Helping with Making the Bed?

Snuggled in Duvet

Orlan's Sarcoma and Recovery - Cat Cancer Awareness

Orlan down near where the lilies grow

About a week and a half before Orlan ended up being anesthetized for a thorough exam and mass removal I felt an odd spherical form on his right side.  I wasn't sure if I had felt correctly.  A week later I felt the same area, and there was no doubt that Orlan had some kind of mass on his right side.  I ran my hands over both sides of his body and was alarmed by the asymmetry.  It felt like a thick water balloon or a large cyst in a human breast, and it nearly filled my hand.  By the time we went to the veterinarian's on Monday, July 14, it felt larger and more separate from his belly fat and filled my hand.  

 

On July 14, 2014, a mass about 2.5" in diameter was removed from Orlan's lower-side abdomen.  All of it was removed and sent out for pathology.  Only a tiny bit of muscle was cut; the mass was mostly surrounded my fatty tissue.

Orlan came home with a huge bandage surrounding his body.  It was very hard to see him this way; he wobbled and swayed to stand and try to walk.  Somehow he managed to get up on the bed that night using his stool to sleep on his corner of the bed.  I could hardly sleep.  His breathing was so shallow.

Orlan at home with his huge bandage from having a mass removed

July 15, 2014

I cut the bandaged off of him; it had slid down his body past the incision during the night immobilizing his legs. Feeling fully recovered from the anesthesia, he tried to do everything as if nothing had happened.  He ate and attempted to kick his food ball.  

Orlan trying to feel better.

July 16, 2014

Worn out and realizing he'd had major surgery, he lost is appetite completely.  It was hard to see him this weak and shrinking.  I had to wet cat candy and feed it to him with my hands.  He was too weak to get up to eat.

Thankfully, Orlan continued to find water to drink and use his litter pan.  

Fluid Pooled with Bruising on Belly

July 21, 2014

The pathology report came in this morning.  A sarcoma, cancerous tumor, had been removed with clean-margins, meaning that no tumor was left behind.  The type of sarcoma removed has a low potential to metastasize, and if it returns, it will be in the same area.  

Be sure to check your cats for lumps beneath their fluff.

Orlan went outside to walk down to the lily garden and back up to the house again.

Orlan says: 

My strength has returned.  I can hop like a bunny and sing with great resonance.

I catch the fishing pole toy's fishing pole stick.

I carry my favorite doll Leo around the bedroom.

©2014 D. Moss