To Geri and Roddenberry RE: Pancreatic Cancer First of all, since I've never heard of an actual pancreatic *cancer*, I'm going to assume that what your vet means is that Roddenberry has pancreatic beta-cell tumour(s), which causes hyperinsulinoma (too much insulin -- this is why glucose is low and Roddenberry is on prednisone -- prednisone increases blood glucose). Dr. Kawasaki did some studies this summer and determined that prednisone is indeed the best agent to bring glucose up in cases of pancreatic tumours. However, there is another product which is almost as effective and does not have the detrimental effects that the long-term use of prednisone has. If Roddenberry has this type of tumour, unless it/they are surgically removed, the problem will not go away. This means he'll have to be on pred for life. For Roddenberry, that could be a few years. The problem with this is that long-term use of prednisone (a steroid) can and often does lead to immune supression, allowing the animal to become susceptible to other diseases. However, there is another product, called Proglycem, which raises glucose and does not cause immune supression with prolonged use. The drawback -- it costs about $90 for a 30ml (I think) bottle. But it lasts quite a while -- dosage is often less than .5ml twice daily. If we are talking pancreatic beta-cell tumour (how was `pancreatic cancer' diagnosis arrived at -- symptoms, blood tests, biopsy?), there is the option of surgery. If the tumour(s) is/are not microscopic, which they only are about 10-20% of the time, they might be able to be removed surgically. This surgery is somewhat risky, as manipulation of the pancreas often causes post-surgical pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). However, the ferret often recovers from this, and most who pull out of surgery okay end up with a dramatically improved blood glucose level. (Pre-surgery glucose anywhere from 20-65 (65 being low normal), post-surgery glucose 100 or usually more). The tumours often recur 6 mos. to 2 yrs. down the road, but if successful the surgery is more effective than treatment with medication, and will probably keep the ferret healthy longer. If you and your vet consider surgery an option, or if there is another in the area who does and won't charge outrageous prices (it makes me mad what some vets will charge in the name of being specialists -- no one should have to pay an arm and three legs for good medical care for any animal), s/he can call Dr. Tom Kawasaki for advise on procedure. His number is (703)-690-2580, at Old Bridge Veterinary Hospital in Woodbridge, Va. They're open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Hope this helps. Good luck to you and Roddenberry! Laura --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Laura L'Heureux, Trella, and Tribble, too U. of Illinois Vet Med Class of 96 [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 0582]