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Post by kainslie1 on Mar 2, 2011 14:29:26 GMT -5
So yesterday my vet called, and gave me my test results for the lump on sly's prepuce.. and it wasn't good news..
Sly has an aprocrine gland adenocarcinoma and it's extremely agressive.. I'm so devastated.. He seemed fine for the last week and a half and now that I know - He doesn't seem to eat much (once a day.. 1/2 of what he eats normally) and sleeps more than usual.. He also seems to have lost some weight.. even though i'm not sure if that's just winter weight leaving or if he actually is getting thin..
I don't know what to do.. I can put him through more surgery, and then chemo - or I can let him live until he can't anymore..
I was thinking of applying for subsidy for surgery, but don't know if I could put him through it all...
=[ I feel so sick, I don't want to let him down, since he is still young (at 4) he still seems really happy, and for that I want to do the surgeries.. but I don't want to make his quality of life crappy...
i'm so lost.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2011 15:33:49 GMT -5
There are a couple of tings you can do here.....
1. talk to the vet when you have yourself in a better frame of mind... the shock factor of bad news always wipe out the logical thought process...Make a LIST of your questions, bring it with you and take notes. Find out what usually happens with surgery as well as how well ferrets tolerate it.
2. start some light holistic and/or neutracuetical supportive treatments. In spite of any traditional treatments you may chosse, light supportive therapies will not hurt. Do you have a holistic vet? Holistic vets may have some actual treatment that go beyond supportive therapies that could conflict with traditional treatments. You would want to do any serious alternative treatments under a holistic vet's supervision.
3. Try to stay positive around Sly. Weight loss may be normal for this time of year. But he can clearly tell you're upset, and he may be affected by your feelings. He can probably smell that your stress level has increased as well.
Start with these things, and we'll be here to listen and try to help as much as we can.
Sending thoughts and ferret prayers yo you and Sly.
-jennifer
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Post by kainslie1 on Mar 2, 2011 15:47:16 GMT -5
I got to a holistic vet for my dog, but i'm not sure if they look at ferrets.. so i'm not sure of a holistic ferret vet around here
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Post by joclyn on Mar 2, 2011 16:02:49 GMT -5
oh, boy  i was hoping it would be similar to noodle and wouldn't be the carcinoma. i'm SO sorry!!
first thing is: take a few deep breaths!!
yes, this is not a good diagnosis. just because what was removed is nasty does NOT mean it's actually spread through his system - the surgery may have removed it in time.
that, actually, is what you need to determine, before deciding on a course of action.
the weight loss is most probably a combination of stress from the surgery (noodle lost 6-7 ounces within 2 days after his surgery and then a few more during the week after it) as well as the beginnings of dropping winter weight. so, for right now, i wouldn't worry about that - just supplement with extra soupies and that should even out a bit within a week or so...the plus is that you'll be spending some good one-on-one time with him during the feedings and that will help him to recover from the surgery a bit quicker and will make both of ya feel better!
hopefully all the bad stuff was removed and it hadn't started to spread yet!!
when i was faced with this last year, i did a ton of research and my breeder also did some as well (she has access to some vets and info that i don't). i will go through the old emails and forward what i have to you.
honestly, if it has already started to spread, the prognosis really isn't good. even the vets here who do research didn't have too much positive input if that was the case with noodle. i'm so very grateful that his 'adenoma' turned out to be just a basic cyst.
anyhoo, please don't jump to conclusions and think the worst! the only thing you're sure of, at the moment, is that what was removed was bad...you have no idea if it had already metastisized yet...so, stay calm/cool/collected for the moment!!
i would suggest going to the more experienced vet for further diagnosis...at this point, even though that one is so far away, it makes sense to go there because you want to be sure that you're getting accurate diagnosis about whether this had spread or not as well as good advice for any treatments that might be needed.
this surgery was traumatic enough and not only do you not want to stress him (or yourself) more, you also don't want to be giving unnecessary treatments!!
i'll send you whatever other info i have that i didn't already send you - won't be until later tonight tho when i get home.
hugs to both of you!!!
