half way into chemo need advise on cat dander

lcarper2
lcarper2 Member Posts: 635 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I am 3 months into chemo for colon cancer had a lg tumor on my colon had it removed along with my colon and 34 lymph 19 were cancerous now my stepdaughter has moved in with us for 2 months now and I am haveing a hard time with the cat dander I have told everyone I can't be around them but they say it won't hurt me I am swelling very bad in my legs and feet hands as well I am wondering if the cat dander can hurt me....

Comments

  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #2
    Well...
    ...Are you allergic to cats?? I have 3, and they don't bother me one bit, my onc never told me to stay away from the animals itself, but maybe the cat litter, where there is bacteria, it should stay clean at all times, but my cats are outside, not inside.

    If you are having a reaction like that, I'd tell the stepdaughter she needs to get rid of the cats then, you're more important, and so is your health!

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #3
    Shayenne said:

    Well...
    ...Are you allergic to cats?? I have 3, and they don't bother me one bit, my onc never told me to stay away from the animals itself, but maybe the cat litter, where there is bacteria, it should stay clean at all times, but my cats are outside, not inside.

    If you are having a reaction like that, I'd tell the stepdaughter she needs to get rid of the cats then, you're more important, and so is your health!

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna

    Its your house.......
    and your call.......
  • VickiCO
    VickiCO Member Posts: 917
    #4
    Buzzard said:

    Its your house.......
    and your call.......

    I agree with Buzz...
    I have a cat and wasn't bothered a bit during chemo. I do not change litter - never have done so, that's DH's job! BUT you get to make the rules in your home and with your illness. If the cat makes you uncomfortable, she'll have to make other arrangements for it.

    Just my 2 cents... Vicki
  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    #5
    Allergic
    Sound like you are allergic to the cats. My eyes swell when I get around cats.
    From what I have read, you cannot clean the litter box while undergoing chemo, but if htey are bothering you, this is the last thing you need while trying to fight cancer. Can you keep them in a basement or something, or tell the parent to have the daughter get rid of hte cats ot place them in foster care for awhile. Your comfort should take precendence over anyone else!
    Kathy
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #6
    Not CATS dander
    You should not change the litter box of a cat that might have eaten a mouse or bird. There is NO problem otherwise. Sorry kiddo!
  • tiny one
    tiny one Member Posts: 465 Member
    #7
    cat
    I have a cat and dog. I changed cat litter the whole time I was going thru my treatment. I had no ill effects from this. A person allergic to cats will have itching and red eyes and have alot of sneezing. If you have any of this, cats need to go. Cat dander is different from dog dander.
  • lcarper2
    lcarper2 Member Posts: 635 Member
    #8
    tiny one said:

    cat
    I have a cat and dog. I changed cat litter the whole time I was going thru my treatment. I had no ill effects from this. A person allergic to cats will have itching and red eyes and have alot of sneezing. If you have any of this, cats need to go. Cat dander is different from dog dander.

    cat dander
    Thanks for your reply and yes I do have an allergy to cat dander and this was known before the move was made they are kept in her bedroom and I do not have contact with them and thank God she is moving next week but thanks for you concern hope you do well.
  • lcarper2
    lcarper2 Member Posts: 635 Member
    #9
    khl8 said:

    Allergic
    Sound like you are allergic to the cats. My eyes swell when I get around cats.
    From what I have read, you cannot clean the litter box while undergoing chemo, but if htey are bothering you, this is the last thing you need while trying to fight cancer. Can you keep them in a basement or something, or tell the parent to have the daughter get rid of hte cats ot place them in foster care for awhile. Your comfort should take precendence over anyone else!
    Kathy

    cat dander
    thanks for your concerns I am in a marraige that he is more concerned about her being in the room with her own cats than he is about my welfare but that is another blog I have been told to deal with it she will move next week and has been here for 3 months
  • just4Brooks
    just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
    #10
    I have two cats
    They go to bed with me every night... I've had no problems
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #11
    just4Brooks said:

