stuff in my blood indicated any bone marrow problems, which is good! My weight has dropped to 3.55kgs from 3.75kgs, which is not great, but to be expected.

I spent most of the day on fluids and then Caroline Vet and Ben vet safely administered my chemo and then I waited for Meowmie to come and get me at 4.30pm. We hadn't seen Caroline Vet for AGES! She was sad my lymphoma had come back too and she reassured Meowmie that I would get the best care and lots of love in their practice. I did get LOTS of fuss made of me today in fact...Nurse Ann even gave me a special blanket for me to hide under in my patient pod!

I am home now, I have eaten well and Castle hasn't hissed at me yet - he hates the vet smells on me. I am a little sleepy but not aloof and I am not isolating myself. This is me just after I got home tonight wearing my bandage...and as it is Tuesday, my toes are here too, I've never done a Toes on Tuesday before! Now I have! I have a new collection of shaved patches on me now, check out the bald patch on my neck, my right leg and you can see my bald pink tummy hanging down too!!! How embarrassing! (Oh...and a bit of food on my mouth too! The indignity of it!)




A HUGE Thank You to you all for coming by and wishing us well and sharing in our troubles and being there for us. I really want to try and visit everyone and say a personal thank you...but tonight we are going to rest up and chill, it's been a very tough and emotional 48 hours. I hope you understand. A very special thank you too for Ann at Zoolatry for the lovely graphic that she made me...what a beautiful thing to do for me xxx

My Next Milestone...

Luckily, it isn't so far away...May 4th is mine and Castle's Gotcha Day. Almost twelve years ago we were Gotcha'd by Meowmie L and Meowmie J. I'll tell you more about our gotcha day on May 4th...

I didn't fancy going to the Vet Place at all today, and it took Meowmie a while to find me this morning, but she got me in the end...I wonder where she found me?



My scan results are not good at all. Not only do I have a bald tummy again but my lymphoma has come back...and not just in one place either. It is on an intestinal loop, one of my lymph nodes and there is some just behind and outside my stomach. Each mass is about 1-2cms big, they are not pushing on anything though, they are just there, unwanted. Ben Vet said he was very upset and holding back the tears when he saw the scan images. He also told Meowmie that he was thinking about us all last night and hoping so much that it was just poo. I am so lucky to have Ben as my vet...

I have four options open to me:

1) One theory suggests that you should treat the lymphoma with the drugs that worked first time round. My protocol was the heavy-going Madison Wisconsin protocol, which included Doxyrubicin (hard-hitting), Cyclophosphamide and Vincristine on rotation (with Prednisolone steroid every other day). It means weekly visits to the Vet Place, day-stays every other week and can be quite intense. Even though I sailed through it first time around, Ben Vet thinks it may not be appropriate so has suggested the COP protocol which is similar to the Mad Wis, but does not include the heavy-hitting Doxyrubicin drug and does not involve day-stays cos the Cyclophosphamide will be in tablet form and not administered intravenously as on the Mad Wis...I would still need to visit Ben Vet weekly though.

2) Leukeran and Prednisolone steroid combination. I was meant to take leukeran as a maintenance drug after my Mad Wis protocol but it made me ill so we had to stop it. It may have made me ill because it was so soon after the Mad Wis protocol, it could possibly not make me ill this time round. Not sure it is worth the risk though.

3) Combination of Vincristine and L-asparaginase drugs. Can cause kidney failure. Ben Vet has had one patient, similar to me who had come out of remission, they treated the cat with this and he did indeed end up getting kidney failure and passed away. This protocol could be amended though to minimise the risk of kidney failure. Also, this protocol is more appropriate as a last effort rescue remedy and should be saved for when all other options run out.

4) Do nothing - manage any nausea and pain with the relevant drugs until the time is right for me to go to the Bridge.

