Praying ...
In the midst of everything else that has sucked mightily ... Mugwump the cat has a growth on the side of her head which appeared a week ago. Both Andy and I were hoping it was the result of a bite or scratch defending her territory. Despite being about 18 years old, with heart trouble, Mugwump is feisty when threatened.
As the lump has not responded to treatment, Andy took her to the vets this morning. I wish he'd waited for me ... But he I think he thought it would be kinder to leave me behind. And he may have been right. I'm really not very brave when Mugwump is suffering.
The vet says Mugwump does not have skin cancer - There is a form peculiar to black cats and we've been through that scare once before. So that is a relief. But they need to do a biopsy next Tuesday to see if the lump is another form of malignancy. If it is, the treatment will be radical. Because the root of the growth starts at the base of her ear, she will have to have her ear amputated when the lump is removed in an attempt to stem the spread of the malignancy.
I'm praying that the biopsy shows the lump is benign so that such a radical, maiming, and potentially life-threatening operation can be avoided. Mugwump is a very slight 2K in weight because she also has a thyroid condition despite having had one thyroid gland removed. Although this and her heart condition are controlled by drugs, a general anaesthetic, if necessary, carries a high risk of her dieing on the operating table ... And we would n't get the chance to say goodbye to her.
All that said, Mugwump has never enjoyed good health but her spirit has always pulled her through ... Here's hoping she spits a feline expletive at adversity, sticks two paws up at fate and comes through again
As the lump has not responded to treatment, Andy took her to the vets this morning. I wish he'd waited for me ... But he I think he thought it would be kinder to leave me behind. And he may have been right. I'm really not very brave when Mugwump is suffering.
The vet says Mugwump does not have skin cancer - There is a form peculiar to black cats and we've been through that scare once before. So that is a relief. But they need to do a biopsy next Tuesday to see if the lump is another form of malignancy. If it is, the treatment will be radical. Because the root of the growth starts at the base of her ear, she will have to have her ear amputated when the lump is removed in an attempt to stem the spread of the malignancy.
I'm praying that the biopsy shows the lump is benign so that such a radical, maiming, and potentially life-threatening operation can be avoided. Mugwump is a very slight 2K in weight because she also has a thyroid condition despite having had one thyroid gland removed. Although this and her heart condition are controlled by drugs, a general anaesthetic, if necessary, carries a high risk of her dieing on the operating table ... And we would n't get the chance to say goodbye to her.
All that said, Mugwump has never enjoyed good health but her spirit has always pulled her through ... Here's hoping she spits a feline expletive at adversity, sticks two paws up at fate and comes through again