From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2010-01-05 20:03:55 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Current Diagnosis: Metastatic Liver Cancer, Insulinoma, Adrenal disease
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi Anne,
Sorry to hear your little one is so ill. A pathology report is pretty conclusive.
There are other chemotherapy protocols, which may or may not slow down the progression. Prednislone is commonly given in such cases and can give some relief, as well as, remission. Keeping in mind that people misunderstand what 'remission' means when it comes to cancer of any kind, in any species. It does not mean 'cure', but a temporary respite where symptoms subside, tumors may even shrink but inevitably all come back with a vengeance. What remission does is improve quality of life in the time remaining.
I would suggest consulting with a veterinary ferret oncologist if your vet is not familiar with oncology protocols. Not certain I am allowed to list names here, but if you email me privately I can give you some names of vets your veterinarian can consult with.
If he has not been given pain medication that is something I would definitely give him as part of supportive hospice care. Liver cancer is excruciatingly painful in humans, I suspect it is no less painful for ferrets.
Whether or not to proceed with a full chemotherapy protocol will be something you will have to discuss with your vet. It is very expensive, time consuming and not always pleasant for the ferret or the human caring for the ferret.
Bottom line to ask yourself is first and foremost - whether this treatment is improving quality of life?
Wishing you the best in the time you have left with your beloved little one.
Tressie
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "esotericiv" <esotericiv@...> wrote:
>
> A friend and member of this site recommended that I join FHL for additional guidance in treatment for my ferret Dakota. I am including all of the information I have so far.
>
> Dakota is a seven year old neutered male. No health issues other than surgery to remove a petrified hairball from the duodenum two years ago.
>
> Prognosis: Less than three months to live.
> Treatment: Continue with prednisilone.
>
> ...
>
> Should I accept this diagnosis, if so is there anything I can do to slow the progression, of not what should I be doing to make him as comfortable as possible.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Anne
>
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