Thirsty Thursday Menu.....

Glad you are feeling better!!

I hope you continue to feel okay.

Good Morning and happy Friday-eve! For some reason this "short" week seems like a long one. We should hit 100 here today...blah.

QOTD: COFFEE, water and occasionally I might have an unsweetened iced tea or this coconu****er I found at Walmart.

Time since surgery: 4 years

B: SF latte, eggbeaters, ½ an orange and 2 turkey sausage links

L: Albacore lettuce wraps and baby carrots

S: Jalapeno chicken chips, carbmaster yogurt and an iced latte bar.

D: Buddig ham pack, low carb pita, spinach salad with skinnygirl balsamic dressing/crumbled bleu cheese/pecans, sliced fruit, and 2 squares dark chocolate

ES: Homemade Greek yogurt with SF syrup and ¼ cup fiber cereal

E: 6 miles ran this morning and 40 mins of elliptical at lunch

V/W: On track

Totals: Cals:1275 Protein:108 Carbs:100 Fat:54

Have a great one!

Mornin' All!

Well my vet consulted with an oncologist, and he thinks my kitty's tumor is likely to come back. He'd have to see her first, but he said treatments can include (more) surgery, radiation. and/or chemo. I'm not sure we're going to pursue any of this. If she was 10 years old, I might at least consider it, but she's 19 and has other health issues. I just can't see putting her through some kind of radical treatment given her age/health status. Plus if something like radiation would theoretically give her two more years of life, at her age, she could die in four months of something completely unrelated. I don't think I've ever not treated a pet for some kind of ailment in the past - we've had several who've had surgeries, one who did chemo, etc - BUT - they were much younger and were otherwise healthy. Plus I was reading that these tumors are usually localized - only about 10% metastasize. So I'm guessing if it comes back, they could drain it if it becomes painful or something (??). I'm not sure - but I'm thinking radical treatments like that on a cat her age just doesn't sound right. It would be really tough on her, I'm sure - and she's frail. Not sure I want to put her through that...

not much on the agenda today. I'm meeting with our estate attorney this afternoon to ask him a few questions I have re: my trust documents. A lot of it is just "boiler plate", but the legal language is a bit hard to follow in parts. I want to make sure I understand everything before we sign the final documents. Other than that, I'm having dinner with a neighbor - and also need to do a few odds & ends. Ah - retired life!

QOTD: I drink coffee in the morning and have my protein shake as a mid-morning snack. After that, it's usually ice water or Crystal Light the rest of the day. I sometimes drink hot tea in the evenings when the weather gets cold.

3 years 3 months out:

B: homemade Greek yogurt with fresh raspberries

MS: coffee with half & half, Miralax/protein chocolate latte shake

L: deli turkey slices with string cheese, strawberries

AS: protein pumpkin pie or L&F yogurt

D: meeting a friend. Chili if we go to the bar & grill up the street, 2 small tacos if we go to the Mexican place a few streets in the other direction

Word on the street is that retirees wonder how they had time to work a full time job!!

Oh no! So sorry to hear about your kitty, hugs to you.

we did have another cat with cancer once. We did opt to do chemo - but she was 10 years old and had no other health issues. We got another three years out of her (without treatment, they gave her two months). With this cat, it's a completely different story. This cancer is not particularly deadly, although she could be in pain if/when the tumor comes back (which it likely will, but it could be weeks or it could be a year or more - there's really no way of knowing). But she's 19 years old and has other health issues. Even if doing chemo or radiation can keep these tumors at bay for 2-3 years, is she really going to live 2-3 more years? At age 19? With other health issues? I kind of doubt it. Like I said, she could die in four months of some completely unrelated issue. Plus I was thinking about myself. If I had cancer at age 40, would I opt for the treatment? Absolutely!! Now, if I was 90, had arthritis, chronic G/I issues, on blood pressure meds, and felt like crap half the time, would I want to be on chemo to bide me another 2-3 years? I don't think so. I think I'd rather be kept comfortable and be left alone.

we're not yet at a place where we need to decide to treat or euthanize. It's more treat or wait & see. I'm thinking I'd rather wait and see. That treatment just seems too radical for an elderly cat with other health issues...

I'm sorry to read about your kitty. I think your approach is the correct one, and I wish her a comfortable and well-loved old age.

I think you're wise, Trish, in deciding not to put your 19 year old kitty through chemo and radiation treatments. That would be so hard on her. You are making the loving choice.