From:
- Z -
Date: 2004-11-11 22:55:36 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Lymphoma?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <23275591.1100215147426.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>
>From: mysticswords@yahoo.com
>
>I am reluctant to go ahead with chemo without a definite
diagnosis. I don't want to
>sound like I'm questioning her judgment, but are swollen
lymph nodes enough to
>diagnose lympho? Would a fine needle aspirate be useful as a
diagnostic tool?
I'm sure others with more knowledge than I will respond as
well, but since I'm now on my third ferret with lympho I know
a little about it. Swollen lymph nodes alone are not enough
to diagnose lympho--the fine needle aspirate would be
necessary to determine whether lympho is present or not. Your
ferret most likely would not have to be anesthetized for the
aspirate. I don't think any of mine were, not even the biter
of the bunch.
In addition to ascertaining whether it's lymphoma or not, you
will also have to do some additional testing to make sure your
ferret is an appropriate candidate for chemo. I have chosen
not to give my current ferret with lymphoma chemo, but if I
had, our next steps would have been to do thoracic xrays and
get a bone marrow sample. If there are growths in the chest
cavity or if the lymphoma has spread to the bone marrow, then
the ferret is not a candidate for lymphoma. Or at least
that's what my vet has told me, and I trust her very much.
>Also,
>have there been any new breakthroughs in chemo protocols
recently, which may not
>have been written up in the literature?
Yes--if it's okay for me to mention this here, moderators.
Tufts is currently conducting a study of a new protocol that
does not require any IV delivery of the chemo drugs, just
once-weekly injections which have to be done at a medical
facility (b/c of laws about the drugs used) and daily oral
medications. They still need more ferrets for their study
before they can publish anything. I don't know where you are
located, but if it is lympho and you are considering chemo,
perhaps your vet could get in touch with Tufts. I was told by
my vet that it is a six month course of treatment, and I
talked to a ferret owner whose ferret went through the new
protocol about a year and a half ago with complete remission.
She said that her ferret had no noticable side effects from
the drugs used. Her ferret had only peripheral lymphoma, with
only the lymph nodes and no internal organs affected (my
ferret Pan has multiple internal organs affected, so that's
the main reason for my not pursuing chemo with him). The
rough estimate I was given for the cost of this protocol was
about $4,500 spread over the six-month period; your costs may
vary.
>I am very worried about my little Twizzle-butt, especially
because this showed up so
>quickly.
You have my sympathy--this hit us from out of the blue last
week as well, it felt like it came out of nowhere. Pan has
really perked up a lot in the last week with just pediapred
and three to four feedings per day of 6-8ccs of Oxbow
Carnivore Care (a prescription-only feeding supplement). He's
putting weight back on and last night even chased his brother
through the apartment. So if you are dealing with lymphoma
and do not go the chemo route, there are things you can do to
help prolong the quality time left.
Good luck,
Regina
Regina Harrison badriya@rcn.com