From:
williamsb@comcast.net
Date: 2002-09-03 14:21:55 UTC
Subject: RE: Insulinoma surgery results
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <29505601.1031062915902.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Dear Caitlyn:
That is wonderful news about Kodo (and Podo). The large mass just outside the pancreas is most likely the pancreatic lymph node (but it is always a good thing to wait on the pathology reports.)
Prognosis is pretty much the same for all insulinomas, regardless of microscopic analysis - 40% recur within ten months generally at a different region in the pancreas. However, the odds are slightly better for animals treated with pancreatectomy, as the disease-free interval is over a year.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
Author wrote:
> Today was the fourth day after surgery and Kodo is recoering well.
> Tonight was the first night where he felt well enough to do some serious
> exploring. Before the surgery his hind legs would go out from under him
> all the time. Now he's steady on his feet and even ran a little.
> We don't have the pathology results back yet, but there was one large
> mass just outside the pancreas as well as some smaller nodules visible
> in one limb of the pancreas. Most of that limb was removed. Until our
> vet sees the pathology he's not going to give a prognosis, but the
> surgery itself went very well and Kodo is obviously recovering very
> nicely.
> Kodo has a brother (Podo) who had the same surgery a couple of months
> ago and a right adrenal surgery three months before that. In his case
> there were two large nodules visible. Podo has a new lease on life.
> He's suddenly acting like a much younger ferret: very energetic and
> playful. The improvement in his quality of life has been just amazing.
> I hope we've bought him a couple of good years.
> People decide ferrets shouldn't have surgery solely based on age. I've
> read it here. Dr. Williams and others have pointed out that shouldn't
> be the only factor in deciding. I have two eight year olds who are
> poster children for insulinoma surgery when done by a good and
> experienced ferret vet.
> I've also read at least a couple of "I can't afford surgery" or "I don't
> have the money for a vet visit" posts in other threads. These annoy me
> no end. I was unemployed for nine months and I am now repaying our vet.
> The choice was letting my ferrets suffer and possibly die from
> treatable diseases or doing vet care on credit. Not much of a choice,
> is it? These ferrets depend on me and I am going to always fo the best
> for them.
> Anyway, I just wanted to post our experiences with The Do(ugh) Boys with
> the thought that it might give some other ferret owners hope.
> All the best,
> Caity and the notorious nine:
> -The Dough Boys (Podo and Kodo)
> -The White Boys (Adric, Ker Avon, and Pertwee)
> -The Grrls (Nyssa, Lady Ayeka, and Romana)
> -and Tenchi, as always, in charge of them all