I am mostly a quiet reader of the news service. I love the stories and have as a new ferret owner learned incredible amount of info through the service and the web sites. However, I need some help. One of our adorable ferrets "Xena" the vet has stated that he is pretty positive that she has leukemia. We have done two blood panels, each one worse than the other (each a week apart). Her lymph glands are not swollen yet, nor is her spleen enlarged (just had an X-Ray). Our next step according to him is to actually do a blood marrow biopsy, and then aggressive chemo (about six weeks) or of course nothing at all. Xena is only 8 months old. She is perky and still seems OK, but we took her in because she has thrown up off an on since we got her, always seemed like she just got excited and that would happen. She could go for days and not throw up, but eventually she would go back to the pattern, but sometimes only once a day, sometimes more, but it always just seemed to be food. But she threw up some blood when we were out one evening, so we did the complete panel and X-Rays. The first panel showed insulnomia, which was not a fasting blood test, second panel showed normal on the blood sugar. In the meantime we did a round of antibiotics which seems to have cured the throwing up, at least for now. I am looking for any hope in this bleak picture, (we had a cat many years ago who died with feline leukemia, before vaccines), we are not excited about this propsect of suffering for Xena. Since Xena is not exhibiting major symptoms yet, we have a little time to get more info. Wholistic treatment suggestions would be appreciated. Pointers to more information would be helpful. We do have a well known vet who has an extensive ferret practice and even has a web site. But I feel I need to be better informed before I can make such big decisions for poor Xena who is only two pounds and the cutest, smartest little girl you ever wanted for a pet. Thanks so much for any assistance you can give our family, we are so sad----------- [PN] [Posted in FML issue 2323]