Gina, this may have some insights for you and Fawkes-it's new because it was not on the newsstands before I left for the SGGA and is now-and yes I love geeky magazines-

Scientific American
Special Edition: New Answers for Cancer
--Cutting edge drugs and research--

(display until Sept. 30, 2008)

What caught my interest is they have the results of the ANIMAL TESTING in the articles-the entire edition is on cancer and new research-things that worked, things that didn't, things that may decrease tumor size/growth.

I saw it and grabbed it, thinking of you and Fawkes-I can send it if you want-if you can find it that'll probably be quicker, but if you want me to overnight this I can-I just need an addy (don't have your new one).

I won't have time tonight at work to look, and don't know if the special edition articles are here, but here is their website also:

Scientific American**:

http://www.sciam.com/

A note on a source of acai that is easy to get, yummy, and shouldn't overdose him while waiting to ask the vet, also: Vitamin Water XXX (triple X is the flavor)-I believe it's made by Glaceau...the same folks that make the Smart Water-the stuff that looks/tastes just like plain water but has electrolytes in it-good stuff to take with you for your gliders if you take them out in the heat.

Thanks Chris and LSardou for the help this morning-new it would be very late before I could get on if at all tonight.

Mods-I didn't see anything objectionable at the site, but if you need to remove the link, that's fine-could you PM it to Gina if that's the case?

I actually wrote a 3 page paper a year or so ago on the benefits of Acai (because I am a big holistic fan). So Gina PM me with your email and I will send it away.


There is also an Acai drink called Bossa Nova which doesnt have guarana like some of the Sambazon (find at whole foods) Sorbets and Drinks. XXX doesnt have guarana either, however, I wouldnt trust the extracts that Glaceau uses as they are probably cheap and non beneficial.

However the XXX probably is a bit more enticing so you could do a cut of Bossa Nova (whole foods) with XXX,

If you arent near a Whole foods I can mail these too you when I am in my office tomorrow.

or you could try soaking parrot or monkey biscuit in the acai mix too.

Ya, here in the South, you don't find too many holistic, organic, whole foody type places! LOL - now, I'm originally from CA, so I sure miss them & wish you could find that stuff, but you just don't see it.

There is one tiny lil shop out in Johnson City that may carry it, though they are mostly supplements & the like. I can call them & see if they have it. I wish I'd have known, I was out that way earlier today (it's like 45 mins away).

I did Fawkes first weekly weigh-in since his vet appt. last week. If you'll remember, he weighed-in last Wednesday at 175g - today he's at 180g. I know, it's weird - I can't explain it either. I thought maybe the vet's scale was different than mine, so I weighed a small bottle on my scale, then took it to my vet's office & had them weigh it on their scale & it weighed the same. So, he really did gain 5g in a week. I am hand-feeding him more worms than he's used to, but I don't think he's eating as much in his cage at night. I really don't know...

Anyhow, here's the BIG news. Fawkes has an appointment tomorrow morning at UT where he will have a consult with a veterinary oncologist, who will perform a CT/Radiograph to see if the cancer has spread. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers...

Gina, I will certainly keep BOTH of you in my prayers! Thanks again for all of the updates! :hugs2

Gina, you guys will continue to be in our prayers here. Good luck to little Fawkes tomorrow!!

Gina,

Please let me know if ther is anything that we can do to help. I am praying deeply for you.

Love ya girl!

Crossing everything and sending tons on top of tons of prayers......please let us know as soon as you know anything. Praying for even a mini miracle.......God bless you both!!

Thanks guys, we're leaving here by 8am at the absolute latest - it's a little over a 2hr drive.

I have NO idea how long it'll take, but I'll be sure to post as soon as I get back.

Gina called me, she asked me to post. She is in Knoxville at the University today with Fawkes. They are going to be doing a radiograpgh and a CT Scan to check for cancer in other lymphnodes.

They also told her that just because there are lymphocites present in cytology reports, it does not mean it is cancerous.

They may be doing another biopsy or even going in and removing the tumor that is present. If they are able to get the whole tumor out, it will not aggravate anything if indeed there is more cancer throughout his body.

Pray for Fawkes and pray that Gina doesnt get too lost!!

Thank you for this update.....maybe they will get a miracle!!! Praying very hard, please post if you hear anymore.

has anyone talked with Gina. still crossing all crossables!!!

