There are ferrets whose prostates are still receiving too much damage from hormonal disruptions (which can continue if not all tissue is gotten), or whose prostate simply have too much damage. That is another reason for mentioning Proscar (Propecia) though in the case of bad cysts that is only helpful for a few so thanks for finding my error of omission and calling it to attention, Sandi. In such situations where the adrenal disease has been going on too long or is too acute cysts can occur in the prostate and those are incredibly hard to deal with. There are multiple past posts on this in the Ferret Health List Archives at http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/ Were these ones who were turned in to your shelter after their adrenals had been kicking up for some time? That sounds like the most common cause of prostatic cysts. If more info on these cysts would help you be sure in part of your search that you also do a separate search for those cysts with adding "AFERRETVET" in the "from" section. My assumption (Okay, assumptions are dangerous...) was that we were discussing something which just began and in such cases adrenal surgery typically is curative as i said, though certainly there can be some which simply start way too gang-busters. Thanks again for catching that and doing it gently. It is an important clarification. Best of luck on the surgeries and thanks for telling about the article, too. I figure that mention deserves a repeat in case someone may have missed it and need the article so here it is: >There was an article in the most recent Vet Clinics of North America >publication showing how to remove the prostate. We're now looking into >this surgery. :-( BIG and Lynda are right. You know, failure to accept that others have a right to their own choices goes both ways. Until that letter with Bill's attached comment the discussion had stayed civil and had stayed on the topic -- discussing things like wording choices, ways to test, and so on -- instead of definitely personally attacking any person which is amazing given that a faith thing was under discussion, and that faith or economics are historically often mentioned as the causes of most wars. It's best to discuss topics or posts rather than posters, and it's best to accept that many choices of intellect and faith will differ so one has to accept that. There is nothing wrong with presenting multiple facets of a subject under discussion and of presenting them from differing viewpoints. Bill Moyers recently said that there are more chances to pick up interesting things and learn by learning with those whose opinions differ from the listeners. It's an observation that is worth taking to heart while at the same time being able to disagree civilly when a topic is still under discussion. (I can't recall the exact quote but you'll find it in a fascinating discussion on the current recession and possibility of impending inflationary recession with a conservative economist at http://www.pbs.org/now/transcript/transcript_rockwell.html .) Anyway, please, talk civilly and about the posts rather than the posters. Please! These days when seeking Proglycem look instead for the generic name "Diazoxide". It can be difficult to impossible to find it under the name "Proglycem" anymore. I can not recall details but think that it may be that the drug patent expired. Both Prednisone and Diazoxide cause the liver to put more sugar into the blood, if memory serves. There is an excellent post by veterinary pathologist Dr. Bruce Williams on this in the FHL Archives mentioned above and I feel very sure that it can also be found in the FML Archives. To get the FML Archives look in the header of any day's Ferret Mailing List. Both are very easily searched and very friendly. Meds over the internet: this topic was recently discussed either here or at the FHL. There have been multiple cases with meds over the internet where what was received was not what was ordered: similar meds but not the same one and sometimes that includes potentially dangerous additives of differences, expired meds that no longer work, deaths caused, etc. Tread very carefully -- very, very carefully. That is also true for humans; there is a current case on-going in which a woman required a liver transplant after taking such meds which were misrepresented that was recently in the news. I am NOT familiar with the source you mentioned so can not say if that one is reputable or disreputable. We have a very tight budget but we are sticking with known reputable sources of medications. There just is too much room for potential risks for our tastes personally. Like Bob I enjoy seeing increased international input in the ferret groups I'm in! Hope it is a continuing trend! [Posted in FML issue 4089]