Message Number: SG4929 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2003-06-06 23:22:14 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Biopsy report, concerns
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <20030606192214.26c6c466.whiteweasel@earthlink.net>

On Fri, 06 Jun 2003 15:25:18 -0400
Gail Elsey <elseyg@optonline.net> wrote:

> Microscopic findings: Left adrenal gland: Adrenal cortical
> carcinoma, low grade of malignancy.
>
> Who here has a ferret with one of these?

Four of them actually.

> I need to know how they did and an idea of recovery rate is.

They all did well after surgery. Two of the four never had a problem
again. The other two had the carcinoma recur in the other gland.
Pertwee's second surgery was less than two months after the first.
Ryo-Ohki's was about a year later. Pertwee is fine (but has no adrenal
glands) more than three years after the second surgery. Ryo-Ohki's
carcinoma metastasized. She had a third (exploratory) surgery about
three months after the second surgery. She had tumors in all her major
organs and we decided not to let her wake up. So... in my business
three out of four did very well.

I must point out that metastasis of adrenal carcinoma is quite rare. I
would think your ferret's chances of being happy and healthy for a good
long time are excellent.

All the best,
Caity and the non-stop nine