Cat update. →[More:]

I just got back from the vet. Bailey has cancer.

It's a type called spindle cell sarcoma. The pathology showed that the cells extended to the boundary of the tissue excised, which suggests that the whole of the cancer was not completely removed and that there are still some cells left in her.

But Alistair said that this type of cancer is very slow-growing, and he has had cases where it has never come back again. Likewise, he's seen cases where it's back in a couple of months, so Bailey is to be monitored closely for the next year.

He said the alternative is to carry out more surgery to take away a much larger area of tissue, but with spindle cell sarcomas this does not always work. Also, with the problems Bailey had under anaesthetic with her heart murmur and breathing difficulties, he doesn't want to have to do that unless another lump appears.

Her stitches are out, and the wound is clean and healing well. She doesn't need any medication or chemotherapy, and she seems fine in herself, although she is now very cross with me for disrupting her 23-hour sleep day.