From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2010-04-25 09:32:30 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Mystery Illness with Neurological Symptoms
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Clare and Bill,
Sorry to hear you are going through this.
You mention that Dr. Y found an abnormality in the cervical spine - do you mean a mass was found on the spine? If that is the case it may be infiltrating the brain stem which would affect major organs and body systems and explain some of the clinical symptoms you are seeing. It does sound like you are dealing with an aggressive malignancy of some sort. Given its location in the spine precludes getting a biopsy without risking death to confirm diagnosis.
If you are realistic about expectations, that is, not expecting a cure but hoping to improve quality of life with the possibility of maybe prolonging life, then I would discuss with Dr. Y chemo protocol options. However, the pred she was on may affect the chemo, although generally it requires previous long-term use.
Because of the mass's critical location in the cervical spine, near the brain stem, if she were mine, I would keep her as comfortable as possible and then make the hard decision to euthanasize when her quality of life has diminished.
No way around it - an aggressive cancer is a terrible thing to deal with in our beloved little ones. And the kindest thing we can do for them is to have the courage and compassion to end their suffering when quality of life is gone.
Tressie
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