The Unwelcomed Return

A few weekends ago we sat cuddled on the couch watching a movie -- our furry feline lay between us and was enjoying some quiet time with his adult humans while the little on was off to the Land of Nod.

It had been a particularly long week, as Matt had spent the majority of the week in Hawaii on a project with work, and now we were enjoying some quiet time, watching a movie. Elliot got an extra dose of loving, as he particularly enjoys when Matt give him a good rubbing between his ears and anywhere on his head.

But sadness hit us with this all too innocent cat cuddle. Matt discovered a lump on Elliot's head. It was small and would have gone unnoticed by most people for quite some time. But you see, Elliot has had 2 rounds with cancerous mast cell skin tumors, and this is exactly what they had looked like before.

We spent the following few weeks hoping it was just a bug bite, and knowing in our heart it was not. I prayed for him lots and wished it would just go away. it didn't.

So today I made the trip I am all too familiar with and hauled Elliot in to our local pet hospital for the typical procedure - aspirate it with a needle to grab cells for testing. It all went very quickly and Elliot was a trooper and didn't do too much hissing in the process. Hey, I'd hiss if someone stuck a needle in my forehead just to sample a bump on my head. A bump, mind you, that is no larger than the head of a small pencil eraser.

And the vet, like the two times before, said the sample contained mast cells, indicating this is another tumor. Though we don't need to operate tomorrow, over the coming weeks he will need to make a return visit. I was also offered the opportunity to seek out an oncology specialist in our area to discuss alternate treatments and regimens going forward. But no one knows the cause of this particular cancer, and no one knows a way to prevent it.

So I cuddled up my 14 lb. Indiana farm kitten into my arms, offered him a sweet hug and rubbin' on his scruff, and then placed him back into his carrier. Sad, not surprised. Hopeful this is the last time; prepared for the battle ahead.

Yes, cancer is an ugly and unwanted guest in our house right now. We love you, Elliot!