From:
"Amy Seyler"
Date: 2011-05-06 02:16:51 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Update on Rory/intestinal lymphoma/chemo
To: "FHL" <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
Sorry this has been so delayed in coming. We have had some set backs in Ror=
y=E2=80=99s treatment, but overall he=E2=80=99s doing very well.
The first week he received the vincristine via IV. He had no reaction and n=
o problems. He was also started on prednisone 1.0 mg/kg tablets, once in th=
e morning and once in the evening. The second week was the problem. He was =
given a half-tablet of the cyclophosphamide; no reactions and no problems, =
at least in his behavior/eating. However when we went in for week 3=E2=80=
=99s treatment, which was the vincristine IV again, his neutrophils were be=
low 1500, which is my vet=E2=80=99s threshold for continuing treatment. So =
he had no chemo on week 3. Week 4 he did get the vincristine via IV; week 5=
he received the methotrexate SQ injection. When it was time to receive the=
vincristine for week 6, once again his neutrophils were too low, so no che=
mo. On week 7 he received the vincristine; week 8 his neutrophils were down=
to 500 so he was put on prophylactic Clavamox for a week. Week 9, his neut=
rophils were just about at 1500, but Rory had been showing some signs of le=
thargy, so we decided to hold off another week.
He=E2=80=99s been feeling better this week and last night received the cycl=
ophosphamide, but instead of giving him the entire half-tablet, the vet is =
trying to dial back the chemo about 10%. He=E2=80=99s thinking that if he c=
an drop everything by 10% it will be enough to kill the cancer and allow hi=
m to receive treatment weekly. During this period he=E2=80=99s been gaining=
weight steadily due to the pred, and has typical bloated pred belly now. H=
e=E2=80=99s up to 1388 grams so the vet has decided that he wants the predn=
isone treatment halved. So Rory only gets one 1.0 mg/kg tablet daily now. W=
e are hoping that his weight will drop a bit, and that his constant hunger =
will subside a little.
He=E2=80=99s a very happy boy to be alive! I=E2=80=99m not sure how many mo=
nths this treatment will give us, but the months he=E2=80=99s already had h=
ave been worth it. The first several weeks he was like a kit; dooking at ev=
erything, dancing, attacking, constantly looking for attention. He=E2=80=99=
s slowed down a bit (I think because of the weight) but he is still enjoyin=
g life to the fullest a ferret can. He has suffered no ill effects from any=
of the meds (not eating, diarrhea, nausea, weakness, hair loss). Additiona=
lly, my vet has been great about cost: he=E2=80=99s only charging me for th=
e actual medical procedures and no office visits; sometimes he=E2=80=99ll g=
ive me complementary treatments; last week he didn=E2=80=99t even charge fo=
r the CBC since it was the second week in a row Rory had no chemo. I have t=
o say this experience has been better than I hoped.
As a reminder, here is the protocol we are using (Animal Medical Center of =
NY=E2=80=99s protocol):
First: L-asparaginase @ 400 IU/kg given one time only; Five days after L-as=
paraginase, begin weekly protocol (we did NOT start with L-asparaginase; ve=
t considers it a =E2=80=9Crescue=E2=80=9D drug and we will incorporate if n=
eeded)
Week 1: vincristine @ 0.07 mg/kg IV
Week 2: cyclophosphamide @ 10 mg/kg PO
Week 3: vincristine @ 0.07 mg/kg IV
Week 4: methotrexate @ 0.5 mg/kg SQ
Amy, Dave, Sarah and Paul
And their gaggle of giggling ferrets
RIP Ian, Elektra, Claudia, Sidney, Max, Hannah, Fritz, Fiona and Felix
Missing Tasha
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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