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If It's Cancerous...?

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VickyMidlands

VickyMidlands

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi everyone
I posted a thread called "tumour" a week or so ago after some confusing advice from a vet.
I took Rio bsck as the growth was discharging and the lovely lady vet cleaned it and it's not bled since.
The growth is by his back right leg and a vet in November thought it was a cyst by his mammory gland.
He has had this since at least October. Maybe before.
He's lost no weight. Not gone off his food. No other signs.
I don't know if it is cancerous but if it is, how long until it gets advanced?
I did think about a biopsy but he's 7 in May and I can't bear putting him through an operation that he may not survive.
Thank you
 
I don't think there is a way to tell if its cancerous without a biopsy - my bumble had a biopsy a few weeks ago and the results came back a fatty lipoma - 10 days later he had his op and the tumour had started to go necrotic - saw my vet today who sent the tumour away after taking it out and this time results came back fatty sarcoma - so it had metastasised in a short time - piggies can either hang in there with cancer,as if it is it could be a slow growing one, or it could be fast - but good that he is still eating and holding weight - that is a good sign - your piggy is also a very good age - mine are 6 and coming up 6 - fingers crossed for you.
 
I'm so sorry to hear that. How is your piggie doing?
The tumour has done swelling around it. I decided against a biopsy because I wouldn't put him through surgery. He's eating fine, no weight loss which the vet confirmed too. Just feel like any day could be his last.
 
I would take each day as it comes. Your piggy obviously has a good quality of life at the moment and at 7 is getting on a bit, so I would agree about not puttin him through an op. The treatment will not change whether you find out it's cancer or not, so don't worry about it. Just keep an eye and if and when he starts to suffer you can consider your options then
 
Thank you for your replies. He must have had it over 3 months and has not had any symptoms yet. I don't know what cancer it could be either. I know that not knowing is best but just feel like crying every night with worry.
 
I wonder if your vet would try a small needle biopsy without anesthetizing him? But that would still stress him out :( Is your vet a cavy savvy one ? x
 
I've seen 3 vets at the same surgery. One has Guinea pigs himself although he was the one I just didn't take to. I don't think they hold themselves out as specialists in any animal.
 
I have an older piggy who is 6 and we discovered a lump on his neck a couple of months ago. We have linked several symptoms/actions and feel it is highly likely it is cancerous but my vet will only test it with a needle under anesthetic and due to his age and the fact that he is very slim and nervy I don't feel the stress is fair, it's not going to change anything nor make him live any longer, and at the moment he's really happy, I just keep checking the lump and weighing him.
My point is try not to fear the worst every day, if your piggy is eating well and otherwise happy just keep an eye on them, you'll know when something isn't right. Just enjoy their the time with them, as I say, we've been living with this for a few months now and so far so good, you just have to enjoy them while they're here (if you're choosing not to take it any further that is) xx
 
My Erika who has now sadly passed was diagnosed with lymphoma just a few months ago :( My vet was able to do a fine needle biopsy of the lumps with out anaesthetic and it caused Erika no discomfort at all. If you really want to know, may be you could discuss with your vet doing a fine needle biopsy without using anaesthetic? I am wishing you both the best xx
 
Bless you, its not easy not knowing what to expect. A few years back my Peter had a couple of lumps and had an operation to remove them, once in there the vet found so many small lumps she was certain it was cancer and set off 3-4 of the lumps for testing. They all came back as fatty lumps and no cancer but I was warned that the sheer volume meant he would likely suffer again. I noticed the lumps getting bigger but it was last January when I noticed one lump was giving him a bit of difficultly with his back leg so took him for a check up, he was estimated to be nearly 5 years old at that stage and on his previous op 2 years earlier struggled with the anaesthetic. The vet (not a great piggy one unfortunately but not a bad one either) felt that given the volume of lumps you could feel and their location that he had lymphoma, based on his age and the fact that an operation could cause the lymphoma to spread more quickly I didn't go ahead with an operation. It is now one year later and Peter is still with us so I highly doubt it was cancer, yes the lump still gives him a bit of trouble but he still runs like anything when he knows the veggies are coming.

Piggies are unpredictable when it comes to these things so I think you are taking the right action and need to focus on maintaining the best possible bond with him so you can enjoy whatever time he has left - whether that's days, months or years.
 
@VickyMidlands It wasn't until we did some reading afterwards that a couple of things made sense- before we found the lump Wilbur lost his wheek, which at the time I thought might be due to age but the lump is on his throat. He also drinks a heck of a lot (so therefore he does go the loo a lot) but we noticed he always pees in his sleep too, which my vet advised can be linked, although not always. He's permanently ravenous, like beyond cheeky piggy begging, he devours everything and is never satisfied yet he doesn't put weight on, he's normally around 820g, and quite boney and we struggle to keep his weight up. Other than that he's super happy, nosey and loves life, we just keep a close eye on his behavior and weight .
 
Lady Kelly - that's lovely he's still with you and happy! Rio is the same, he's fast and when it's 5pm and the fridge is opened he goes mad!

Gogo - oh bless him and his weight. Rio is the same weight as when I've been to the vets over the last year but I'm keeping an eye on it now and weighing myself. Is he ok at the moment?
 
Yeah he's a little skinny one! His cage mate and my other pair of boars are all 1100-1200g so hes very light in comparison. He's really well right now so fingers crossed we can have some more time with him :)
 
That's amazing! Rio is over 1kg - I think it said 1.3 on the scales. I think I'm just so paranoid watching for anything strange.
 
Update - Rio has been fine so far. No weight loss. No loss of appetite. He's been sitting on my lap every night eating hay and he sits and waits to be picked up to come out now. So cute! I'm still keeping a very close eye on him though for any tiny changes.
 
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