From:
"Ann"
Date: 2011-06-17 00:17:00 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] anyone have experience with radiation for lymphoma?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Has anyone here used radiation therapy to treat a lymphoma? If so would you reply to me off list of your experiences with it.
My 6 yr old female has lymphoma for the second time. She had it in 2009, was treated with the Tuft's protocol and went into remission for almost 2 years. Lymphoma has again raised it's ugly head. She has a 3 in long mass that appears to be attached to her liver via ultrasound though it could be arising from the right adrenal gland. She has been undergoing the Tuft's again and has had 3 treatments but it is taking a toll on her blood count. Yesterday her rbc was within normal limits, wbc was a little low and her platelets were 1, with normal on that one being 120 bottom range number. She is to have another cbc tomorrow and if her platelets are still alarming she will have a transfusion from one of my other ferrets to see if that will improve the platelets. It has been discussed that she have radiation and my vet has been in contact with a vet who has done a fair amount of that. My vet was told that the consulting vet has seen tumors shrink by half with one treatment but that will still leave her with a 1 1/2 in mass. Also she is stable right now but she isn't eating on her own, I am giving duck soup. And fluids. She is drinking and eliminating ok. She has rapid breathing, app 70 breaths/min, but we did a chest xray last Fri and there is no mass in her chest so apparently the mass she does have is pressing up on her diaphragm.
I just wanted to know if anyone has had experience with radiation as a treatment and if it is worth it. I will have to drive 3 hrs to a teaching vet hospital and I have no idea how much it will cost but one figure I have seen while doing a search online is $1000-$4000. If this would buy her a significant amount of time I would go for it but if it won't.... Also how well she would tolerate it. That, actually, is the main concern. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Ann and Hershey
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