Woodstock's Story

I also recently learned that the reason his hair gets so soft is due to the cytoxan. And, although I've been charting his course for all of this time, I just got a look at his chart--his body temperature consistently runs between 98-99 degrees, sometimes as low as 97.8--vet says it's because he loses so much heat from not having much fur :-(

January 22nd - L-lysine is supposed to be an antiviral--it is an amino acid also taken by people with type A blood to help in the digestion of protein. News to me: it is used in the treatment of herpes eye infections, which both Woodstock and Cassidy have. Also, for upper respiratory infections formally called feline rhinotracheitis, now considered a herpes infection--so very useful for Cassidy snuffles. We'll see...

February 23rd - Elspar today. No plan at all about how we will proceed. Dr. Clark will call U of Pa about whether there are blood tests for cats like we have for people. With this round of chemo we will go past the 2 year mark. I have no idea of what is going on, and all I could do is cry. We probably won't give Wood the cytoxan anymore since the 2 year mark will be passed, and I hate having him get sick. Wood weighed 7#11ounces--less than last time, but I think last time was a fluke of overeating. He is happy and healthy, and he was in a good mood at the vet, unlike last time. I sprayed Feliway in his carrier and sprayed some Rescue Remedy on him, and he seemed pretty happy. He will have vincristine in 3 weeks, and I hope we will have a consultation with the U of Pa by then--Dr. Clark said we can make sure his kidneys are ok by doing an ultrasound and going to Philadelphia again for a biopsy. Then, if the cancer comes back, it is most likely that it will hit the central nervous system resulting in loss of control of rear legs and seizures...But maybe he is 'cured.'

February 28th - Woodstock's vet, Dr. Clark, talked to the U of PA today about Woodstock. From the U of PA chief vet oncologist: "She was very optimistic."

She said cats could get 'hooked' on the chemo. It is time to stop Woodstock's chemo--he's had 23 months (or he could complete this 'round' which he started last week, which would go until June). The original U of PA plan for the COP protocol called for him to have chemo for his kidney lymphoma for 1 1/2 - 2 years. We will also begin to wean him off of the prednisone--I'm going to wait to see the Dr. Clark in 3 weeks to discuss how to go about doing that.

It is time to 'restage' the cancer, and that seems to be done by blood work and ultrasound. Woodstock will have blood work once/month for awhile to check BUN and creatinine and he'll have kidney ultrasound once/month for awhile. Then it will be very 3 months. If anything is detected on the ultrasound or blood work, the U of PA will immediately FAX a rescue protocol to my vet. Woodstock does not have to go to the U of PA unless the ultrasound results are ever bad and he needs a biopsy. The vet said there are no 'tumor marker' blood tests for cats as there are for humans. She said that on dogs they sometimes do a bone marrow aspirate, but they don't do that on cats because they're too small.

I'm going to continue with the holistic meds originally prescribed for us, but after Woodstock is no longer using the pred, I will discontinue the Poly MVA, which is specifically to prevent effects of chemo.

Woodstock, the love of my life, is happy and healthy, and he intends to live a nice happy, healthy, long life. We'll keep you posted!

April 2nd - Woodstock's 'friend' on the Yahoo feline-lymphoma list, C.C. Klein, lost his battle with lymphoma today. We extend our condolences to his dad, Frank. We all miss C.C.

April 17th - Woodstock's last chemo was February 23, elspar. He has had 2 blood workups--completely normal and one ultrasound of his kidneys, normal. I have consulted by phone with Dr. Newkirk, Woodstock's holistic vet, who was very pleased with Woodstock's health status. He recommended dropping or cutting back on a number of the holistic meds: dropping tinkle tonic unless needed, cutting back on Phyllanthus dependent upon results of liver enzyme tests; dropping beta-thyme when prednisone is cut out; stay with PolyMVA once/every other day, stay with digestive enzymes, stay with the rest.

Now I monitor Woodstock very carefully, watching his litter box habits and eating and drinking. Last week he weighed 8#1ounce at his vet appointment. We hope we will stay this course and that the cancer is gone. Woodstock, my soul mate

April 22nd - Woodstock is more active than ever--he seems to never stop playing. He's really muscular and runs and runs and runs. Loves the warm spring sun. I'm going back to giving him tinkle tonic, maybe not daily, because as a neutered male he is more susceptible to urinary tract infections.

May 25th - What a miracle--Woodstock is 4 years old today. Last week he had a kidney ultrasound that showed that all was well. Here he is celebrating.

October 29th - So far, so good. Kidney ultrasound and blood work still normal, and Woodstock is thriving. One of his 'pals' who has also survived kidney lymphoma for 4 years has come out of remission, and we are praying for another very quick remission for Pat's Max.

December 2005 - All lab work and ultrasound still normal. Yea my boy. Here he is wearing his special collar made from him by Marty Hickox, who one of our cat rescue heros. Thank you Marty for the collar (and my matching bracelet!) and for all you do.