Hi, Kel, thank you for so very, very much for sharing with us how your precious Lancelot's oncology check up and treatment went on Monday. My heart is soaring with joy at your WONDERFUL news. I know next month will be a very special celebration indeed for your and your precious Lance-a-versary. Hope goes a very long way when faced with an experience with overwhelming odds not in your favor - - even when our hearts are struggling to prepare for the worst case scenario.

I am hoping and praying that the ultrasound will provide you and your precious Lancelot with even more wonderful news - - that he is now in full remission.

Thank you again so very much for sharing your wonderful news with us, Kel. I hope today is treating you, your precious Lancelot and Karma, and your husband kindly, my friend, and please know I look forward to sharing with you how you and your precious Lancelot are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Kel, this is great news indeed, and I know you must be so happy! I'm so glad that Lancelot is doing so well and hopefully everything will go well with his ultrasound in 3 weeks. I'm glad your oncologist told you that story about the kitty who's still around with FelV after eight years. That is encouraging and it just goes to show you that cats with FeLV can live long lives and that it doesn't necessarily mean they only have a few months left.

Please give your sweet kitty boy a hug from me!

Danny's Mom and moon_beam, thank you so much. It's so helpful to know that you're both rooting for Lancelot. Last week was another good week. I think giving him the Cerenia ahead of time, then for three days around the time of chemo, has been super helpful. I stopped by our primary vet's to pick up some meds, and I got a chance to show him pictures of Lancelot from earlier in the day - he was thrilled to see the chubby kitty!

I did have a disheartening experience last week, though. I was at work, and a pharmacist I'm friends with asked how Lancelot was doing, and I answered. The nursing supervisor asked what I was talking about, and I explained that I had a cat with cancer, and when she heard I was doing chemo, her reaction was to laugh. Then, the next question is always, "How much does that cost?" (Often said sarcastically.) My reply, since I have chosen not to have children, is the standard: "Less than a kid."

I don't understand why it's so hard for some people to grasp that I would care enough about my pets to give them chemo for a very treatable cancer. I pray that she doesn't have any pets, because they deserve better. I'm hurt, and I'm offended, and I'm angry at that reaction. Sigh.

Kel, I am so sorry about your disheartening experience at work last week. Shame on this nursing supervisor! She is in the caring profession and should have shown more concern to begin with, but she obviously has never known the unconditional love and the joy and comfort that a fur kid brings. For her to laugh was just so cruel!!! I can imagine how that must have made you feel. I mean there you were, excitedly talking about Lancelot's progress and then this woman stomped on your heart.

But good for you that you got a word in edgewise! Some people do not understand about the bond between a fur kid and a human. This woman should have at least kept her comment to herself. She has no tact. You have every right to be angry and offended at what she said. Please know that you're among friends here and won't encounter such comments on LS. We all know how much love these little fur-covered angels give and they ask for so little in return.

I don't have kids either, and that's why Mindy and Shelley are my "girls". I hope Lance continues to do so well.

Hi, Kel, thank you so very much for sharing with us how your precious Lancelot and you are doing. Please let me add my deepest sympathies in the crude and rude response you received from your nursing supervisor last week. I know first hand how cruel this is, and you have the right to feel hurt and angry. Having experienced similar situations with employers is one of the many reasons why I stopped "sharing" my private business with co-workers and supervisory staff. Perhaps sometime there will be an opportunity for you to tell your supervisor how much her comments hurt you, if this would be beneficial to you. And I wish to emphasize what DannysMom has shared with you: You ARE among friends here who truly do understand what you are going through with your precious Lancelot.

I'm glad to know that your precious Lancelot is continuing to do well, and I agree with you that giving the Cerenia prior to the chemo is helpful. When my mom had chemo for non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, we finally were advised to give her a dose of her nausea medication prior to her treatments, and it did help lessen this post-chemo side effect.

I hope today is treating you, your precious Lancelot and Karma, and your husband kindly, my friend, and please know I look forward to sharing with you how you and your precious Lancelot are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Oh, Lancelot. This time, he ate some onions. Maybe. There may or may not have been onions on the plate he decided to climb into the kitchen sink to lick clean... the good news is, if there were, there were only tiny amounts. I'm still freaked out, of course, since I know they can cause hemolytic anemia in cats.

I talked to our oncologist's on-call vet, and she and I talked about the amount he might've had, and she was pretty sure it shouldn't be a problem, but she had us call a local veterinary hospital to be safe, since they have criticalists there. Talked to them, they think the same thing - he should be fine.

