Let’s hear it for the girl! Chicken’s one year anni-fur-sary!

I am so happy to announce that as of today, Chicken has been cancer free for one year! On December 2, 2010 Chicken underwent a radical and aggressive surgery on her scruff area to remove a large tumor known as Vaccine Associated Sarcoma that resulted from one of her routine Pfizer vaccines. So much muscle and tissue was take and she was sewn back so tightly that it was difficult for her to walk because she lost much of the range of motion for her front legs. She underwent 21 radiation therapy treatments following her surgery, followed by two rounds of CCNU chemotherapy. She finished treatment in May 2010. We would like to thank all of her doctors and support staff who helped to nurse Chicken back to health. Dr. Muldoon, Dr. Denman, Therese Ball, Vanessa Hoffman and Amie Marmer are a few among the caring staff of the CARE Center who cared for Chicken during her surgery and radiation. Dr. Lawrence is the vet who diagnosed her and Dr. Harris was Chicken’s oncologist who was in charge of her chemotherapy. Without all of these people, I don’t know if Chicken would still be here today.

I also want to extend a world of thanks to the Vaccine Associated Sarcoma Support Group
who wholeheartedly accepted me into their group and gave me so much support and advice. I’ve made some great friends there and will appreciate them always. It is a bittersweet group as not all of the kitties are as lucky as Chicken has been. We celebrate our kitties’ victories together and also mourn the losses of precious kitties as well.

I also must thank Dr. Pierson who really helped guide me through the appropriate treatments for Chicken and armed me with some really important information about VAS, vaccines and appropriate nutrition for cats.

Lastly, I want to thank you all for supporting Chicken and spreading information about VAS. My sincere hope is that no cat ever develops VAS ever again.

December 2010

December 2011