[conspire] CABAL kitty

[Darlene Wallach]

Rick Moen wrote:
> Quoting Daniel Gimpelevich (daniel at gimpelevich.san-francisco.ca.us):
> 
>> /me does a spit-take
>>
>> Scruffy hurt his leg?
> 
> Hi, Daniel.  Thanks for inquiring, and my apologies for not having
> clearly explained, earlier.
> 
> About a month or two ago, we noticed a lump growing on Scruffy's
> left-front paw, had it examined and biopsied, and the results were
> ambiguous (if I recall correctly).  So, since it was growing rapidly and
> would have soon been a serious problem physically even if benign, we had
> surgery performed to cut it out.  (Strictly speaking, there were two
> lobes cut out at that time.)  The laboratory examination, following
> surgery, revealed that it had been a fibrosarcoma, i.e., a cancer of
> connective tissue, that is of a type that is invasive of nearby tissue
> (thus, cancerous), but almost never metastatic.  Because of the high 
> tumor growth rate (and thus size), it was only barely possible to cover
> Scruffy's skin over the surgical incision.
> 
> We had _hoped_ that the tumor would not return.  Unfortunately, it did. 
> Two separate growths were then visible, evidently from small pieces of
> the original tumor that the surgeon hadn't managed to get.  One piece
> was wrapped most of the way around his leg bone, raising additional
> problems -- and both were again growing quickly.
> 
> We discussed various options.  (Deirdre just described these in the
> posting she's sending separately.)  Ultimately, our only two real
> choices were a live three-legged cat or a dying four-legged one, so we
> opted for the former and had amputation of his leg performed two days
> ago.  
> 
> He's still on serious anti-pain medication, and of course bandaged up
> and under our careful care, but is showing signs of rallying.  We do need
> to watch him and not let him slip out, among other precautions.
> 
> It is not certain that his cancer is gone, but it's likely.
> 
> 

I'm so very sorry to hear about Scruffy's leg, cancer,
and leg amputation. I certainly hope the cancer is
gone. I am very pleased to hear Scruffy "is showing
signs of rallying."!

Darlene