I can't get over this fear that now, we've started to win against the lymphoma, but I've gone and killed him with my own stupidity. I shouldn't have been lazy and left that plate there. I just wanted to watch the last ten minutes of a TV show with my husband. I'm not quite hysterical, but I keep bursting into tears because I can't stop worrying that I've killed him.

Monday, he sees the oncologist. He'll have his abdominal ultrasound and blood counts done - which would show anemia, if it were happening. And anemia would happen 3-7 days after ingestion, so it's in the right time frame to catch it.

But... if only I had been more careful. What will I do if we lose him, and this is why?

Kel, I'm sorry to hear this, but I think Lance will be okay, just as the two vets told you. I can so understand you worrying about him, but he'll be alright. You haven't killed him. We all make mistakes sometimes, please don't beat yourself up over it. I have accidentally left out rubber bands which Tina used to eat if she got a chance, and I think she ate two of them, but she lived to be 14 1/2 years. Please don't worry. I will keep you and Lance in my thoughts and prayers. I hope all goes well with his ultrasound. Please keep us updated.

Hugs,
DannysMom

Hi, Kel, please permit me to add my sincerest encouragement to DannysMom, and to your precious Lancelot's care providers that your precious boy will be okay. Along with DannysMom I do so understand how concerned you are - - which is a witness to your deep love for your precious boy. Just keep him under close observation - - check his gums occasionally if you can to make sure they are not losing their normal pink color. If they do, then you may want to consult his veterinary care providers again. Otherwise, try to relax and enjoy the weekend. I hope Monday's evaluation will bring very good news for your precious Lancelot, which I know will be very good news for you and your husband, too. Please know you, your precious Lancelot and Karma, and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers, my friend, and that I look forward to sharing with you how you and your precious Lancelot are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Hi, Kel, stopping by to let you know your precious Lancelot and you and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers today as your precious boy has his oncology check up. Hopefully the blood work will show there is no need to worry about his escapade on Friday licking the plates in the kitchen sink. Please know your precious Lancelot, and you and your husband are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I look forward to sharing with you how his medical check up went today.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Danny's Mom and moon_beam, thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts. His bloodwork today was fine, and the oncologist thinks his escapades are funny - but the last thing he needs. Naughty boy!

I got the best news I could have hoped for today. Sir Lancelot, the Naughty, is in FULL REMISSION!



I am so, so proud of my brave boy, who fights everything - even the neurologist's stethoscope - with determination and courage. My tough, sweet little warrior. I just want to scoop him up and hug him, but he's having none of that, LOL!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your good thoughts and prayers for our little boy. This is nothing short of miraculous, in my eyes.

Hi, Kel, words are so inadequate to express to you the sincere joy I am sharing with you in your WONDERFUL news that your precious Lancelot is in full remission. I know your and your husband's hearts are soaring, as is mine right along with you. God does listen to our prayers and answers them in the way He knows is best, and for now He has granted you and your precious Lancelot the gift of sharing more time together in your earthly journey. I know your precious Lancelot is also grateful to you and your husband for all the loving care you have given him through this crisis, and will continue to give him each and every day.

So - - when does he need to go back for a check up with his oncologist and primary care physician? I imagine he no longer needs chemo treatments at this time - - and hopefully never again.

Thank you again so very, very much for sharing your WONDERFUL news with us, Kel. I hope today is treating you, your precious Lancelot and Karma, and your husband kindly, my friend, and please know I look forward to sharing with you how you and your precious Lancelot are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Moon_beam, thank you for the reply! Lancelot continues to do well, and although we know remissions don't always last more than 6 months to a year with lymphoma, we have heard some success stories of cats with remissions lasting multiple years. With large cell lymphoma, which he has, we will continue the protocol of chemo for a year, at least, if not 18 months. That's what vet oncologists are seeing the most successful remissions with. For now, we're continuing to see the oncologist every three weeks. Since, at this point, Lance is tolerating the treatments well, his blood counts are good and he has only mild objections to being there, I'm glad to keep going, to give him the best chance of staying with us. He actually seems to really enjoy car rides; I drive, and my husband sits in back with Lance in his carrier. It's actually comforting to know we're having him seen by the expert and followed closely - and I feel better continuing to treat the lymphoma, since I know remissions don't always last.

I'm so deeply grateful for your support and prayers, moon_beam (and Danny's Mom, and I think Tom's Dad, too!). Lance has faced everything with a courage and feisty attitude that is what has gotten him this far. I'm so proud of him.

We took this picture Monday, the day we found out he is in remission.

Kel, that is a nice picture of Lance. It really shows off his beautiful blue eyes! I'm glad he's got this fighting spirit, but with a name like "Lancelot" that is to be expected! He is indeed a brave and courageous kitty "knight". We will keep him in thoughts and prayers that his remission will last and that you will have a few more years with him. I've heard that some cats with lymphoma continue to live for years, so this is not unheard of.