    I have two cats
    They go to bed with me every night... I've had no problems

    I sleep with a Tigress every night.....
    but she doesn't have dander..........she mostly just farts...







    and if I want her to know I said this......I'll tell her.......:)
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #12
    Buzzard said:

    I sleep with a Tigress every night.....
    but she doesn't have dander..........she mostly just farts...







    and if I want her to know I said this......I'll tell her.......:)

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #13
    Buzzard said:

    I sleep with a Tigress every night.....
    but she doesn't have dander..........she mostly just farts...







    and if I want her to know I said this......I'll tell her.......:)

    OMG Clift!
    LOL! You crack me up here so much, I love when you just pop out with these blurbs, thanks for the laugh today Bro!

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #14
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Ms R...............
    I almost peed in my drawers........Thank you very much for that..It was well worth the hour and a half it took to read it........Love ya, Clift
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #15
    Shayenne said:

    OMG Clift!
    LOL! You crack me up here so much, I love when you just pop out with these blurbs, thanks for the laugh today Bro!

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna

    anytime sweetie, anytime....
    MsR is pretty witty herself......That was hiliarious what she put out.
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #16
    Buzzard said:

    anytime sweetie, anytime....
    MsR is pretty witty herself......That was hiliarious what she put out.

    Stoma still hurts when I laugh
    but this saga was worth it, having been owned myself by three cats, two living 11 years, the third (and last) 13 years.....Better yet, try giving a 95 pound Doberman pills he doesn;t want!!! I knew Rambo (girlfriend's dog, had us for 12 years, got along great with my cat, Cat)wouldn't bite me on purpose but he was smart enough to know when mixed with his food...Anyway, loved that cat process...so true.....Steve
  • KATE58
    KATE58 Member Posts: 299
    #17
    coloCan said:

    Stoma still hurts when I laugh
    but this saga was worth it, having been owned myself by three cats, two living 11 years, the third (and last) 13 years.....Better yet, try giving a 95 pound Doberman pills he doesn;t want!!! I knew Rambo (girlfriend's dog, had us for 12 years, got along great with my cat, Cat)wouldn't bite me on purpose but he was smart enough to know when mixed with his food...Anyway, loved that cat process...so true.....Steve

    THAT'S TOO FUNNY!!!!
    THANKS
    THAT'S TOO FUNNY!!!!
    THANKS FOR THE LAUGH.


    I just stuck the pill in a wad of liverwurst,
    dog never knew it was there
  • usakat
    usakat Member Posts: 610 Member
    #18
    Buzzard said:

    I sleep with a Tigress every night.....
    but she doesn't have dander..........she mostly just farts...







    and if I want her to know I said this......I'll tell her.......:)

    Ah, Buzz!
    LOL...LOL...LOL...

    Thanks, I needed a good laugh! You're the best :-)
  • usakat
    usakat Member Posts: 610 Member
    #19
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Gracie!
    That is a hoot!

    My mother-in-law has been trying to give her cat pills for the past week. Needless to say, the cat is winning and has managed to not so loving return every pill. Mom-in-Law was mortified to step with bare feet on a wet partially masticated pill. I'm pretty sure I could hear Buddy the cat laughing when Mom-in-Law told me of their battle of wills. She will enjoy this.

    Thanks for sharing!
  • usakat
    usakat Member Posts: 610 Member
    #20
    If you are allergic...
    ...the cat's gotta go. Chemo can compromise the immune system...why take any chances of a severe allergic reaction? If you are swelling, you should call your doctor ASAP to make sure you are not suffering any chemo related edema. If you have taken any type of allergy medications and still have swelling, you should get checked out right away by a doctor.

    You could try isolating the cat - keep the cat out of your living quarters, but whether or not that works comes down to how sensitive your allergies are.

    Whatever the case, if the cat bothers you, for whatever reason, your daughter should be able to find temporary housing for her cat for the two months she is with you. Cancer is hard enough - you don't need anything else to complicate your life right now...

    Good Luck!

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