I have a question about my Midnight again...

We've decided to talk to a friend of the family who is a vet. The mass is buried in her liver and galbladder, but we want to try to get it removed as much as possible so that it can releive some of the pain, and get her to eat on her own at least a little. Hopefully this can make her life a little longer...

But I'm scared she won't make it out of surgery! The vet said there's a risk she won't... She's 12 years old and I don't know if we should put her through that....

I'm so confused. I don't know what to do! Should we have the surgery and at least TRY to help her, and if she dosent make it at least know we tryed to help? Should we wait and put her down?

My best friend came down yesterday to help console me, only to find the next day, that her miniature poodle has breast cancer. Her dog is 13 and she wants to go through with the surgery before she leaves for college. What is GOING ON HERE? This is crazy... first my kitty now her dog? It's too much for me to deal with...

We are both in such crazy emotional states right now... I've been habing flu-like symptoms... I feel cold but I'm sweating, my stomach is in knots, my legs are like jell-o, and I feel out of my body most of the time, not to mention I had to leave work because I couldn't stop crying.

What should I do for my Middy? Do you think the surgery is a good idea? Do any of you have older pets who made it through surgery? Would it be inhumane to put her through it? What if she comes out alright?

I need some kind of comfort... I just want to help our beautiful Middy!

Some one please help me >_< Im so sorry to open all of these topics... I'm so sorry!

Noriko,

Let me begin by saying that I'm so sorry to hear about Midnight's condition and the turmoil you're experiencing. I recently went through a similar situation with my 18 year old tabby, Neko. Perhaps you can derive something from my experience.

In the span of six weeks Neko was diagnosed with everything from asthma to pneumonia to a possible ruptured diaphragm to a collapsed left lung lobe to possible lung cancer. She had five sets of chest x-rays, an ultrasound, a CT scan and finally underwent surgery once it was confirmed that the lung lobe was collapsed (by ultrasound) and that there was no problem visible on CT with either the other lung or the lymph nodes.

The ONLY reason I agreed to the surgery was to remove the collapsed part of her lung to help her breathe easier and because the CT scan saw no other indications of tumor in the other lung. Neither the radiologist or surgeon had any idea a tumor was outside the lung and had wrapped itself around the artery that supplied blood to both lungs until he opened her up and saw what the CT did not show.

Neko was under anesthesia from 11:15 until 1:45 when the surgeon came out to the waiting room to tell me what he found inside her. He explained what he saw and said it was too risky to try cutting the tumor off of the artery because there were so many "tentacles." He said he could remove the whole left lung and not just the collapsed part, but that he wasn't comfortable doing that to a cat who was 18 years old because he wasn't sure she'd be able to survive the trauma during or after surgery. The third option, and the one I chose because the others sounded so barbaric, was to put her down while she was still on the operating table.

The decision to have Neko put down was one I wanted to avoid at all costs for as long as possible. (You can read my original post under the heading "My California Kitty," if you're interested in more details.) I gave my consent because I had exhausted all possible avenues of treatment and, in the end, what was wrong with her was much worse than anything any of the vets who saw her ever anticipated or envisioned.

Obviously, no two situations are alike and I can't tell you what to do. If you choose to pursue surgery for Midnight, I would definitely seek a second opinion and suggest asking questions like:

What are the risks and benefits of surgery?

Is there a chance Midnight might die during surgery?

What are the alternatives to surgery (chemo, radiation, something else?), their benefits and risks?

How much will the surgery cost?

What is Midnight's prognosis if I decide against surgery? How much time is there with and without surgery?

How soon can Midnight come home after surgery?

How long will it take Midnight to recover from surgery?

What kind of special home care will Midnight need after surgery?

I know that you're in a very difficult and painful situation, Noriko, and sometimes you just have to go with your best instincts. Get as much information as you can before you make any big decisions and then take it one step at a time. Put yourself in Midnight's position (is quantity of life more important than quality of life?).

Please know that you and Midnight are in the thoughts and prayers.

Blessings,
Patti

I'm sorry to hear about Midnight -- very sorry.

I agree with Patti and I agree with what Kathleen said in a previous post to you. I had to make that decision about my little Hannah. I decided not to put her thru surgery for her teeth because she was almost 16 and had a severe heart murmur. Now, I realize, like Kathleen said, when the alternative is euthanasia, maybe the thing to do is go ahead with the surgery -- because, of course, with euthanasia, they will surely be dead! But, see, I still am not sure that's what I would have done -- I didn't want Hannah to suffer or not make it after surgery either. It's such a hard, hard decision!

I would definitely get a second opinion. Do all the research you can. Read about euthanasia.

What will Midnight's quality of life be after the surgery? If you can "buy" more good time with Midnight, even if it's only a short time, then I think it would definitely be the thing to do. It will be so important to you to know you did try everything. The guilt after euthanasia is practically unbearable sometimes.

I will say a prayer for you and Midnight and for your friend and her little dog.
Marcia

Thank you for your support. My Dad says there's nothing we can do as far as surgery, but Middy should have a few weeks left with us if we keep feeding her

One of her eyes has gook in it and we don't know why... it also seems that it hurts her to keep her eye open all the way like it's irritated. There was red on the bottom of it before, but It never bothered her and the vet just said it was discolouration... huh...
Whats killing me is that she's SO DEPRESSED. Her golden eyes look away when I try to rub her chin, and she always sits under the bed and under benches...

BUT she played with her favorite red ribbon today and purred so loud! Then I kissed her and she batted my face... she's a bit grumpy since she doesn't feel well...

So we still have our Middy for now...

But I hate this waiting... you know what I mean? Waiting for that day... it's the most terrible thing in the world...