Crackles has Cancer

Yes in my 71 years I have outlived quite a few beloved cats, and dogs
and it doesn't get any easier! Purrs and Hugs for Crackles and youself
and my deepfelt sympathy. Jean.P.
EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote in message
...


P. Cox wrote:

The results of Crackles biopsy has came back and he has cancer. He has
only one option which is a very expensive surgery on his ear and only if
it hasn't spread to his lungs. An xray would determine if its gone to
the lungs. The operation would have to be done by a specialist and I was
told would be $1000 and would have to be done very soon. I didn't get to
talk to the main vet that did the biopsy operation but one of the vets
that fills in for her so I don't know what his chaces are if he has the
surgery.

Ok I gotta stop writting now I am crying again.

Of course you are devastated, but perhaps you should stop and think of
what the cat would choose, if he could speak? You may remember I had to
make a similar decision last summer, when my Patches was put to sleep.
He had developed a skin cancer (I'm told white cats - especially outdoor
cats - are prone to such, as are fair-skinned humans). I have never
believed in putting an animal through the horrors of chemotherapy, etc.
(I don't REALLY believe in putting humans through it, either, but they
are at least able to weigh the factors and choose for themselves.)
Fortunately I was spared that decision, because he developed an apparent
respiratory infection which didn't respond to antibiotics, the
assumption was that the cancer had metasticized, and euthanasia was
really the only option (other than letting hinm suffer until he died of
"natural causes").

It's not just a matter of the expense - I know most of us are perfectly
willing to spend whatever is necessary to keep our cats healthy, whether
we can "afford" it or not. But if the ultimate prognosis is poor, and
the animal is being subjected to uncomfortable treatments that may or
may not work (and without being able to understand WHY it is being made
to suffer)..... It's a difficult decison, and I suspect we all feel
guilty when we make it, but animals accept death much more readily than
humans do - it is, after all, a natural part of existence, and they
don't carry all the intellectual baggage about it that we do.

Purrs and prayers for you and Crackles, whatever you decide to do. (I'm
sure you know that you have the support of all of us, most of whom have
outlived one or more of our furry companions.)

Yes in my 71 years I have outlived quite a few beloved cats, and dogs
and it doesn't get any easier! Purrs and Hugs for Crackles and youself
and my deepfelt sympathy. Jean.P.
EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote in message
...


P. Cox wrote:

The results of Crackles biopsy has came back and he has cancer. He has
only one option which is a very expensive surgery on his ear and only if
it hasn't spread to his lungs. An xray would determine if its gone to
the lungs. The operation would have to be done by a specialist and I was
told would be $1000 and would have to be done very soon. I didn't get to
talk to the main vet that did the biopsy operation but one of the vets
that fills in for her so I don't know what his chaces are if he has the
surgery.

Ok I gotta stop writting now I am crying again.

Of course you are devastated, but perhaps you should stop and think of
what the cat would choose, if he could speak? You may remember I had to
make a similar decision last summer, when my Patches was put to sleep.
He had developed a skin cancer (I'm told white cats - especially outdoor
cats - are prone to such, as are fair-skinned humans). I have never
believed in putting an animal through the horrors of chemotherapy, etc.
(I don't REALLY believe in putting humans through it, either, but they
are at least able to weigh the factors and choose for themselves.)
Fortunately I was spared that decision, because he developed an apparent
respiratory infection which didn't respond to antibiotics, the
assumption was that the cancer had metasticized, and euthanasia was
really the only option (other than letting hinm suffer until he died of
"natural causes").

It's not just a matter of the expense - I know most of us are perfectly
willing to spend whatever is necessary to keep our cats healthy, whether
we can "afford" it or not. But if the ultimate prognosis is poor, and
the animal is being subjected to uncomfortable treatments that may or
may not work (and without being able to understand WHY it is being made
to suffer)..... It's a difficult decison, and I suspect we all feel
guilty when we make it, but animals accept death much more readily than
humans do - it is, after all, a natural part of existence, and they
don't carry all the intellectual baggage about it that we do.

Purrs and prayers for you and Crackles, whatever you decide to do. (I'm
sure you know that you have the support of all of us, most of whom have
outlived one or more of our furry companions.)

Yes in my 71 years I have outlived quite a few beloved cats, and dogs
and it doesn't get any easier! Purrs and Hugs for Crackles and youself
and my deepfelt sympathy. Jean.P.
EvelynVogtGamble(Divamanque) wrote in message
...


P. Cox wrote:

The results of Crackles biopsy has came back and he has cancer. He has
only one option which is a very expensive surgery on his ear and only if
it hasn't spread to his lungs. An xray would determine if its gone to
the lungs. The operation would have to be done by a specialist and I was
told would be $1000 and would have to be done very soon. I didn't get to
talk to the main vet that did the biopsy operation but one of the vets
that fills in for her so I don't know what his chaces are if he has the
surgery.

Ok I gotta stop writting now I am crying again.

