Laura,
 
        Thank you for your kind words and information regarding Padington's
bone cancer.  Yes the leasion was `lytic' and Padington was a very stoic
ferret.  I saw and played with him breifly only a few weeks ago (he was a
friend's ferret).  Although Ann (our friend) had a cold so had not been
handling him (and her other ferrets) that much, he seemed fine, until he
showed some weakness on Sunday.  I will not repeat all the sad details, but he
showed no sign of pain except when the vet was probing around (what xrays
later showed to be) the effected area.  Even in the vet's office he was
`running' around using his front legs.  I don't believe I would be as brave
under the same conditions.  It is obvious that there could be no treatment for
cancer in this case (spine and pelvis involvement).  We were curious about
early detection for the benifit of other fuzzies.  By your comments I take it
that the answer is: there is not any easy detection of lytic osteosarcoma.
 
Re: Ferret Mortality Stats:
 
        I am more than willing to send in the stats for all the ferrets
I know, as soon as the investigators decide where to send the data, and
what data they want. I think is is a good idea and will help a lot even
if the sample is not reprsentative (I think it will be close though).
 
Richard, Margaret
Smokey, Pixie, Boots and Ping.
[Posted in FML issue 1156]