Cut Out Dissection Month on October, 2024: cat dissection toxoplasmosis?

October, 2024 is Cut Out Dissection Month 2024. cut-out-dissection-fb-share.jpg cut-out-dissection-fb-share.jpg

wowpow, you're safe! Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). These oocysts (eggs) are then excreted in great numbers in the cat's feces. Oocysts are very resistant and may survive in the environment for well over a year. Oocysts passed in a cat's feces are not immediately infectious to other animals. Because cats only shed the organism for a few days in their entire life, the chance of human exposure is small. Owning a cat does not mean you will be infected with the disease.

HOWEVER, for school cat dissection, dead cats are routinely treated with formaldehyde and embalming fluids for weeks to months. This will kill all eggs so that NO infectious toxoplasma eggs remain to worry about. Worry more about keeping your home live cat's litter box clean and changed daily.

What are the long term after effects of Lymph Node Dissection?

When they remove the nodes they cut a nerve (the medial nerve I believe), which leaves the lower part of your shoulder, your whole axilla region, and the lower part of your arm numb. Eventually the nerve is supposed to grow back, but for a while there is pain and numbness (yes, at the same time) and increased sensitivity.

The lymph vessels that are no longer used can become hard and fibrous. This causes a condition called "cording" which can be very painful when you reach for anything, particularly reaching upward. Eventually it goes away, but only after many weeks (for many people) of discomfort. You have to stretch it daily, even several times a day to help it resolve.

As the body tries to map new lymph flow from the arm, and even afterward, you are at increased risk of lymphedema. This is a condition caused by a buildup of lymphatic fluid (lymph) in the arm. Once the condition occurs, it is never completely resolved, though many women find a measure of relief with consistent therapy and massage. Preventing lymphedema is very important, and one can find information on how to help prevent it by doing a Google search on "prevent lymphedema."

If she is being told it is normal, then my guess is that it is not lymphedema. Probably a combination of cording and that weird numb/sore effect from the nerve being cut. She has to do her stretching exercises. And find her information and print it out on the lymphedema issue.

what is malignant cancer?

I believe that tinomo is the staging of the tumor.

SCCA is squamous cell carcinoma of the adenoids (tonsils)

S/P means status post (or after surgery)..

WLE is wide local excision (cutting)

bilateral means both sides of the neck were cut in surgery.

all cancer is malignant (growing in a bad way)...benign means a tumor is growing, but in a more controlled fashion..

1. T1: Greatest diameter of primary tumor less than 2 cm (2.5cm = 1inch)

2.NO: No clinically positive nodes (GOOD no lymph nodes found to be involved)

3.MO: No known distant metastasis (GOOD no distant spread of the cancer was found)

The most common cancers that occur in the tonsils are squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA).

Sounds like you have been through a rough time. Hope you are better now.