Evaluation of Betty

I wouldn't normally bug everyone with news of minor TED visits, but I
know that some of you follow the group like a soap opera. Also,
everyone was so nice in sending purrs for the last treatment and
certainly deserve to know what the result was!

Betty's cancer was growing around the time of the treatment last
month, but a couple of weeks afterwards, it stopped, then seemed to
physically flatten a bit.

Betty's oncologist measured the growth today, and he says that the
tumor has retreated about a centimeter since last time. He thinks
that we're learning a lot about what works and doesn't work in Betty's
case, and that we should see how she progresses with the experimental
Gemzar treatment she's receiving. His hope (and this sounds like a
wild hope to me) is that they'll be able to shrink the tumor enough to
make surgical removal possible.

Betty was at the oncology center all day getting her second dose, and
a third dose is scheduled for next month. Right now, she's standing
in her usual "I want attention" pose on her hind legs with one paw on
my knee, and the other on my arm.

So thank you everyone for all your purrs! They definitely did
something!

Renewed, INCREASED IN VOLUME purrs for Betty's continued improvement. I'm
*SO* glad she's made some positive progress.

And yes, Tak, I for one would like to keep updated on Betty's progress if
you don't mind posting about it. Not only because you and Betty mean so
much to me, but also for the information that I (heaven forbid) might need
in the future.

Tell me, does the treatment make her as ill as cancer treatments do human
patients? How does she handling the treatment itself?

Hugs,

CatNipped

"Takayuki" wrote in message
...
I wouldn't normally bug everyone with news of minor TED visits, but I
know that some of you follow the group like a soap opera. Also,
everyone was so nice in sending purrs for the last treatment and
certainly deserve to know what the result was!

Betty's cancer was growing around the time of the treatment last
month, but a couple of weeks afterwards, it stopped, then seemed to
physically flatten a bit.

Betty's oncologist measured the growth today, and he says that the
tumor has retreated about a centimeter since last time. He thinks
that we're learning a lot about what works and doesn't work in Betty's
case, and that we should see how she progresses with the experimental
Gemzar treatment she's receiving. His hope (and this sounds like a
wild hope to me) is that they'll be able to shrink the tumor enough to
make surgical removal possible.

Betty was at the oncology center all day getting her second dose, and
a third dose is scheduled for next month. Right now, she's standing
in her usual "I want attention" pose on her hind legs with one paw on
my knee, and the other on my arm.

So thank you everyone for all your purrs! They definitely did
something!

On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:21:47 -0500, Takayuki wrote:

I wouldn't normally bug everyone with news of minor TED visits, but I
know that some of you follow the group like a soap opera. Also,
everyone was so nice in sending purrs for the last treatment and
certainly deserve to know what the result was!

Please, please keep us posted on how Betty's doing! We're all
very concerned about Betty and how she's getting along. Especially when
the news sounds positive - there have been enough Rainbow Bridge
announcements recently here and in RPCC that I NEED to hear positive news
when it's available!

Betty's oncologist measured the growth today, and he says that the tumor
has retreated about a centimeter since last time. He thinks that we're
learning a lot about what works and doesn't work in Betty's case, and
that we should see how she progresses with the experimental Gemzar
treatment she's receiving. His hope (and this sounds like a wild hope
to me) is that they'll be able to shrink the tumor enough to make
surgical removal possible.

We're going to crank up the purr volume and frequency, and get even more
serious on the human-side meditations as well. It would be SO WONDERFUL if
they were able to shrink that bugger and remove it surgically.

Dan

Dan M wrote:
On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 18:21:47 -0500, Takayuki wrote:

I wouldn't normally bug everyone with news of minor TED visits, but I
know that some of you follow the group like a soap opera. Also,
everyone was so nice in sending purrs for the last treatment and
certainly deserve to know what the result was!


I like to know how Betty is doing and I will keep my four purring for
her!

I also like your stories like the one with "betty the rapper." It's
nice to see her being /a cat/ as well as a patient.

--Fil

Takayuki wrote:
Betty's oncologist measured the growth today, and he says that the
tumor has retreated about a centimeter since last time. He thinks

That sounds great!

Gemzar treatment she's receiving. His hope (and this sounds like a
wild hope to me) is that they'll be able to shrink the tumor enough to
make surgical removal possible.

Well, then that's what we'll be purring for!

So thank you everyone for all your purrs! They definitely did
something!

We'll keep at it!!!

--
Victor M. Martinez
Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM)
Send your spam he
Email me he

"CatNipped" wrote:

Renewed, INCREASED IN VOLUME purrs for Betty's continued improvement. I'm
*SO* glad she's made some positive progress.

