From:
"amy"
Date: 2007-02-06 23:32:29 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: mammary gland tumor and Doxorubicin
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Thanks for responding so quickly. I had searched FHL and found the
quotes connecting adrenal disease with mammary cancer. I discussed it
with my ferret vet and she said Whiskey should still go on chemo
because even if the hormones are causing the cancer, lowering them will
not stop the cancer that is already there. It makes sense to me, does
it make sense to anyone else? I haven't seen anyone else using chemo
for mammary cancer here.
We aren't certain that Whiskey has adrenal disease. He is losing some
hair on his tail but it's from the tip, not from the base. Here comes
his strange history. He has been receiving an overdose of Interferon
(1500 units, which is 100x his normal dose of 15 units) for his IBD for
1.5 years (pharmacy mistake in the computer). It's a clear liquid so I
didn't notice the difference but should have noticed the change on the
label, the vet and pharmacy should have noticed on refills. Since it's
not used often in ferrets, no one was familiar with the drug (another
vet put Whiskey on it originally). His cancer does not appear to be
from the Interferon overdose. One of the side effects of Interferon is
hair loss. So, we don't know if his hair loss is from that or from
adrenal disease. He just went off the Interferon 2 wks. ago so it's too
soon to tell.
Now that I've read about the connection of adrenal disease and mammary
cancer, he's getting a melatonin implant just in case he does have
adrenal disease. Whiskey is recuperating from a hernia surgery that he
had 2 wks. ago (the same time as his lumpectomies) so adrenal surgery
is not an option now. My vet suggested the TN panel but I can't afford
that now in addition to the expense of the chemo that will begin next
week. I am open to giving him Lupron shots if that would work.
Dr. Murray wrote that melatonin helps Doxorubicin work against cancer
cells because it keeps the drug in the cell longer. Does the dose of
Doxorubcin have to be lowered if he's on Melatonin?
The oncologist has treated ferrets mostly for lymphoma but hasn't seen
mammary cancer in a ferret. She is optimistic with the Doxorubicin
treatment, however. I'm curious as to why no one else is using it. Is
it ineffective?
Amy, Whiskey, Ginny, Bailey and Spirit
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Sukie Crandall" <sukie@...> wrote:
>
> You probably should give strong thought to removing
> the adrenal component from the equation by preferably
> removing diseases adrenal(s) (and if both come out cleanly
> or one is atrophied and remains then supply Percortin and
> Prednisolone, or Fludrocort and Prednisolone to avoid a
> fatal Addison Crisis), but if you can't then thoroughly
> treating them (like with Lupron and melatonin if there is not
> a medical conflict).
>
>
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