Ok, I am home! Whew! I have been home for about an hour, but I had to give Fawkes his meds & do his magnet therapy & feed the other monkeys, so I am wiped out!

Here's the gist:

Fawkes (all suggies) was too small to do an MRI - they said the magnet was too big & the picture would just look like a blob. He was also too small to do an IV catheter, so they could not use injectable dye on him and the vet said that without the injectable dye, the CT scan wouldn't show anything useful, so we did a radiograph.

The radiograph showed that he has a second mass under his armpit on the same side as the big tumor on his neck. The second tumor is about the size of the tip of your pinkie (where the nail is) - now that I know where it is, I can feel it.

They took samples from both tumors (by fine needle aspiration) and sent them to pathology, but the lab was closed by the time they got there, so we have to wait until morning to get the results.

He said that just because there are lymphocytes present does not mean it is lymphoma - there have to be a certain number of them within a certain area & they have to be exhibiting a certain behavior (in layman's terms).

He said it does look like cancer, but it could be benign or malignant, and that is what we will see tomorrow when we get the test results back. Dependant on the type of cancer (carcinoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, etc), we will treat accordingly. If it is benign, we will do surgery and perhaps chemo (yes, chemo is possible for suggies). If it is malignant, we may do surgery, but some malignant cancers are extremely aggravated by surgery, so again, we will have to wait and see. Chemo may be our only option (besides homeopathic) if it is malignant).

They said they will call me tomorrow afternoon after they get the results, consult will oncology, and come up with a course of treatment.

Until then, I need to write a list of questions, otherwise I will never remember them when I actually have them on the phone. Peggy has already reminded me that I need to get copies of his charts, and that I need to ask them if they have done this type of surgery on sugar gliders before (that way I know if I need to give them consult vet contact info). And Teresa asked me how big the incision was going to be & I had no idea. So if you guys think of anything I should ask them, please help me!

Oh, what a long day for you both!! Sorry they were not able to get the first two tests and also they found another lump. But there is the chance it is not malignant, so we are all praying for that!!!! Try to get a little rest tonight. You both must be dog tired!!!!

Exhausted Mary!

And I forgot to say - Whatever they decide, surgery, chemo, both...I have another appt in Knoxville on Monday to make it happen...

Gina, not trying to compare here, but I was terrifed Timmy's was cancer and it turned out not to be. Praying Fawkes will have the same result! God bless you both! You will fight this together. And we will be praying for you both through it all!!!

The both of you. Sending lots of love, light, and blessings Gina! Please try and get some rest.

Gina, I'm so glad you guys are back home & OK.
Prayers & to you both.

Gina you are a wonderful glider Mommy and we are all keeping positive thoughts for Fawkes. Glad you got another opinion and more options if you need them.

Thank you for keeping us updated.
Lots of Hugs for you both

Gina, Been thinking of you today...................was hoping the results were in..............HUGS........................Post when you can.

Hi - I'm sorry, I didn't get the results until around 5-ish, then I haven't been able to get online until now.

It is lymphoma - this is the worst possible news, we did not want this.

As of right now, they want to refrain from surgery, start oral prednisone daily, and subcutaneous chemotherapy every 2-3 weeks.

The main UT clinician is going to a conference tomorrow where he is going to meet with a colleage who works with sugar gliders quite a bit - he says he is going to consult with her about their plan & let me know if she has anything new to add & call me back tomorrow evening.

He is also going to talk to my vet to see if she can do the chemo so that I don't have to go to Knoxville every 2-3 weeks.

I really have more questions now than anything. I didn't even ask if they had ever done chemo on a glider. I am just so frazzled right now, I keep forgetting everything I am supposed to ask them. I had a list, but when he called, I was in the other room and I was so busy writing down what he was saying that I didn't get up & go get my list! I think I'll write my new list on my arm - this way I'll have it with me...

I also keep wondering - my vet AND one of their vets said that steroids could protect the tumor, so why do they want to give prednisone now? I'm so confused...

Linda - If you're reading, I keep noticing that when I do the magnet treatments, Fawkes gets almost catatonic - like he just freezes & stares blankly, he doesn't even blink - is this common/normal? He even stays that way for quite a while after the treatment - like almost until I move him or until he gets startled...

