I've got a few minutes and am on a different machine. Please, use these
resources. I have little spare time but am giving it to you so that you
can be helped. Some adrenal info is mixed in with the lymphoma section,
too.

Although this was written for the FML it looks like it might help some
FHL people so I will copy it there, too.

TN Panel (the cost of which is usually doubled if it is not sent
directly but is instead sent through a lab, and the vets really ARE
billed that huge amount by the intermediary lab so vets have no way
to know that a rip-off is happening to them and their clients unless
someone alerts them to the alternative of sending directly and where
to get the info):

http://www.vet.utk.edu/diagnostic/endocrinology/index.php

BTW, this is wonderful presentation on adrenal disease treatment
options by Dr. Bob Wagner:
<http://www.ferretcongress.org/sym2011/phxpdf/Ferret%20GnRH%20vaccination%20ACD%20prevention-Wagner.pdf>

(It is in
http://www.ferretcongress.org/sym2011/phxpdf
which has a LOT of presentations people should read, and Barb Carlson's
will probably be the one which helps the most people on the FML.)

For lymphoma there are also two presentations to see in that grouping.
They are by Dr. Natalie Antinoff:
<http://www.ferretcongress.org/sym2011/phxpdf/FerretLymphomas-Antinoff.pdf>
and
<http://www.ferretcongress.org/sym2011/phxpdf/FerretOncology-Antinoff.pdf>

Here is an EXCELLENT introduction to lymphoma:
<http://www.afip.org/consultation/vetpath/ferrets/PDF/Lymphoma_Ferrets.pdf>

Notice that the clumping lymphoma type is immunoblastic-polymorphous
variant. It is pretty common but not terribly so in most locations. We
are on the East Coast in the northern mid-atlantic and have had such
clumps twice in 30 years with ferrets in the family. You can read about
that form on the third page of that article. I know that some people
are bothered by dissection photos but you can hold you hand over those
parts of the screen if you are because this article is one worth
reading. For some unknown reason it shows up more often in the Midwest.

You can also read about this in vet texts. I don't have time to dig
right now, but I seem to recall that the second edition of _Biology
and Diseases of the Ferret_ especially has a good section on this.

Again, the implicated exposure is YEARS before the lymphoma shows up.
That should not be a surprise. It looks like adrenal disease also has
an average of 3 years after neutering to develop far enough to show up
in ferrets, and in humans there are a number of malignancies known now
to take decades to get from the initial one mutated cell to having
enough cells to show up. Remember that malignancies begin as the body's
own cells mutating and that there are hundreds of types, many with
subsets.

Bodies kill off the small accumulations of such cells time and time
again throughout life which is one reason why genetics research into
malignancy rates not only includes genetic differences which increase
vulnerability, but also ones that help destroy such clumps. A number
of these genetic signatures are found in a range of species including
humans so work on one species also very, very often helps other
species. One such tumor fighter is protein p53 which is created by a
specific gene. Dr. Bob Wagner has found p53 genetics in ferrets, and
Dr. Michelle Hawkins hopes to be able to begin publishing rather (which
typically means a half year to a couple of years in this field) soon on
the first of the firm enough results from the large UC Davis study on
an assortment of ferret disease related genetics.

There are also behavioral and environmental factors which can help
fight malignancies. The importance of darkness (not only for delaying
or decreasing the risk of adrenal growths by decreasing the FSH
production) because of the resulting increase in circulating melatonin
produced by the pineal gland, has also come up as a useful malignancy
fighter in studies on a wide range of human and animal studies into
adrenal growths of a range of types (including benign), breast
malignancies, prostate malignancies, intestinal malignancies, at least
one form of lymphoma, and more.

In three words: Darkness is good. In a few more words: You and your
ferrets should get enough of it and for them that is probably at least
10 hours in each 24 which can be achieved with dark places to go to and
not over using lights.

Blue and green are the worst and second worst parts of the light
spectrum for disruption melatonin production, while amber is the best,
so if you need to use a light in their room at night let it be an amber
one, please. There ARE amber incandescent and compact fluorescent
bulbs. Expect amber lighting to make you sleepier after an hour or
three or more, and it can be used starting at dusk to help shift
sleeping habits. Among other sources see:

https://www.lowbluelights.com/index.asp?

Melatonin serves many functions in bodies and even is very helpful for
marrow. The deeper the darkness the more the pineal makes on its own,
though the amount decreases with advancing age after the prime years of
life.

With lymphoma there are location differences which can affect how
aggressive it can be, there are types of lymphoma which also can affect
how aggressive it will be, and there are further differences which also
affect that and you can read about those of those here:

http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL6322

These can help complete your introduction and I suggest also reading
past posts on the Tuft's protocol and some older protocols (found in
texts such as _Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents, Clinical Medicine and
Surgery_ in addition to the one used by Doctors Antinoff and Ramsell
when you look at treatment options so that you and your vet know about
the range of treatment options:

<http://www.afip.org/consultation/vetpath/ferrets/PDF/neoplasia.pdf>

<http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/Presentations/Malignant_Lymphoma_in_a_Ferret.pdf>

Sukie (not a vet)

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html

"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)

[Posted in FML 7132]