Otis' Test Results

Hello CL Friends,

Since so many of you have expressed such caring and concern for my Otis, I decided to update you all on his test results.

The vet called yesterday morning with the bad news. The mass that was removed on Monday is cancerous. I guess I knew this in my head, but I did not want to believe this in my heart.

Yesterday I spent the entire day in bed with Otis, cuddling and completely numb.

I can't remember if I posted there were two smaller masses on the way to the large on, and those were benign and called "hyperplasia." I am learning more about cancer than I ever want to know.

The vet said the next step would be to see an Oncologist. She gave me the names of some websites. I don't know how far we are going to go with this. I still have to talk this over with my sons and figure out what we will do from here, if anything at all.

One common place for this type of cancer to spread is to the lumbar lymph nodes. We can only get a look at those with a scan, so that might be a next step if there is anyway we can afford that. It is otherwise impossible to tell if they got it all with just removing the mass. It is all guesswork until we can see more inside of him.

On top of everything else, his incision site is not looking good. I have an appointment in the morning for the vet to take a look at it. My short term goal and hope was that he would heal and recovery quickly and return to the Otis he was before surgery for as long as possible, and now this.

Needless to say, I am trying very hard to stay positive around Otis, but I am very discouraged today.

Then graceful me took a spill in my house last night: literally. I had half a cup of coffee and a glass of water in my hand. I hit the end of my end table at the edge of the loveseat, flew OVER the table, hit the wall and landed on the floor. Glad my mother did not name me Grace. I think I hurt myself MORE trying to prevent the fall, only making it worse. I am sure if someone actually recorded me or saw me, the fall would have been a candidate for Funniest Videos. I have never experienced such a "complicated" fall. I am very sore today. Getting old is hell.

Well I just wanted to post an update for everyone. We are not giving up hope.