From:
dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-03-18 20:46:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Chordoma question
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "KYFreckles" <kyfreckles@y...> wrote:
> Hello all,
> Our 5 year old male ferret has what looks like chordoma. I
looked
> it up in my "Ferrets for Dummies" book and that is what it looks
> like. It isn't on the tip of the tail, but about an inch down. It
has
> grown almost overnight. ....> just wanted to know if it is painful
for him or not? Also, is it
> deadly for him? I mean, will he die from chordoma? Anybody had a
> ferret with this before? We are obviously gonna have to save up
money
> to get this taken care of, anyone know about how much this type of
> surgery runs?
Dear Jen:
Chordoma is a common musculoskeletal tumor which arises in the spine,
and most often in the tail. No, these tumors do not metastasize, and
he will not die of it. These tumors do eat into the bone of the
veterbrae, and thi is painful; but the good news is that amputation
of the tail is curative. Let's get it removed as soon as possible.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, dVM