Message Number: YG11349 | New FHL Archives Search
From: sukieferret
Date: 2002-02-22 09:15:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Insulinoma surgery

>if the insulinomas are so microscopic and you remove
> part of the gland, how do you know if you have gotten all of the
> insulinoma if they are so tiny

Our vets have operated using microscopes, and touch a lot --
going from their descriptions, but my understanding is that the
reality is that you can't always be sure. Never-the-less, the extra
time it buys and the possibility of being among those who don't
have it reoccur is worth the try. Remember that in ferret lifetimes
1 year is about the equivalent of a human decade, so if you can
give one an extra good chunk of time before meds are tried or
before a repeat surgery then you have done something truly
wonderful, and it it never repeats, well, then that is far better, yet.