From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-06-19 00:37:01 UTC
Subject: RE: Need some help please
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3165364.1119141421125.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
JL is more a type of lymphoma and not all happen in the youngest years. JL=
typically occurs within the first two years of life.
Have the vets sent you home with any steroids at this point or not?
You will find a very informative article on lymphoma/lymphosarcoma variants=
in ferrets in this site by ferret veterinary pathologist, Dr. Bruce Willia=
ms:
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/PDF/Lymphoma_Ferrets.pdf
You sound extremely upset (and that is logical because it is a terrible thi=
ng to go through; we've been there with Helix) so in case the dissection pi=
ctures would be too hard for you right now I have copied some text (since I=
have long standing permission from Dr. Williams). I have to warn you befo=
rehand that if it is JL that this will be hard to read so that you can choo=
se first if you want to do so or want to wait for test results before readi=
ng it.
BEGIN QUOTE
A second form, lymphoblastic lymphoma (also =
called the juvenile form) usually affects ferrets =
less than two years of age. In this variant, =
myriads of immature (blastic) cells infiltrate =
visceral organs in large numbers, while the =
lymph nodes remain unaffected until the latest =
stages of disease. Infiltration by neoplastic cells =
results in enlargement of major organs and the =
most commonly affected organs are the liver, =
spleen and thymus. In most cases, thymic =
enlargement rapidly becomes a life-threatening =
issue, as the thymus occupies the thoracic cavity, =
a space enclosed by the unforgiving cage of the =
ribs. As the neoplastic cells expand the thymus =
(as seen in Figure 2), the thymus compresses the =
adjacent lungs, making it difficult, and =
eventually impossible, for the animal to breathe. =
In juvenile lymphoma, labored breathing is often =
the first clinical sign noticed by the owner, and =
this form=92s early compromise of pulmonary =
function is the reason that it carries the shortest =
survival time of all variants (only 2 weeks after =
diagnosis.) =
END QUOTE
Author wrote:
> Thanks Mike. That is my biggest fear! The second vet said he is an adult,=
so it wouldn't
> be juvenile.
> Nicole
=
=