From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2003-11-29 22:42:14 UTC
Subject: RE: I think Adrenal is coming back ...
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5302891.1070145734658.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
>It's not always easy to deal with diseases. For now, I'll wait to see if I'm really >right ... I've noticed these symptoms ... so I'll see evolution ... Maybe I'm >worried too much
That can happen to any of us.
>If Cookie had already his left gland removed ... and the Adrenal symptoms are >here again, that means it's a bilateral problem ... so does that mean it's >malignant ?
No, it does not. It can just mean that the things which led to the development of adrenal neoplasia may also have been going on for the other gland. It could still be benign adrenal hyperplasia. Most of our adrenal ferrets have not been bilateral, but most of the ones who were bilateral did not have malignancies.
>If he has another surgery for the right gland with success, can Adrenal still be >back again, I mean spread to other organs in the future ?
If there is stray adrenal tiisue left (not unusual many times with surgery on a right adrenal) then that tissue may have problems. If it has gown into another organ it touches then that is one non-malignant route to other problems.
If it is a maliganancy then it is good to know that adenomas have a very low chance of spreading (can happen but rarely). Carcinoma and Lymphoma are harder to control, but Cookie hasn't been declining in general if I recall our private conversations and his photos, so that should provide some comfort.
>If I choose the Lupron treatment, how long his life can be extended ?
Honestly, I don't know. There may be something in the archives on this
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
but i can't recall off-hand. Hopefully, someone else will have this information for you or the answer will show up in the Archives. I suspect it would vary pretty widely depending on which complications arise, which type of growth is present, if it is touching, wrapping around, or delving into nearby organs like the Vena Cava (major vein) or liver, etc..
Hope this helps.
I'm not a vet.