From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2003-12-02 00:18:13 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] pancrectomy advise
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <4130653.1070324293276.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
There IS a study out there which found quite a difference in survival times, with the partial pancreatomy doing the best, followed by nodulectomy, with meds alone the worst.
See:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=SG3059
including
>Weiss CA, Williams BH, Scott MV.
>Insulinoma in the ferret: clinical findings and treatment comparison of 66 >cases.
>J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 1998 Nov-Dec;34(6):471-5.
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=SG1721
including
> The three
>treatment groups included 10 ferrets treated medically, 27 ferrets treated
>with pancreatic nodulectomy, and 29 ferrets treated with pancreatic
>nodulectomy combined with a partial pancreatectomy. The mean disease-free
>intervals for each group were 22, 234, and 365 days, respectively. The
>mean survival times for each group were 186, 456, and 668 days,
>respectively.
So, with meds that comes to about 1/2 year survial,
with the nodes removed comes to about 1 and 1/4 years survival,
with the partial removal a good chunk over 1 and 3/4 years survival (1.83 years, actually)
There is more in the archives at
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
Given that the typical life span here is from late in the 6th year to mid 8th year (Going more narrowly most here have died from the last half of their 7th year to just about turning 8.), and the ferret needing treatment is only 4 and 1/2 years old I'd personally be inclined to treat aggressively with a vet who is comfortable and experiences with insulinoma surgeries. Heck, I've heard of some who had more than one needed insulinoma surgery years apart starting in their primes and as a result lived happily into a decent old age.