This morning there came the call from Dr. Weiss that we have been dreading.
The pathology report had come in on some of the tissue removed from Ben
during last Friday's surgery.  The big tumor removed from the pancreas was
lymphosarcoma.  Rather than an insulinoma it was lymph node that had
enlarged and grown into the pancreas.  A smaller (but still enlarged) lymph
node nearby that had also been removed also had lymphoma present.  The
results were not yet back for the slightly enlarged adrenal and the smaller
pancreatic tumors that had been removed.
 
This is not good news at all.  Almost certainly the cancer is still present
inside her.  We have to weigh our options: chemotherapy or just prednisone.
Neither would start until she is healed enough from her surgery.
 
Poor Ben.  She was dancing around last Christmas and dragged a big tennis
ball up the steps.  I was holding her up as an example of how healthy and
vigorous a 7 year-old ferret could be.  Now I realize our time with her may
be short.
 
--- Bill & Clare Sebok
 
Ben & Jerry (the sick ferrets)
Buttercup, Bridgett, and Jasmine (the healthy ones)
Lupi (the dog).
[Posted in FML issue 1843]