Meowmie asked Ben Vet what sort of time we had left as a family. Ben Vet didn't want to put numbers on it cos, as we know, numbers are just numbers and I have already exceeded expectations once before. However, with pushing, Ben Vet said that with treatment "maybe a few months, could be more, could be less". Bugger :(

Whilst my Meowmies spent a few hours absorbing the info Ben Vet did some further research and called up some of the country's leading oncologists (Susan North who runs this VRCC and Jane Dobson who is a Head of Service and lecturer in Veterinary Oncology at the University of Cambridge) to seek their opinions. He explained the situation (without putting any words into their mouths) and it was suggested that Option Number One - the COP protocol as Ben Vet originally advised us - is the way forward for now.

So, tomorrow morning we all climb aboard the Chemo Rollercoaster once again as I head back to see Ben Vet for the first step of the COP protocol (Vincristine). Hopefully the ride will last for a while...without too many ups and downs and without making me feel ill...

As an aside, we are also trying to determine whether it is nausea or pain that is making me off colour, so yesterday Ben Vet gave me an anti-nausea drug to see how it helped me (slightly sleepy last night, not a great appetite, but ate, bright this morning) and today I have had an opiate to control any pain I might be feeling. I must say, I have been brighter on the opiate drug and ate as soon as I got home today, but I am bit zonked now as should be expected. Meowmie will monitor me more this evening and let Ben know how I get along so we can at least try to get the right drugs into me so I can get back to my old self. This is me right now, on opiates chilling with Buddha maaaan!



THANK YOU ALL for coming by, my Meowmies have been very upset today, making all my furs wet with their tears!!! Your well wishes really do strengthen us and make us feel strong and hopeful. It is wonderful to know that so many of you care...it is quite humbling..what a great bunch of people you are xxx

Today's Vet Visit

Well, since my last vet visit I perked up and ate and got my appetite back pretty much within 24-36 hours of Ben Vet giving me the medicines - but I remained slightly subdued, not myself. Even though I was eating there was nothing coming out the other end, and yesterday morning I was a bit sluggish and Meowmie thought I looked a little uncomfortable, so she gave me an enema - it did the trick and lots came out! I perked up a little...

This morning I was quiet again and showed little interest in food, just a passing lick - which considering it was a bowl full of Applaws chicken was definitely not a good response from me. Luckily we had a vet visit scheduled and we saw Ben Vet today. I have put on a little weight and am back up to 3.76grams - which is good considering that there wasn't so much poo in me today cos of the enema yesterday! Castle came to the vet with me today for a weight check - he is 6.4kgs (14lbs)!!! Ben Vet was not happy and Castle is now having his intake of food strictly monitored.

Now the worrying bit...cos there was less poo in me Ben Vet was able to have a REALLY good feel around my tummy, and he found something that is a little worrying, my intestine feels a bit thickened in one place. Ben said this could either be poo, or unfortunately, the lymphoma making a return visit. Ben Vet said that cos I am off-colour and not myself, that he has to scan me to find out what this 'thickening' may be - so I get a scan tomorrow morning.

It's been a tough day today in our house - but here I am still managing to look majestic and regal despite my problems. Please wish me luck for tomorrow!

PS Meowmie apologises for not being able to help me get around and thank everyone and visit, she hopes you understand xxx

Thankful Thursday

I'm VERY thankful for all the well wishes, purrs and love you have all sent to me and my family. I was going to try and get around to thank you all tonight but our interweb wasn't working and now it is almost bedtime for Meowmie.

Last night I perked up somewhat, had an appetite stimulant (Periactin) and ate some Royal Canin convalescence foods and didn't isolate myself. I joined Meowmie on the bed at bedtime and tussled with Castle for Position Number 1, like I do every night. I was still quiet-ish but not like the night before.

This morning, well, I didn't fancy a big breakfast and ignored the cat food Meowmie put out so she mixed up some Royal Canin convalescence food again, I refused to eat it from the bowl, only from Meowmie's fingers - it took almost an hour of finger-licking to eat the whole bowl up! Meowmie was a bit late for work as a result. Here I am this morning, enjoying my breakfast:



Tonight, well I didn't want any cat food so I had an appetite stimulant and then Meowmie went out and got some chicken for her dinner so she could do a chicken test with me. I passed with flying colours and ate up fair amount of it. For dessert I licked vanilla yoghurt off Meowmie's fingers. This is my Give-Me-The-Chicken-face, can you see the utter desperation in my eyes? Even when I am ill and refuse all other food I still get hungry for chicken! (Can you also see where Ben Vet stole my furs yesterday too!?!!)