Hi, Kel, thank you so very much for sharing with us how your precious Lancelot and you are doing, and for this wonderful picture your handsome little boy. Your beloved Pippin and God knew what they were doing when they led little Lancelot to you, for they knew what his needs would be and that you and your husband would give him the love and care he needs to have as healthy and happy earthly journey as possible.

I'm so glad that your precious Lancelot will continue his follow up schedule with his oncologist and regular veterinary care provider as needed. Please continue to let us know how things go for him.

I hope today is treating your precious Lancelot, and you and your husband kindly, my friend. Please know each of you are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I look forward to knowing how your precious Lancelot and you are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Another brief update - we had our week 25 oncology appointment today, and everything went swimmingly. His physical exam is normal, his weight is stable, and his blood counts are "great," per the oncologist. She seems quite pleased with how he's doing and said we're on "cruise control" for the time being. We'll continue our treatments every three weeks, unless something changes. We also discussed the possibility of extending his protocol past a year, if he is still in remission then. (I can't believe we're thinking that far into the future! It used to be "tomorrow," then it was "next week.")

You know, it's funny. At first I wasn't sure about our oncologist - she was brilliant, obviously, but I wasn't so sure about her bedside manner. She was quite reserved. She has, in the six months we've known her, warmed up considerably. I have to wonder if at first, she didn't think Lance was going to make it. Either way, I'm so deeply appreciative to have an oncologist who is willing to fight for Lance, as we are. And one who has a sense of humor about Lance... being Lance! He's so naughty. He's the sweetest little snugglebug at home (usually, as long as you respect his grumbles), but he starts grumbling and hissing when we walk in the door to the oncologist. (Funny enough, he is chipper for the entire car ride, all 60 minutes of it, and then fine for the ride home.)

Thanks for listening, and for your kind thoughts.
Kel

Also, let me just add that April 23rd was our one-year Lance-a-versary! Hurray! I was just going back and reading my posts from when he first got sick, and how every week was a miracle. Every week still IS a miracle, but I just can't believe we've gotten this far. Next week is 26 weeks - half a year on chemo. Wow.

Hi, Kel, thank you so very, very much for sharing your and your precious Lancelot's WONDERFUL news with us. Your news is truly an answer to earnest prayer. I truly believe your beloved Pippin and God led Lancelot to you and your husband knowing that he would need your very special loving care, for in these very unsettled financial times anyone else may not have had the ability to fight for his life.

I share your thoughts about how time has passed "Also, let me just add that April 23rd was our one-year Lance-a-versary! Hurray! I was just going back and reading my posts from when he first got sick, and how every week was a miracle. Every week still IS a miracle, but I just can't believe we've gotten this far. Next week is 26 weeks - half a year on chemo. Wow." - - CONGRATULATIONS on your and your precious Lancelot's one year anniversary!! And what a whirlwind year it has been!! I am so very glad that you are now able to settle down into a more peaceful "cruise control" routine with his check ups and treatments. May this coming year, and all years forthcoming, give you and your precious Lancelot a long and healthy and happy earthly journey together.

Kel, my heart is soaring with yours with your WONDERFULLY good news. Thank you so very much for sharing it with us. I hope today is treating your precious Lancelot, and you and your husband kindly, my friend. Please know each of you are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I look forward to knowing how your precious Lancelot and you are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Kel, this is such wonderful news! Thanks for sharing that with us. We are rejoicing with you that Lance is doing so well. I had to chuckle at him hissing and grumbling when he walks in to the oncologist. Maybe he just wants to appear "macho", lol! It's nice that your oncologist takes Lance's grumbling in stride. My vet used to say about Tina that she has "spunk" and as long as she is so spunky that she's doing well. I think the same can be said for your Lance. He's a fighter. And I know all our prayers helped.

Hi, Kel, stopping by to say hello and to let you know you and your precious Lancelot are in my thoughts and prayers. If my calculations are correct your precious boy has his 3-week oncology visit tomorrow, and I hope and pray that everything will go okay. I know Mother's Day this year was particularly a blessed one with your precious Lancelot having received a WONDERFUL report of being in remission.

As always, my friend, I hope today is treating your precious Lancelot, and you and your husband kindly. Please know each of you are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I look forward to knowing how your precious Lancelot and you are doing.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

Moon_beam, thank you so much for thinking of us! Lance's appointment went wonderfully. Blood work is normal, including his liver and kidney function. His weight is up (again), and his exam is normal.

Hurray!