Mozart's Battle Against Fibrosarcoma Options

[M.O.B]

Hello, I cannot begin to express how happy I am to have found this site.

We found a lump in the summer of last year but were told by the vet that it was his microchip. I have blamed myself ever since, as I trusted the vet's advice. When we realised, by around autumn of that year, that his lump had not gone away we took him(and our other kit, Oscar) to the vets. We saw a different vet, who during his check up of Mozart said that a biopsy was warranted as he thought that it was a tumour. The next week, Mozart after he had his biopsy we received a call from the vets informing us to bring Mopey to the vets. My heart was filled with dread as I had been researching the different types of cancerous and non-cancerius tumours on cats. I had come across fibrosarcoma but was told by my family that I should not be pessimistic etc. We meet a different vet, who introduced himself as the fibrosarcoma specialist. From there, our journey with fighting this aggressive form of cancer has consisted of four operations, alternative treatment (spider venom) and quarticine (sp?). Sadly, each time the cancer has regrown and has now spread over his shoulder to around his body. We have been told by the vet that there isn't anymore that can be done but just to make him comfortable.

We all love Mozart. He is our first larger furry friend, and his character is very unique. He is part of the family. We have had him since he was four months old. He has reached his eighth birthday but I feel that this is too young for him to leave us. It is too soon. I love our other two cats, Oscar and Barnaby too but I have a close bond with Mozart that I am unsure if that will be able to be formed again with any other cats. He was there when I wss going through a very rough patch in life, he was my only friend. It pai ns me that I cannot do anything for him. For Mum and Dad, it is losing a child. I dont know how mum, in particular, will handle this when he does go. As I know that she is dreading it. I am currently away from home at university, wont return till July. I cannot go home, although i really wish to do so. I dont know if i will be back in time. I want to say goodbye but i dont know if i would make him feel distressed.

It is hard to talk about it with people as they dont really understand. In their eyes, he is just a cat but he isnt just a cat! I cant believe that this has happened to us. If one good thing that has come out of this experience it is the awarenes of fibrosarcoma. Because of Mozart, Oz and Barny will be receiving their vaccs in their arms. I plan to raise awareness with other people because some vets still vaccinate in the shoulders despite knowing about this cancer, example of this occurred when the vet tried to fob me off when Barny was receiving his first vacinations.

I know that Mozart is not dead yet. But having to watch him degenerate in his health is so very difficult. We are taking it a day at a time now but he is in pain, he doesnt eat as much as he used to do and he no longer goes outside on the balcony. He just sits, sleeps and receives hugs.


Thank you for allowing me to vent.

[moon_beam]

Hi, M.O.B., please permit me to offer you my sincerest condolences on your precious Mozart's diagnosis of Fibrosarcoma. I do know so well from first hand experience how devastated your heart is feeling.

Your precious Mozart is now in the stage of pain management, and there are medications that can help him with this so that he can continue to enjoy a good quality of life until there is no doubt that it is time to gently and compassionately release him from his frail, failing, painful physical body. Chronic pain is debilitating to the body and spirit, but if it can be properly managed there is the possibility that your beloved Mozart's quality of life can be comfortably extended for days, or perhaps weeks. Your parents, or you, may want to talk to Mozart's veterinary care provider regarding offering him this opportunity.

When my beloved beautiful kitty girl Abbygayle was diagnosed with Fibrosarcoma in July 2009, I specifically asked my veterinary care provider if it was vaccine induced. She assured me that the biopsy was specifically tested for this and the results were negative - - and she gladly gave me a copy of the biopsy results for me to read the results for myself. From the results of the biopsy, it was suspected that the cancer had more of a genetic source. My beautiful Abbygayle endured three surgeries to remove the tumors, but by December 2009, after the last surgery, she was telling me in no uncertain terms that she had had "enough", and the tumors were returning within days after the last surgery. And because there was no more muscle mass for her doctor to work with, no further surgeries could be done. So it was a matter of keeping my beautiful baby girl as comfortable and happy as possible for as long as possible. By March 2010 she had stopped eating and the pain management medications were no longer effective, so on Monday, March 15, 2010, my beautiful baby girl Abbygayle's struggle ended under the compassionate care of her veterinary care provider while being held in my arms. My beautiful baby girl joined the angels at the tender age of 6 years and 10 months.

Please permit me try to reassure you that what you are feeling is very normal when you share with us: "I know that Mozart is not dead yet. But having to watch him degenerate in his health is so very difficult." This is known as Anticipatory Grief, and it is a very painful journey all of its own. Your mind "knows" that your precious Mozart's earthly journey is drawing to a close, yet your heart still hopes there can be a "miracle" that will restore him to good health. Your heart is trying to reconcile the joy of still having Mozart with you and the sorrow of knowing his earthly journey is quickly coming to an end. Please know that your precious Mozart knows you love him, - - even if you are physically unable to be there with him when his sweet Living Spirit transitions home to the angels. Love is not restricted to the physical laws of time and space - - or geographical distance. And if you are able to be home with your precious Mozart before he transitions from his earthly journey, the most important thing is that you be yourself with him - - hold him, cry if your heart needs to, and tell him how much you love him.

Thank you so much for sharing your precious Mozart with us, M.O.B., and this wonderful picture of your handsome boy. Please know your precious Mozart, you, and your parents are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how things are going for your precious Mozart, and you.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

[M.O.B]

Hi, moon_beam, thank you for your kind response. I have read it many times, and your words were such a comfort to me. So, thank you for taking the time to respond to me as I appreciate it.

I am sorry that you have had to go through this with your own little kit. Mozart has endured several operations but like your Abbygayle, there was not enough healthy muscle mass for the vet to work with. Luckily, the vet who is caring for Mozart is truely doing his best to fight the cancer, to the extent that he has also gone out of his way to research alternative medication, such as the spider venom. In addition, the vet plans to oversee the care of our other two cats, when it comes to giving them their vaccinations as he does not want us to go through the situation again. It is a blessing that the vet is compassionate and understands how we feel.

I wish that I was at home with him but I spoke to my Mum, who has said that he is in my sister's room sleeping but he has eaten today, which is good.