From:
Andrea
Date: 2006-02-21 19:05:43 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Information needed on chemo. protocols
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Hi Christine, Sorry to read about Ethyl getting lymphoma. I also have a little one with it, Rayna. She is currently going thru the Tufts protocol, she is 5 weeks into it. When I was researching it, there isnt alot that I found on the net. I was told by my vet that that is because its still so new and there isnt alot of testing done.
Basically, what I can offer you is firsthand experience. If you check the archives, I believe you can research for "Rayna" (please someone correct me if I am wrong). The first thing I noticed was her belly was hardened. I felt the first vet was going in the wrong direction, so we sought a 2nd opinion. She felt the spleen needed to be removed, and that it was probably lymphoma, so she set Rayna for surgery the following week. It was in a matter of 3 or 4 days, that her belly had grown to really enlarged, and she was really slowing down on me, and something about her breathing patter didnt look right. So I brought her into an emergency clinic, where she was now with her 3rd vet. She was very anemic, dehydrated, and he felt that her spleen was pressing on other organs making it a little difficult to breath. They kept her there, prepped her for surgery over a couple of days. We were afraid at one point we were going to lose her. But she made it thru surgery. They did
biopsies of her spleen, a node, and her left adrenal - it was all lymphoma. It had even started in her spine (we believe, it wasnt biopsied, but it affected her back end movement and her ability to control her bladder and bowels). So, she was really in a fragile state.
So we are 5 weeks into the protocol, and she is up and about, and has made a complete turnaround. Playing and chattering just like she used to. I mean, all she was doing was eating and sleeping, and going to the bathroom in her bedding - she couldnt even get up for that. I mean, I have really seen wonders in her. We also did radiation on her spine, and it has shown great improvement, its not quite fully right, so we are talking about a 2nd dose. The treatments have been really easy on her system (she had only vomited once, and that was on the first week). It runs for 26 weeks (you skip a week here and there, or its just testing). Its not cheap, but I can say that it is definately well worth the shot at it. If she was put on just Pred, I can bet she would be gone from me now - she was that bad off. I wasnt given any guarentees with this, and the vet says, it may help keep her in remission longer. But there is a chance it could cure her... and I'm holding on to that,
however slim the chance is.
I hope this helps you a little. I was very frustrated when I couldnt find or get any stats on this, so I may know how you are feeling. Please feel free to email me if you have any more questions. Good luck with your little one.
Andrea
Christine Fixico <moogirl@mindspring.com> wrote:
Hello all,
I was wondering where I could find information on the Tufts chemotherapy protocol
for lymphoma.
---------------------------------
Yahoo! Mail
Use Photomail to share photos without annoying attachments.
====================================================================<<<
Whatever you Wanadoo, click below:
http://ads.smartgroups.com/adclick/CID=000000b7c79a99a500000000
====================================================================>>>
--
If you want to share pictures, use the calendar, or start a vote
visit http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
To leave the group, email: ferrethealth-unsubscribe@smartgroups.com
Report abuse http://www.smartgroups.com/text/abusereport.cfm?gid%3D1423922&mid%3D16614