Gina, I am sorry for the outcome. It isnt what any of us wanted.

Sweetie, before you start chemo, PLEASE talk with Donna first. Darcy did not, to my knowledge, have ANY type of chemo therapy and he is STILL alive and well today.

I just cant help but imagine what chemo treatments would do to a glider. And we all know that gliders do not handle vomitting at all. That is a HUGE concern for me, personally.

Sweetie, I know you just want to do everything possible for Fawkes, but the whole chemo treatment just really gives me a bad taste in my mouth. Gliders are just too small for something so powerful. That is why I asked you if they have ever done it on a glider before.

I'm going to make a couple calls tomorrow as well and ask some questions...

Gina, I am so sorry about your news I would be heartbroken.

I am terrible with being diplomatic, so I am just going to say this, and hope you don't take offense. If you do, I apologize, because the last thing I want to do while you are dealing with this is hurt your feelings. Here I go. I suggest a second opinion. From what I know of chemo it is miserable, and while the point is to save his life, he doesn't understand, and to me that is cruel. I know Darcy went through nutritional therapy and is still alive. Maybe your vet has some recommendations about this, as well.

Again, I am not trying to hurt feelings, just suggest another alternative.

Thanks Peggy - I can't get a hold of Donna, I would love to talk to her! If you could talk to Tim, I would like to hear what he thinks about all this...

I'm so sorry Gina. I was so hoping for better news.

I was just on the phone with Mary. She has never heard of a glider being given chemo. Also, she said she isn't real comfortable with the prednisone either but had another call before she could explain why.

I know how/what steriods, specifically prednisone, does to me. It makes me completely crazy and suicidal. Extremely. It also makes me feel like my skin is crawling.

I personally, would have a fear of how the steriods will effect Fawkes emotionally/mentally. Now, I'm not saying it will effect gliders the same way but I'd be watching him like a hawk and be ready with an ecollar. If it were me, I'd be too afraid of self mutilation based on how prednisone made ME feel.

Gina, can you please ask the clinic if they could fax over his report on Fawkes...

PMing you the fax number...

Also, Gina...ya know I love you and would never hurt you but I agree with Shawna...I think the chemo would be cruel. It is very harsh and Fawkes wouldn't be able to understand what is going on. In this case, I think quality of life is more important.

I hope you can get ahold of Donna and can talk in length with her about Darcy. For me, I couldn't do to any of my gliders what that vet is suggesting you do to Fawkes.

I'm not saying give up by any means at all but I just don't think that chemo and steriods are the answer either. There has to be a better way. Atleast a way that will help him feel better during the time he has. And I will continue to pray that his time is like Darcy's...long and wonderful.

Oh so not what I wanted to hear but was afraid of after you mentioned he had another growth.......................I opted against chemo and steroids for my Rocky for the above mentioned reasons. Plus this was 2 years ago. They have come a little way since then but I am not sure THAT far. I am here if you want to talk sweetie!

That's the thing Shawna, this is my second opinion - so now I have 2 differing opinions - I need a tie-breaker. One of the vets said don't do steroids, one said do it. One vet said you can't even do chemo on a glider, the other is saying do it. And the one telling me to do it is supposed to be a "team of specialists".

Answer me this - I thought there was no cure for cancer - so what is chemotherapy? Why are there cancer survivors if ther is no cure? Is chemo just going to extend his life, or will it eventually get rid of the cancer? If it will only extend his life, but will make him miserable the whole time, then I don't want to do it. If we caught it early enough that we can beat it with chemo & he can live a long life, then ok, we need to discuss it.

Ellen - does Bruce have any thoughts on this?

Gina, cancer never goes away....it can go into remission...meaning you can either 1) stop the growth of the tumor to where it does no more damage or 2) you can shrink the tumor, sometimes to where there is no signs left. But honestly, it never goes away.

Now with that being said, there are those cancer survivors that have say breast cancer, and they catch it early enough. They remove the breast and all the problems there and do a dose of radiation or chemo to make sure all cancer cells are killed off, and in some cases, there are no more signs of cancer, ever. In other cases, it shows up later down the road, somewhere else.

Your best bet would be to talk to some of our wonderful cancer survivors here on the board. Such as Karin, Kris, Carolyn, to name the first few that come to mind....they can tell you more about it first hand.