Radiation Therapy Pros and Cons for Thymoma

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This topic has 9sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 11 months ago by Kimomo.

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- 05/20/2014 at 12:06 AM
  Kimomo
  Participant
  19 posts
  Hi everyone,
  
  So I brought Tika to the vet last week because I thought she was having eating issues due to her misaligned teeth that needs to be trimmed every few months, but it turned out the vets found a mass in her chest, and after an ultrasound, they suspect it is most likely thymoma The vet gave me some options (long term treatment on steroids, surgery), and said that radiation therapy is a good option since it has a good prognosis. Does anyone have any experience with their rabbits having radiation therapy and will it be ok for a 9.5yr old bunny to go through such an intensive treatment? Thanks!
- 05/20/2014 at 1:37 AM
  longhairmike
  Participant
  1069 posts
  im sorry to hear.. we had a 6 year old bunny that developed a thymoma in her chest and we opted for steroids. it bought her an additional 8 months, but the last 2 went really downhill. the steroids slowed the growth but they also suppressed her immune system and a bunch of other stuff cropped up. eventually it still reaches the point where the mass doesn’t leave enough room for the lungs to inflate. steroids are going to be your lest expensive option, and will only slow the growth of the thymoma. radiation might shrink it, but i think it will make your bunny miserable for the time being.
  
  how large is the mass? she’s not at the point yet where breathing is labored, right?
- 05/20/2014 at 1:07 PM
  Kimomo
  Participant
  19 posts
  I’m sorry about your bunny.. Is that the one in your photo? She was adorable
  
  Currently, Tika doesn’t have trouble breathing. I’m not sure why she is having problems eating right now, if it is due to her molars overgrowing or if it is the mass in her chest. I’m just worried about having her go under anesthesia for every radiation treatment.. and the cost isn’t funny.. I wish I had known about the pet insurance long ago, I would have signed my bunbuns up for it!
- 05/20/2014 at 1:23 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I’ve never heard of radiation therapy for rabbits but I’ve known rabbits who were diagnosed with Thymoma.
  
  I’m sorry your bunny is going through this and you have to make some decisions.
  
  LHM gave some great advice.
  
  I guess what I would ask the vet is if he has done radiation therapy before and what would be the side effects.
  
  Also send House Rabbit Society an email at health@rabbit.org to see if they can help you with any pro’s and con’s as well as they have many resources and educators who might have experience with the radiation treatment.
- 05/20/2014 at 1:29 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I found this article that may help you as well:
  
  http://www.rabbit.org/health/Rabbitthymomas.pdf
  
  http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/Cancer/Thym/Thymoma_rab.htm
- 05/20/2014 at 1:52 PM
  Kimomo
  Participant
  19 posts
  Thanks for the information! They’re very helpful. I had asked the vet about side effects, and she told me they were minimal, but I think bunny parents would know best if there were any side effects or changes. In the meantime, the vet is keeping her on a low dosage of steroids, which she’s grumpy about taking.
- 05/20/2014 at 8:32 PM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  My dog had radiation; different kind of tumour and different location, but it was amazing. They said it would give her two months to two years, and she lived more than seven (And it wasn’t the tumour but age related illness at the point we said goodbye).
  
  I would say definitely I would go for it
  
  Radiation/chemo doesn’t make animals sick the same way it does with humans-I really don’t know why -I just saw your line about the side effects being minimal and as far as I know that’s really really true!
  
  I’m sorry you got not so great news, but the options sound really good! Please do keep us posted!
- 05/20/2014 at 9:06 PM
  JackRabbit
  Participant
  5451 posts
  I don’t have any experience with radiation or steroids but just wanted to say that I’m sorry you and your bunny are having to deal with this at all.
- 05/21/2014 at 12:51 AM
  LongEaredLions
  Participant
  4482 posts
  I had a guinea pig with cancer that we chose to do radiation. I agree it doesn’t seem to effect them much, she acted normal before and after. (((((Vibes for your bun)))))
- 05/21/2014 at 10:49 AM
  Kimomo
  Participant
  19 posts
  Thanks everyone for your input and bunny vibes! I probably won’t start her on her treatment for another few weeks, but she’s getting better each day. Yesterday, she did the highest bunny binky ever then zoomed around in circles Happiest bunny mommy ever!
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