http://www.smartgroups.com/message/readmessage.cfm? gid=1423922&messageid=6797&startid=6798 >My vet suggests that I treat with pred rather than partial removal of >the pancreas, because the surgery would be invasive and there's no way >to know if it will do any good, as the cancer may have spread throughout >the pancreas. I don't want to subject him to a traumatic surgery if it >will not improve his quality of life, on the other hand...if it will >help, I'll do whatever is needed. > >According to my vet, if I just treat with pred, the lifespan from >diagnosis is maybe a year, probably less and if we do the pancrectomy, >it's about the same.... That is incorrect. The lifespan with a partial pancreatectomy is significantly greater than with nodulectomy or certainly with medication alone. I have had ferrets doing well two or three years post-op. My recommendation would be to find a vet who is comfortable with doing the partial pancreatectomy and go for it. Dr. Ruth ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Find it. Fix it. And fly again. [Posted in FML issue 4349]