Day three

Houston after his first chemotherapy treatment

We got the results back this morning and Houston has lymphoma. This a very common form of cancer in cats and apparently responds really well to chemotherapy.

I then spoke to the medicine specialist about what we can do - our options.

She said there were three options:

* Chemo - a 70-80% success rate; a survival rate of 18 months at best, and 7-8 month average

* One drug - 2 week survival rate

* and euthanasia

The decision took two hours. It was NOT an easy one. The second option was definitely out; and there was no way I was making the decision to euthanise. However the chemo is going to cost us $7k approx. I know that that is a lot of money, but it wasn't my upper limit of what he was worth to me.

The big issue was how he was going to handle the chemo, if there was going to be any discomfort or pain.

Both Doctors informed us that there are very few side effects with chemo in cats; so hopefully he can have a good quality of life for the time he has left.

After talking to both Chris and my Mum (she is giving us some money toward the therapy) we decided to go with the chemo. I will gladly give up my New York trip to have Houston with us for another year, and of course there is a chance it will be longer than a year!

After telling the hospital what we had decided it all moved very quickly and Houston had his first chemo treatment at midday. The Doctor said he handled it all very well.

He will now have the treatment once a fortnight in hospital and once a fortnight at home for 17 weeks; and then that will change to once a month. That is all dependent on him responding well to the treatment - which we should know after two or three treatments.

I asked the specialist during my visit this afternoon how we should expect Houston's death to eventuate. After this huge shock I felt like I should be prepared. She said that they will be monitoring him very closely and will not hesitate to tell us that treatment isn't working, that Houston is uncomfortable and that euthanasia is the only answer. I found this information really comforting. Of course it's not something I want to think about or want to happen anytime soon; but it's nice to know that they have a plan AND that they have Houston's best interests as their top priority.