Animals don't tolerate extended treatment, and they don't understand what is
going on. Sometimes, letting them go is the kindest treatment. Sorry to hear
about you cat. My cat was my buddy during treatment. Alex

I'm sorry to hear that, clifto and I can relate.
I've a similar but different, in some ways, situation here, not enough money for
diagnostics even (minimum $1500- $2,000). Vet thinks it's cancer.

I was thinking that lymphoma and chemo doesn't sound too bad (for your cat) here

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1446&S=1&SourceID=42
but when I look at the survival statistics and disease-free interval, it hardly
warrants putting a cat through that unfortunately.
My thoughts are with you and your kitty.
J

I am so sorry, clifto. I truly understand about your relationship with
kitties as ours is similar.  Figaro was Sock's special cancer buddy
until he got cancer too & died.

Figaro tolerated a number of surgeries well.  We took him to CSU vet
hospital - best in state.  Took human chemo meds.  I didn't understand
or wasn't told that the cancer would continue to recur (or maybe no one
knew).  From that experience, even if we had the $$, unless prognosis
was excellent, I would not do this again.

Give kitty your love; he trusts your decision.  If prolonging life, not
cure is the expected outcome, I'd make quality priority #1.

My thoughts are with you as you go through this.

(((clifto))) (((precious kitty)))
Fig

I am really sorry to hear your news Clifto.  To many of us a pet is part of
our family and therefore their illness affects us just as badly.

I think that even if you had the available funds, it would still come down
to whether it would be a kind decision to go ahead with treatment.

Warm Hugs

Alayne

I understand completely; we have two elderly pets out of our four -- a
Shepherd/Golden-Retriever mix who is 13 (very old for a large dog) and
a cat who is 15 -- and, when Bob was diagnosed with head-neck cancer,
that was one of the big thing I added to the worries -- what would we
do? We love our pets dearly and they are our good friends. I'm awfully
sorry. If I were you, I'd talk to the vet honestly and check into
whatever you can do for palliative care and payment options.  Most vets
are pretty understanding folks and he may have a direction for you to
take to ensure that, at the very least, you have an option for your pet
that isn't terribly expensive but would ensure his comfort for the rest
of his life. It isn't death so much as pain, I'm sure, that you worry
about for him.

And, no, I'm a librarian and Bob's a schoolteacher, so there are no
Testarossas here, although I did see one once.

clifto,

If you live anywhere near a university that has a vet school, you could
inquire there.  Our vet referred us there for Figaro's & a previous kitty's
surgeries. I believe they have a sliding-scale fee structure.

The larger decision - to treat or not - that's the tough one.

Fig