And yes, Tak, I for one would like to keep updated on Betty's progress if
you don't mind posting about it. Not only because you and Betty mean so
much to me, but also for the information that I (heaven forbid) might need
in the future.

Tell me, does the treatment make her as ill as cancer treatments do human
patients? How does she handling the treatment itself?

Thank you for the purrs, Catnipped! None of the treatments have had a
really adverse effect on her. For a couple of weeks after her other
chemotherapy drug, Carboplatin, she threw up about once every day or
so, but was otherwise fine. She played and cuddled and ate like she
always did, except that I'd step in vomit more frequently than usual.
She's lost about half a pound of weight, not very noticible, but
she was slightly chubby before, and now looks a bit more sleek and
athletic.

The Gemzar doesn't seem to cause noticible side effects either. She
threw up three times during the four weeks since that treatment, which
is maybe just a slight increase.

On Tue 13 Dec 2005 06:21:47p, Takayuki wrote in
rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
):

Betty's oncologist measured the growth today, and he says that
the tumor has retreated about a centimeter since last time. He
thinks that we're learning a lot about what works and doesn't
work in Betty's case, and that we should see how she progresses
with the experimental Gemzar treatment she's receiving. His
hope (and this sounds like a wild hope to me) is that they'll be
able to shrink the tumor enough to make surgical removal
possible.

Tak, this is most impressive! Kudos to you for aggressively treating
her and hoping you're adding years to her life!

More purrs forthcoming!!

--
Cheryl

On Tue 13 Dec 2005 06:31:43p, CatNipped wrote in
rec.pets.cats.anecdotes ):


Tell me, does the treatment make her as ill as cancer treatments
do human patients? How does she handling the treatment itself?


Back when Shadow was being treated for IBD, which can turn into
lymphoma, I did a lot of reading about chemotherapy for cats and the
literature all says that cats tolarate chemotherapy very well, with
little side-effects.

--
Cheryl

Takayuki wrote:
I wouldn't normally bug everyone with news of minor TED visits, but I
know that some of you follow the group like a soap opera. Also,
everyone was so nice in sending purrs for the last treatment and
certainly deserve to know what the result was!

Betty's cancer was growing around the time of the treatment last
month, but a couple of weeks afterwards, it stopped, then seemed to
physically flatten a bit.

Betty's oncologist measured the growth today, and he says that the
tumor has retreated about a centimeter since last time. He thinks
that we're learning a lot about what works and doesn't work in Betty's
case, and that we should see how she progresses with the experimental
Gemzar treatment she's receiving. His hope (and this sounds like a
wild hope to me) is that they'll be able to shrink the tumor enough to
make surgical removal possible.

Betty was at the oncology center all day getting her second dose, and
a third dose is scheduled for next month. Right now, she's standing
in her usual "I want attention" pose on her hind legs with one paw on
my knee, and the other on my arm.

So thank you everyone for all your purrs! They definitely did
something!

Wooo hooo! Go, Betty! She's a feisty one. Persia is sending renewed,
extra strong holiday season purrs for Betty and for you.

Jill

"Takayuki" wrote in message
...
I wouldn't normally bug everyone with news of minor TED visits, but I
know that some of you follow the group like a soap opera. Also,
everyone was so nice in sending purrs for the last treatment and
certainly deserve to know what the result was!

Betty's cancer was growing around the time of the treatment last
month, but a couple of weeks afterwards, it stopped, then seemed to
physically flatten a bit.

Betty's oncologist measured the growth today, and he says that the
tumor has retreated about a centimeter since last time. He thinks
that we're learning a lot about what works and doesn't work in Betty's
case, and that we should see how she progresses with the experimental
Gemzar treatment she's receiving. His hope (and this sounds like a
wild hope to me) is that they'll be able to shrink the tumor enough to
make surgical removal possible.

Betty was at the oncology center all day getting her second dose, and
a third dose is scheduled for next month. Right now, she's standing
in her usual "I want attention" pose on her hind legs with one paw on
my knee, and the other on my arm.

So thank you everyone for all your purrs! They definitely did
something!

Good news Tak. We would like to have had the vet tell you that the cancer
was gone, just disappeared, but, in place of that we will be happy for Betty
and you for this wonderful piece of information.
May the visit next month bring even better news!!! Never underestimate the
power of the purr and the power of the love that emanates from this group.
Charleen
Mr. Pumpkin
Aggie Marble
Victor Velcro