Of course you are devastated, but perhaps you should stop and think of
what the cat would choose, if he could speak? You may remember I had to
make a similar decision last summer, when my Patches was put to sleep.
He had developed a skin cancer (I'm told white cats - especially outdoor
cats - are prone to such, as are fair-skinned humans). I have never
believed in putting an animal through the horrors of chemotherapy, etc.
(I don't REALLY believe in putting humans through it, either, but they
are at least able to weigh the factors and choose for themselves.)
Fortunately I was spared that decision, because he developed an apparent
respiratory infection which didn't respond to antibiotics, the
assumption was that the cancer had metasticized, and euthanasia was
really the only option (other than letting hinm suffer until he died of
"natural causes").

It's not just a matter of the expense - I know most of us are perfectly
willing to spend whatever is necessary to keep our cats healthy, whether
we can "afford" it or not. But if the ultimate prognosis is poor, and
the animal is being subjected to uncomfortable treatments that may or
may not work (and without being able to understand WHY it is being made
to suffer)..... It's a difficult decison, and I suspect we all feel
guilty when we make it, but animals accept death much more readily than
humans do - it is, after all, a natural part of existence, and they
don't carry all the intellectual baggage about it that we do.

Purrs and prayers for you and Crackles, whatever you decide to do. (I'm
sure you know that you have the support of all of us, most of whom have
outlived one or more of our furry companions.)

P. Cox wrote:

So very sorry to hear the news about Crackles after all you and he have
been through already. :-(

(snip)

If the operation would give him a good chance I'd be willing to try it
but moneywise I don't have it but if the specialist would be willing to
trade services or something(I do graphic design). I need to talk to the
vet before I make any kind of decision, if there is a big chance it
likely wouldn't work I wouldn't do it and if the specialist isn't
willing to trade I couldn't do it anyway. A specialist needs brochures
and such don't ya think?

Definitely worth a try!! I'm also a graphic designer/illustrator and
have done jobs for several surgeons & specialist (human, not animal) in
the past, all of which were privately funded. For example, I've done
personal stationery (letterhead, comps slips, business card), personal
brochure advertising their services to clients, brochure describing
illnesses for their patients, doctor's surgery brochure, colour charts
showing anatomy etc. Take your professional portfolio with you when you
make the suggestion or he won't take you seriously. Make a list of the
usual prices he would expect to pay for these services. Don't forget, it
won't just be his time/expertise that you must cover, but the facilities
belonging to the vet hospital where he will operate (if it comes to it)
plus drugs etc, so it may be more than one person that needs paying.
Just my £0.02. I hope you find a solution that is the best for Crackles
and you.

Purrs

Deb.


--
http://www.scientific-art.com

"He looked a fierce and quarrelsome cat, but claw he never would;
He only bit the ones he loved, because they tasted good." S. Greenfield

P. Cox wrote:

So very sorry to hear the news about Crackles after all you and he have
been through already. :-(

(snip)

If the operation would give him a good chance I'd be willing to try it
but moneywise I don't have it but if the specialist would be willing to
trade services or something(I do graphic design). I need to talk to the
vet before I make any kind of decision, if there is a big chance it
likely wouldn't work I wouldn't do it and if the specialist isn't
willing to trade I couldn't do it anyway. A specialist needs brochures
and such don't ya think?

Definitely worth a try!! I'm also a graphic designer/illustrator and
have done jobs for several surgeons & specialist (human, not animal) in
the past, all of which were privately funded. For example, I've done
personal stationery (letterhead, comps slips, business card), personal
brochure advertising their services to clients, brochure describing
illnesses for their patients, doctor's surgery brochure, colour charts
showing anatomy etc. Take your professional portfolio with you when you
make the suggestion or he won't take you seriously. Make a list of the
usual prices he would expect to pay for these services. Don't forget, it
won't just be his time/expertise that you must cover, but the facilities
belonging to the vet hospital where he will operate (if it comes to it)
plus drugs etc, so it may be more than one person that needs paying.
Just my £0.02. I hope you find a solution that is the best for Crackles
and you.

Purrs

Deb.


--
http://www.scientific-art.com

"He looked a fierce and quarrelsome cat, but claw he never would;
He only bit the ones he loved, because they tasted good." S. Greenfield

P. Cox wrote:

So very sorry to hear the news about Crackles after all you and he have
been through already. :-(

(snip)

If the operation would give him a good chance I'd be willing to try it
but moneywise I don't have it but if the specialist would be willing to
trade services or something(I do graphic design). I need to talk to the
vet before I make any kind of decision, if there is a big chance it
likely wouldn't work I wouldn't do it and if the specialist isn't
willing to trade I couldn't do it anyway. A specialist needs brochures
and such don't ya think?

