Kestra's Cancer (my kitty) is back

Kestra's lymphoma is back. After 15 months of watching and worrying that her Lymphoma would kill her (as the doctor indicated it would do rather quickly after the surgery that confirmed the diagnosis), another tumor has developed. I had hoped the surgery to remove the cancer-ridden node in January of 2009 would rid her of it completely, but that is not the case. The vet treating her is thorough, though. He spoke with the Tufts Veterinary Oncology Department to determine the best course of treatment for her. There were three options. 1) surgically remove the second lymph node from the neck; 2) treat with steroids to shrink the tumor; 3) do nothing. The bottom line is that she has Lymphoma, which is systemic, and will not go away. It is incurable. Surgically removing the tumor will only put the cat through that trauma and another tumor may develop somewhere else. Treating with the steroids might shrink the lymph node or it might do nothing (or it might cause her to have bad side effects even though the majority of cats tolerate it well). Doing nothing would only allow the tumor to continue growing and possibly spread to the other lymph nodes faster.

I decided on the steroids. The least invasive option that may produce favorable results. Can cats get six-pack abs ? Should I worry if she starts moving the furniture around while I'm at work? But seriously, I'm hoping she doesn't have any bad side effects and that it really does shrink the lymph node. At least the cancer is a slow-moving one. The doctor called it indolent nodal lymphoma . I don't know what this means for life expectancy, and she is going to be 11 in August. Maybe she'll be with me another three or four years. (A girl can dream.)

On a side note, a few weeks before I discovered the enlarged lymph node I was talking with my co-workers and made the following comment: I would gladly accept my cat's cancer back if my friend's cancer would be completely gone. She's currently going through radiation, after going through chemotherapy, after (a while ago) undergoing a complete hysterectomy (she has endometrial cancer). She won't know for a few weeks if her tumor is gone, but at least the chemo stopped the spread of it (it was found in her lungs); hopefully the radiation will knock out the initial tumor.

So, did I make a deal with the Universe? And, if so, can I use the loophole of "gladly accept" as justification for treating my cat rather than letting her just get cancer-ridden and die?