Message Number: SG16565 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Andrea
Date: 2006-02-16 01:27:00 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] chemo for ferrets
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com

Hi everyone,

I wanted to give an update on my girl, Rayna. I had written in about her, back
around Christmastime, that I noticed that she had a hard belly. I received a wealth
of info and help, so I wanted to give back, to maybe help someone else.

Rayna had seen a couple of vets, the first one was going rather slow with testing,
so we got a 2nd opinion. She said yes, the spleen needs to come out (it had now
also become enlarged at this point), and that we were probably dealing with
lymphoma. She felt it was enlarged, but that it could wait a week. We scheduled
her surgery for the following week (for a Wednesday).

In the meantime, before her surgery date came up, it was on a Friday, that she had
just about completely slowed down, and she was only eating and going to the
bathroom, then right back to bed. She was sleeping constantly. I didnt know if she
could make it till next Wednesday for the surgery (office was not open over the
weekend), so we saught a 3rd opinion at this point. She was really lethargic, and
Saturday, her breathing looked really different to me (compared to my other 2
ferrets). So the 3rd vet admitted her into the hospital. She was anemic, so they
gave her a few transfusions, and helped prep her for surgery to get her spleen
removed. They ended up doing the surgery a few days later. The removed her
spleen, left adrenal, and part of a node, and submitted all for biopsies. They all
came back with lymphoma.

We had discussed doing chemo, and I had done research about it on the net. What
I read, really hadnt seemed to promising. But I knew for sure if I put her on pred,
that she would be gone from me in a matter of weeks to months. A few days after
her surgery, Rayna lost the use of her back legs and was dragging her legs and her
back end. The vet said most likely that the lymphoma had gotten into her spine. So
thinking about this, and also how quickly her spleen had enlarged, we were dealing
with really fast lymphoma. Throughout all of this, she was a really excellent eater
for me. I felt like she was fighting and fighting for her life. I just had to give her the
best chance I could, and I didnt feel that pred was going to do enough for her.

I had the option of doing (I'm not sure of the name), the first or regular chemo
protocol for ferrets, or the option of the Tufts University protocol. The first protocol
lasted about 14 weeks, was interveniously (sp?), and they had to be anesthetized for
it, and the drugs and protocol was really tough on their little systems. The Tufts
protocol lasts for about 6 months, its injected right under the skin so they dont
need to be put under for it, and its a slower and easier protocol on their systems. I
opted for the Tufts protocol. The vet had also brought up doing radiation on her
spine.

So, we have begun the chemo, and did the radiation. We're about 4 weeks into it,
and I am seeing a huge change in her. Up until week 3, she did practically nothing
but eat, potty and sleep. Then suddenly in week 3, one day, it was just like she was
her old self again. She hadnt regained complete control of her back end, but it was
much better, she kind of hops around on it. She wanted to play with me, with the
other 2 ferrets, she was running thru the tunnels, wandering around the house,
chattering up a storm... all the normal ferret activities had returned!

The chemo has been easy on her (from what I can tell). She has only vomited once,
and that was after the very first dose. Each day now she is gaining more and more
control over her back end. She is back to playing and snuggling with the other 2
ferrets. I know we're only very early in this, but I had read that their probably wont
be much luck with chemo if its invaded the internal organs. But I had to give her
this chance. I know its most likely probably not going to cure her, but there's still a
chance that it could, but I really feel that if we had opted only for the Pred that she
would be gone soon. I am happy with the results this far, and I will send in an
update every so often on how this is working for her, so maybe this can help
another ferret.

Andrea and Rayna





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