So, I still feel quiet and I am still not 'myself'. I feel a bit wobbly on my feet too; tonight I have been stamping/shaking my back leg like Thumper the Rabbit and occasionally I sort of loose my balance, but only very occasionally. This is a new thing and we are a bit baffled as to why I am doing this. We'll ask Ben Vet on Sunday. At least I have eaten though, if only a small to average amount.

I've just settled down next to Meowmie and Castle on the sofa, I have spent a fair bit of time this evening on my own in the hallway, under my chair, but I fancy a stroke or two from Meowmie and a cuddle from Castle right now. Meowmie is fussing over me so much, she is worried, I can tell, specially when she has the occasional eye-leak ...one thing is for sure, she definitely loves me.

Night night...sleep tight xxx

Meezer Rule Wednesday

My rule today is...don't go off your food, don't do sick-ups throughout the night and don't be too quiet and aloof underneath designer chairs, otherwise you will get dragged to the Vet Place for a check-up.

As you can gather, I am not feeling any better today, Meowmie spoke to Ben Vet this morning and he wants to see me ASAP. I have an appointment for 4.45pm. Please wish me luck...we are a little worried and understandably Meowmie is scared that the Lymphoma thing is back...

I don't want to be all doom and gloom so here's an old picture of me in a pink neckerchief that Nurse Ann dressed me up in about a year ago, when I was discharged from an overnight stay at the Vet Place:



UPDATE: Ise back from seeing Ben Vet; i'se had my temperature taken, Ben Vet had a very thorough feel around me and I had some blood tests. Everything is normal, apart from one thing...my ALT levels (which are liver-related) are higher than they should be, but thankfully not to such a level that makes Ben Vet nervous or worried. He said that he knew Meowmie would google ALT levels as soon as she got home so he explained to her that there are hundreds of reasons why ALT levels can be raised and he did not want her to become alarmed from what she would find on the interweb cos it can be caused by something very simple right through to the worst case scenario i.e. the lymphoma is back and affecting my liver. HOWEVER, Ben Vet said that if this was the case, he would expect me to be a very sick kitty indeed, which currently I am not. Ben Vet also suggested that the raised ALT levels might also just be my natural state...and I might just being having a reaction to the prepulsid tablets - and he agreed that Meowmie should stop giving me the prepulsid tablet in case that was the cause.

Ben Vet gave me a Zantac injection a B12 injection and some Sub-Q flooids. Ben Vet is going to closely monitor my ALT levels now, and if I don't perk up within 24 hours to call him for another appointment, he will also carry out further blood tests too. He also said that if I am being a fussy eater that Meowmie can try and tempt me with anything she liked....bye bye exclusion diet! YAY!

Thank you ALL for your purrs and kind thoughts, it means so much. Paws crossed that my ALT levals are indicating nothing serious! xxxx

Under the Weather

I wonder where that saying comes from?

Anyway, I'm feeling under the weather tonight. Meowmie thought I seemed quiet this morning before she left for work and I didn't really have much interest in breakfast. Tonight I am not bothered about my dinner either. I have had a lick or two of yoghurt - which I enjoyed, but Meowmie doesn't want to give me too much of that on an empty tummy. I have also done two liquid sicks today - those are not my 'usual' constipation sicks (which consist of barely digested food).

Meowmie is worried and is going to stop giving me the Prepulsid tablet in case it is making me feel ill. She will also call Ben Vet tomorrow to seek some advice...I have an appointment booked for Sunday but will go sooner if need be. For now I am happy to sit quietly under my Harry Bertoia designer chair, surveying Castle and Meowmie going about our home.

This is our chair - Castle and I have had this since we were kittens! Meowmie J had it at her house, then when she got allergic to us and we got sent to live with Meowmie L, the chair came with us. Isn't Meowmie L lucky - two gorgeous cats AND a designer chair all in one day!