(jackie, the hugs smiley needs to be added...)
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Post by kainslie1 on Mar 2, 2011 17:09:14 GMT -5
Thanks Joclyn =[
I also have a vacation coming up, and now I don't know if I should take it since I don't know what might happen before, during or after the vacation =[ I just want to spend all my time with him =[
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2011 18:27:43 GMT -5
I'm so sorry with this news. How did the vet determine it was aprocrine gland adenocarcinoma? Maybe you can get a second opinion with a more experienced vet. Joclyn  <- hug smilie I'll be praying for your little boy |
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Post by Sherry on Mar 2, 2011 18:36:27 GMT -5
Oh, Kainslie, I am so sorry to hear about Sly! Fingers crossed that Joclyn is correct, and it didn't have time yet to metastisize. Talk to your holistic vet for the dog. He may know of one for ferrets here.
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Post by Heather on Mar 2, 2011 23:29:39 GMT -5
I'm sorry that it wasn't a positive diagnosis. I will light a healing candle for Sly. It is grim but perhaps as Joclyn mentioned it might not have metastasized yet. Look into holistic methods that slow carcinomas' progress. There are some chemos that are now proving successful with ferrets, but I"m still fence sitting on those. They have a tendency to be expensive and haven't appeared to be all that successful in the past. Have you spoken with your vet about alternatives? If the carcinoma has metastasized, then you can't possibly play catch the cancer by surgeries. I would probably look at that as being a closed door. What you now have to look at is, do you want to go the chemo route? Will he just be sick and miserable while going through this proceedure? only to die anyway? I"m sure this has crossed your mind already but it's a reality that has to be taken into consideration. What is the point of extending life, when the life isn't worth living. I'm sorry, this may be rather blunt, but I've just finished dealing with this particular question in regards to my MIL. I, also used to work in the field. Cancer is an old adversary, I've seen it's devastation on human and ferret. I've done death watch more times than I care to count when I was in nursing and again now, with the fuzzies. The physical pain suffered can only possibly be outweighed by the anguish suffered by those helping to fight the good fight.
The cost is another factor. I'm not denying that you may go to any extreme to save your little one, but there comes a time when cost comes into it. For the cost (chemo is expensive) are you going to get quality time for your little one. Again, it boils down to quality of life vs existance. I've seen wonderful pain medications that they use for human cancers and watched when they don't work anymore. They don't have those type of pain meds for our fuzzies. You will have to make that decision when the time comes. My preference.....holistic methods when at all possible (unless something simple like pred will help keep a tumour at bay) and go for quality over quantity. Remission is always possible. It depends on what side of luck you walk. I hope that you have many years yet to spend with your little Sly. I hope that the surgeon was able to get all the cancerous growth. Please know that what you choose to do, is right for you and Sly. Please keep us posted and know that we will support you and Sly through this trying time that you both will share.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2011 23:53:20 GMT -5
I too will light a candle for Sly and keep him in my prayers. *hugs* I hope it might help, the chorus of this song always seems to help me when things are hard - .
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Post by kainslie1 on Mar 3, 2011 10:16:42 GMT -5
I hope it hasn't spread.
The thing that worries me the most is how cuddly he is lately.. he will just lay on my chest for 20 mins, shift to my stomach for 20 mins, then to my side. He can probably sense my emotions, but even when i'm donig something like watching tv, those emotions should be somewhat at bay. and shouldn't effect him as much. I dunno.
Usually the second he was out of the cage it would be tmie to explore for an hour, then go find a place to nap, then explore another hour, ect. but he just seeems drained.
As for treatment, I'm not sure what I should do. I can get help for treatment, but I am wondering if *I* should let him go through that or not. Right now, i'm thinking no - since he's so drained.. but if he perks up again, I might.
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Post by Sherry on Mar 3, 2011 10:58:05 GMT -5
I think all you can do right now is take it one day at a time, Kainslie. If you feel the need to vent, cry, or anything at all- we'll all be here for you.
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Post by Heather on Mar 3, 2011 14:36:36 GMT -5
I second Sherry. If you need to talk, sound off....we're here  ciao |
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