Definitely worth a try!! I'm also a graphic designer/illustrator and
have done jobs for several surgeons & specialist (human, not animal) in
the past, all of which were privately funded. For example, I've done
personal stationery (letterhead, comps slips, business card), personal
brochure advertising their services to clients, brochure describing
illnesses for their patients, doctor's surgery brochure, colour charts
showing anatomy etc. Take your professional portfolio with you when you
make the suggestion or he won't take you seriously. Make a list of the
usual prices he would expect to pay for these services. Don't forget, it
won't just be his time/expertise that you must cover, but the facilities
belonging to the vet hospital where he will operate (if it comes to it)
plus drugs etc, so it may be more than one person that needs paying.
Just my £0.02. I hope you find a solution that is the best for Crackles
and you.

Purrs

Deb.


--
http://www.scientific-art.com

"He looked a fierce and quarrelsome cat, but claw he never would;
He only bit the ones he loved, because they tasted good." S. Greenfield

Thanks Deb, I hope I find the specialist in need of some design work. I
approached the vet about it when Orangie got sick but she said she is so
busy now she doesn't need anything. I will say she almost always has a
waiting room full. There isn't many vets in this area so I guess a
phonebook ad gets them all the business they can handle. I hope
specialists are in need of materials, I was thinking of brochures to
explain procedures and illnesses and such. I could make him a whole
series and not care if he gets the better end of the deal if he could
help crackles.

I'm not sure about what values to present tho, I've only worked in an
Inhouse graphics department before so we didn't have to deal with
billing or anything. Any Suggestions? p

Thanks Deb, I hope I find the specialist in need of some design work. I
approached the vet about it when Orangie got sick but she said she is so
busy now she doesn't need anything. I will say she almost always has a
waiting room full. There isn't many vets in this area so I guess a
phonebook ad gets them all the business they can handle. I hope
specialists are in need of materials, I was thinking of brochures to
explain procedures and illnesses and such. I could make him a whole
series and not care if he gets the better end of the deal if he could
help crackles.

I'm not sure about what values to present tho, I've only worked in an
Inhouse graphics department before so we didn't have to deal with
billing or anything. Any Suggestions? p

Thanks Deb, I hope I find the specialist in need of some design work. I
approached the vet about it when Orangie got sick but she said she is so
busy now she doesn't need anything. I will say she almost always has a
waiting room full. There isn't many vets in this area so I guess a
phonebook ad gets them all the business they can handle. I hope
specialists are in need of materials, I was thinking of brochures to
explain procedures and illnesses and such. I could make him a whole
series and not care if he gets the better end of the deal if he could
help crackles.

I'm not sure about what values to present tho, I've only worked in an
Inhouse graphics department before so we didn't have to deal with
billing or anything. Any Suggestions? p

P. Cox wrote:

(snip)
I hope
specialists are in need of materials, I was thinking of brochures to
explain procedures and illnesses and such. I could make him a whole
series and not care if he gets the better end of the deal if he could
help crackles.

I'm not sure about what values to present tho, I've only worked in an
Inhouse graphics department before so we didn't have to deal with
billing or anything. Any Suggestions? p

Certainly human specialists usually like having brochures - or
factsheets, etc. You could even ask if he has a website - perhaps he
could do with some images or logos for that. Do you do website design?
Websites are expensive and if you are prepared to do a nice one for him
for free (and/or the vet hospital), that is a fair deal.

Re. pricing, it's very individual and as I'm in the UK it may not be
comparable. You can get really cheap one-color tri-fold brochures done
by your local copy shop, or you can pay mega bucks and get a specialist
design agency to do a full colour job to your exact specifications. I
did a quick web search and prices seem to range from $40 to $175 per
hour. A few online services charge around $300 for a set number of
brochures including printing, but I guess the design you get for that
prices wouldn't be that special. Other companies charge $400 per page!!
I recently charged £150 (around $280) for a set of letterheads, comps
slips and business cards, including design of company logo, but that was
for a friend and it was very much cut-price! Should probably have been
2-3 times more than that commercially.

Of course you don't want to pay for printing so he would have to pay for
that - unless you run off a set number on your home printer, or design
it so it can be copied in-house or printed on his own PC.

I would think the first hurdle is to see if Crackles can have the
surgery at all, or if it isn't an option. If he can, and if the vet is
interested in the idea of payment in kind, then you can discuss what he
might want and what you can do. I would think a series of illustrated
fact sheets for pet owners should be attractive to any decent
specialist, and maybe he will be prepared to copy them in-house for free
(if grayscale) or print out a dozen at a time on a home PC (if colour).
Maybe add in the offer of personalised stationery design for him as
well, and a logo/business card - again that can be printed on a home PC
setup using the pre-cut blank cards, I would think most professionals
would like to have that. As you say, be prepared to give quite a bit
more than you receive, so to speak - if he is prepared to go along with
it, it's definitely worth it if Crackles can benefit from the operation.

Hope this helps -

Deb.
--
http://www.scientific-art.com

"He looked a fierce and quarrelsome cat, but claw he never would;
He only bit the ones he loved, because they tasted good." S. Greenfield