Message Number: FHL14527 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Soren Tabnitz
Date: 2012-01-07 16:24:49 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Ferret with lymphoma and congestive heart failure treatment?
To: "ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com" <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>

Hi Lisa,

I'm so sorry Mojito is battling both things at once.  That must be tough on both of you.
One of my kids this summer did Tufts protocol without success--but we did see a negative impact on her WBCs.

While she did not have concurrent heart disease,  I had to think very hard about whether or not to try alternative chemo drugs after one by one none of them helped her (not even pred!). The thing is, these drugs are really toxic and some do affect the heart--can even cause myopathy where there was none before.

I would, if I were you, proceed very carefully and just think about things like quality of life vs. risk.
Remember, with chemo you don't get the type of remission they aim for in humans (i.e. years more time).  The goal is palliative (relief of symptoms). With chemo,  the question is: are the possible results going to be better than what you have right now? And, are the side effects worth what you may (or may not) gain?

While some folks have had good results with chemo, and I had heard of great success rates claimed anecdotally (like 75%!) other sources cite significantly lower success.

Warm thoughts to you both,

Skyla 





 


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