From:
"Patricia Kaczorowski"
Date: 2008-02-29 16:22:17 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Re: Propecia
To: <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
What I read and understood. That yes, if you start early suppressive therapy with Lupron, monthly you can slow any adrenal growth enough to give them perhaps years before the adrenal becomes an issue, if at all. The reasons it no longer works would be that the growth has become malignant or perhaps the output of the sex hormones is now beyond the control of the pituitary and "Some ferrets on the
study received monthly lupron for nearly 4 years with effectiveness until
the tumor was beyond pituitary control.".
ANd " Failure of medical treatment is also seen
when it is started late in the disease after surgery - the rebound high
hormone levels I've found are hard to control and the remaining adrenal
tissue is malignant, grows faster, and is no longer controlled by the pituitary.".
One part of the study is only now 4 years old ? I think we would need to see how those ferrets do at age 5-7 compared to those ferrets without monthly lupron; It also seems you have to start early enough, have to be on the right dose and have to measure twice a year the TN panel to make sure there is enough suppression of the sex hormones. The lupron storage is important to make sure the lupron is working.
Also, it does say unilateral adrenalectomy or partial adrenalectomy did not do as well as those on lupron only. But I didn't see anything about bilateral. I think the key is that lupron is important even if adrenalectomy is done, and there is some rebound hormone elevations that are tough to treat with lurpon after adrenal surgery, so the females didn't do as well with surgery, but if they had surgery should be on lupron from then on. But the males did better with surgery thought to be due to the enlarged prostate problems they get. So, if you start to treat the ferrets early with Lupron preventatively, that may be the key to delaying adrenal disease, and then perhaps surgery only if you have a male who is showing signs despite the lurpon? The expense will be in twice yearly TN panel and monthly lupron for life. Not all owners can do that. But it is nice to see studies that show some hope.
It also states that it is wrong to just go by hair loss for adrenal disease staging, that really it is only the sex hormone levels that are important, high levels indicate disease not treated, and it doesn't matter if those ferrets have any outward symptoms. That is my take on it.
Patty
----- Original Message -----
From: Karen McCabe
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 6:48 PM
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Propecia
In my personal opinion, based on my experiences, this is not true.
I've had ferrets on lupron for more then 3 years (and counting) that
have done far better then ferrets that have had both glands surgically
removed. It's been my experience that ferrets do far better, and live
far longer with a much higher quality of life, on lupron alone....even
when malignancy is involved. The latest studies (by Dr. Delaney) may
help to explain why this is....
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/message/3882
Karen McCabe
http://www.cinnamonsprite.net
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "mustelidmusk" <mustelidmusk@...>
wrote:
> As I unerstand it, one of the problems with treating with
> lupron and other meds. is that they become less effective the longer
> they are used. If you delay surgery and use these other meds.,
> there's a greater chance that both adrenals plus malignancy will be
> involved. ANd if your ferret has been on these other drugs for some
> period of time prior to surgery, these drugs are less likely to be as
> effective for as long as your ferret may need them since they tend to
> be less effective over time.
>
> Best Regards,
> -jennifer
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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