From:
dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-02-23 18:42:00 UTC
Subject: Re: skin lymphoma
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "circuitlust" <circuitlust@y...>
wrote:
the male(3
> 1/2yrsold) had a mass which we removed and sent the specimen out to
a
> lab(lab report attached. History is incorrect on report it is for
the
> female ferret). The report stated lymphoma. About 2 wks after the
> surgery I noticed a mass in the same area and also another one .
> These masses seem to be growing very quickly. In one wks time seem
to
> have grown from pea size to marble size and are still growing near
> golf ball size. We did a aspirate of these masses and found
immature
> lymphs. Other than these masses, this ferret shows no other signs
of
> problems. My question is have you ever seen this before?
Suggestions
> on how to treat this?(Chemotherapy?)
Dear Melissa:
Cuatneous lymphoma (as Sukie has mentioned) is a different form of
lymphoma in ferrets. Ferrrets have been known to have normal
lifespans following complete excision of lesions, and careful
monitoring for additional lesions. If additional lesions pop up,
they should be removed immediately.
Surgery is the best and at this point, the only realy effective
treatment - I would not recommend nay form of chemotherapy in these
cases.
Quickly schedule for surgery before they grow to a size where the
incisions cannot be closed. When the lesion are large, you often
need to come back in a month or so to clean up the site, but cut
early, and if necesary, cut often, and you'll be surprised how well
this ferret will do.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, dVM