From:
drlambson
Date: 2002-06-07 10:36:00 UTC
Subject: Advice needed...thymoma
My ferret was just diagnosed with thymoma, which is relatively rare
in ferrets, I understand. He's 10 years old, underwent surgery to
remove the left adrenal when he was about 7 and that's the only
medical problem he's ever had. Unfortunately now the thymoma is
taking up practically his whole chest. It's very hard for him to
breathe, and his trachea is pushed up against his spine from looking
at the x-ray. Obviously there's little room left for his lungs. His
heart has been pushed down to the end of the rib cage.
My question here (for any DVMs/surgeons) is does anyone have
experience with thymomas? More specifically thymomas in older
ferrets, and what kind of risk factor is Sherlock's age? Are there
any other options besides surgery? I've tried to research this as
much as possible but have found little on the subject that's helpful.
I will be starting him on Prednisone today at the direction of his
doctor, and perhaps chemotherapy if the tumor responds to the Pred. I
think the only hospital around here that can do radiation therapy is
Tufts (but I don't know if that's even an option.) So if anyone has
any suggestions, etc. please let me know. My first and foremost
concern is, of course, quality of life and to make sure he doesn't
suffer as much as possible.