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#163695 04-06-2013 05:35 PM
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When Marcia and I went to the chemo class, one of the things brought up was pets. With a cat, they said we could interact, play, pet, cuddle etc., no problem. They also said not to allow them to sleep in the bed with us. Socrates sleeps with Marcia and occasionally will sleep at my feet.

As I sit here typing with the boy all curled up on my legs, purring and extremely happy we're here for the weekend, I'm feeling guilty having to close the bedroom door and keep him out when we sleep (well.. YOU stand there and look at that pitiful face when I'm closing the door!).

I've looked a bit around on the web and haven't found anything that substantiates keeping them off the bed. If we can play, cuddle etc with them, then why kick them out at night? I know the obvious issues with litter and such.... but but but but frown Marcia is changing that and doing the raw meat feedings (he eats a raw chicken diet with an open supply of high protein kitten food). Anyone have some info?

"T"



57
Cardiac bypass 11/07
Cardiac stents 10/2012
Dx'd 11/30/2012 Tx N2b MO Stage IV HPV+
Palatine Tonsillectomy/Biopsies 12-21-12
Selective Neck Dissection/Lingual Tonsillectomy/biopsies TORS 2/7/13
Emergency Surgery/Bleeding 2/18/13
3/13/2013 30rads/6chemo
Finished Tx 4/24/13
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No, this is one I have not heard of. Im wondering why the cat cant sleep on the bed? Maybe dander??? If you get the answer to this please let me know. I have 2 cats glued to my side every night, they follow me relentlessly while I get ready for bed. They are just waiting for me to go to bed so they can sleep too.

The only negative I have ever heard is that by sleeping with pets (any kind) it can interfere with getting a good nights sleep.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
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I have never heard of such a thing either! I wonder tho if the minimal (previously unheard of) negative effect is outweighed by the positive one of less stress and enjoyment of having your beloved pet with you.

I agree with Christine - let us know!

Donna


Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
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This comes from the JH Patient Guide, there are a few pages of Care for the immunocompromised patient. It's the only thing I have that says anything like this. The rest is on the word of the oncology nurse and resident that taught the class. "T"


Q: Can I still take care of my pets?

A: If you have a cat or dog, try to spend little time in contact with it and wash your hands immediately afterward.

A: You should not have any contact with birds, fish, rodents, reptiles or farm animals.

A: If you pet develops diarrhea, remove it from your living area until a veterinarian has seen it.

A You may not clean up pet urine or feces, including litter boxes, bird cages or aquariums.

A: Avoid exposure to any cat which has not been declawed.

Last edited by fishmanpa; 04-07-2013 12:10 AM.

57
Cardiac bypass 11/07
Cardiac stents 10/2012
Dx'd 11/30/2012 Tx N2b MO Stage IV HPV+
Palatine Tonsillectomy/Biopsies 12-21-12
Selective Neck Dissection/Lingual Tonsillectomy/biopsies TORS 2/7/13
Emergency Surgery/Bleeding 2/18/13
3/13/2013 30rads/6chemo
Finished Tx 4/24/13
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MORE:

I did find a few pages that stated similar things. None of which suggested that your pets shouldn't sleep with you. Marcia and I have decided to allow him to do what he wants to do. We were fortunate to find a friend of a friend who house/cat sits 4 days a week so he's certainly not starved for attention but still, it's traumatic enough we're gone all week and he has someone else here watching him. Poor boy has to be confused frown

After a game of fetch this afternoon, he laid with me, got pets and was just an absolute sweetheart. I came to the conclusion that the joy he brings to me is far more beneficial than the slim risk of an infection IMO. If precautions are taken, it appears the risk is low. What I've read since indicates those with higher immune risk cancers are at more risk (bone, blood etc).


57
Cardiac bypass 11/07
Cardiac stents 10/2012
Dx'd 11/30/2012 Tx N2b MO Stage IV HPV+
Palatine Tonsillectomy/Biopsies 12-21-12
Selective Neck Dissection/Lingual Tonsillectomy/biopsies TORS 2/7/13
Emergency Surgery/Bleeding 2/18/13
3/13/2013 30rads/6chemo
Finished Tx 4/24/13
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Acute Taxoplasmosis can be acquired in immune compromised patients, like cancer, and mainly from contact with fecal matter, and mainly from cats. But if I had a pet, I would just be cautious, use gloves when changing litter, wear mask, and hand wash then, and also after petting, and others may want go avoid contact or exposure. There are some other disease, infections from pets and animals like Cyrptoridiosis, Mycobacterium, Ascarid infections, Campylobacteriosis, Chlamydial, Cryptococcosis, Giardiasis, Psittacosis-Ornithosos, ringworm, and Salmonellosis.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs






PaulB #163710 04-07-2013 04:45 AM
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After looking into this further and getting affirmation like yours and others, we're not going to worry about it. We'll take proper precautions.

"T"


57
Cardiac bypass 11/07
Cardiac stents 10/2012
Dx'd 11/30/2012 Tx N2b MO Stage IV HPV+
Palatine Tonsillectomy/Biopsies 12-21-12
Selective Neck Dissection/Lingual Tonsillectomy/biopsies TORS 2/7/13
Emergency Surgery/Bleeding 2/18/13
3/13/2013 30rads/6chemo
Finished Tx 4/24/13
NED Since
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 162
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All I can say is through treatment, our dog was practically glued to Vince. I don't know if it was that he sensed a need or if he was an opportunist who took advantage of a warm body laying on the couch...but he rarely left V's side, something I think V took comfort in. My thoughts are, if you know the bloodwork is still strong, I wouldn't worry too much about the contact.


wife/caregiver to Vince, dx 4/12 Stage IV BOT HPV+ SCC, poorly diff.; T4N2cMo; U of C; Clinical trial, Everolimus; 6 wks ind. chemo (Cetuximab, Cisplatin & Taxol), 50 x IMRT, 75 gy chemorad w/5FU, Hydrea & Taxol; 5 years out, thankfully still NED
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PaulB is absolutely correct wrt the risk to patients with compromised immune systems.

That said, I think anyone who has a cat that they love is going to be loved by that cat in return and the risk though real, is minimal. I firmly believe that in your case, as it was in mine, the benefits (documented) far outweigh the risks.

[Edit to add:] I did the same with my cat Waldo and credit him for my easy healing! Having him lay facing me on my chest, purring and pouring healing love into me simply was amazing in the way it elevated my spirits!

I'd say go for it, just as you are doing!

Last edited by Bart; 04-25-2013 05:27 PM.

My intro: http://oralcancersupport.org/forums/ubbt...3644#Post163644

09/09 - Dx OC Stg IV
10/09 - Chemo/3 Cisplatin, 40 rad
11/09 - PET CLEAN
07/11 - Dx Stage IV C. (Liver)
06/12 - PET CLEAN
09/12 - PET Dist Met (Liver)
04/13 - PET CLEAN
06/13 - PET Dist Met (Liver + 1 lymph node)
10/13 - PET - Xeloda ineffective
11/13 - Liver packed w/ SIRI-Spheres
02/14 - PET - Siri-Spheres effective, 4cm tumor in lymph-node
03/15 - Begin 15 Rads
03/24 - Final Rad! Woot!
7/27/14 Bart passed away. RIP!
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I did have a French Bulldog, named Nemo, who I had for 6 years, but had to give him up from cancer treatment, due to being hospitalized for 6 months. I still miss him.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs






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