Message Number: YG12200 | New FHL Archives Search
From: kath0524
Date: 2002-04-02 08:05:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Digest Number 671

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., ferrethealer@a... wrote:
> In a message dated 04/01/02 9:49:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> Dr. Ruth wrote:
> I also *always* recommend histopathology. Even if I'm 99%
> certain of what a mass is, I could be wrong. There are malignant
>skin masses out there in ferrets, as well as in our other animals,
>and I'd hate to miss the rare cutaneous lymphoma or other malignancy
>because most skin masses are benign.

Dr. Ruth,
What woudld you do differently if you found that the skin tumor were
something other than a benign tumor? Would you recommend chemo? How
effective is it with skin tumors? My one experience with chemo for a
ferret with lymphoma was not great. It extended her life maybe a
couple of months beyond the original prognosis (without treatment).
Given the weekly vet trips, staying all day, poking and prodding, I'm
not so sure I would do it again.

Katharine
Tallahassee, Florida
(I remembered!)