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That Dreaded "c" Word.

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Doragon

Doragon

Teenage Guinea Pig
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May 5, 2015
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Location
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Hey guys. Sorry for the long time no speak - I've been stalking the forums lately, but at the moment; I really need some advice. Sorry if this is a lot of rambling...I'm just too upset for words.

Some of you guys were amazing and helped me out earlier this year when Smudge, my oldest Guinea Pig;(Ha, I say that - she's two today!) had a broken foot.

Smudge Has A Broken Foot.

Anyway, I came back from University last night to find her foot incredibly swollen, and open once again - she literally opened it that morning. So I was back to the vets with her this morning - I found a large lump in her side. The vet found no less than 6 lumps; most of them are in her neck. Thankfully, the lumps in her neck are very tiny, and there are a couple more near her rib cage - the biggest one is located there. It moves with the skin, but the other ones don't.

To cut a very long story short - they think it's cancer. They didn't want to sugar-coat it; as they knew that it was more likely sinister than not - not with how many lumps are on Smudge. A sample was taken; which I'm getting back on Tuesday - but on top of that, despite eating she is loosing weight and not to mention her foot is not infected. Smudge is currently on 0.4ml of Baytril per day in the attempt to wipe out the infection. I've wrapped up her foot again; so that should start to heal up now that she can't be biting at it.

Has anyone here had piggies with cancer? Any tips and advice? I'm waiting until Tuesday, there's some hope that she might not have it - but it looks likely at this point. I'm waiting to hear back, but is there anything I can do to keep her comfortable? Any options that I should be aware of? I'm prepared to put her to sleep if I have to.

I'm just absolutely gutted. Smudge is only 2 - this shouldn't be happening. And let it is happening. Just after we'd managed to heal her, too. It's not fair. She was meant to live to a ripe old age and be happy. Not this.
 
I am so very sorry to hear this :(

I lost my Erika to lymphoma last year and Ena the year before that.

In Ena's case, she had the lump surgically removed but sadly, we had to have her pts the day we were given the results as because lymphoma is a blood cancer, the wound just wouldn't heal and Ena managed to pull all her stitches out. Rather than put her through another GA to be stiched up again when the same thing would happen with such a poor diagnosis, we felt it would be kinder to let her go there and then.

I'm Erikas case, she had tumours come on very rapidly in all her lymph nodes including those in her dewlap. A biopsy of one of the lumps revealed lymphoma cells.

We were given the option of using steroids to give her a few extra weeks but my vet advised against it as steroids can cause further problems. However, some members have used steroids which gave them a little more time @sport_billy @flintstones

Erika lived for 3 weeks after diagnosis before we had to make the decision to have her pts.

Her tumours grew rapidly and one in her dewlap was pushing on her windpipe causing breathing difficulties.

All I can suggest is to make the most of the time you have left. Spend lots of time together, let her pig out on her favourite foods and take lots of photos for when you're ready to look at them.

If it is cancer, she will let you know when she's had enough and it's time to say goodbye

(((Hugs))) xx
 
I have to go back up to Manchester tomorrow night - I have lectures this week. I don't want to go back; I want to spend as much time with her San possible.

I want to hope that it might not be the case but honestly; the vets didn't want to get my hopes up. I'm just beating myself up right now over her injury - that was un-needed stress that she didn't need or want. I know that it was an accident but it doesn't change the fact that it happened.

I just don't know what to do. Making lecture notes right now and cleaning everyone out to make them comfortable.
 
Thanks, guys. I'm dreading going back to University tonight.

On handling Smudge and giving her the Baytril this morning; I found another 2 new lumps in her other side. However; I still want to wait for the results - she is still eating and drinking well. She's just being spoiled - she's currently having bunched carrot heads! And I'm just making sure she's not in any pain.
 
We could have some hope. I was forced to leave Smudge today to go back to University for my lectures (ironically, we were doing all about cancer, I had to step out a couple of times...) and Mum took over her care for me this evening. On examining Smudge and giving her the Baytril for her foot, Mum could only find 4 out of the 6 minimum the vet found - two in her neck and one in each side. By the time I had left yesterday evening, Smudge had 2 in her neck and then another 4 in her sides.

I don't want to hold my breath as Mum said she didn't want to hurt her, but having a massive feel round she could only find 4 of them. They were pretty big when I left and she said the only big one is on her left side - the one I had originally found.

I still have some hope. I hopefully get the results tomorrow morning. I'm trying to not get too...you know, hopeful about it as I've been told it's probably going to be bad news...but there's always that chance. Mum's not a vet, hell, I'm not a vet either. But I still don't want to give up until I know what this thing is; or if we have any options at all.

Probably won't sleep tonight - but Mum's assured me that her foot is healing well and she's eating like a horse! Fingers crossed.
 
Keeping fingers crossed for you both xx
 
I have all my fingers and my toes crossed, which makes it hard to type. My heart goes out to you and your family, I genuinely hope Smudge is okay. She's young, and a trouper. I wish you all the best of luck:hug::hug::hug:
 
No results yet. I'll call this afternoon to see if they come through later; but if not - I'll probably have to call again tomorrow. The wait is getting to me!
 
The waiting is the worst part.

Fingers crossed here xx
 
My girl Lily has an inoperable kidney tumour. She has a great quality of life at the moment, so I'm just making the most of whatever time she has left. If these lumps are coming and going, it may not be cancer. I hope the results are here soon and that they are what we want to hear. Fingers crossed. xx
 
It's okay. This will probably sound a bit insane, but don't block out the worry. In your position, anyone would be tearing their hair out. I hope everything turns out okay, sending my love xoxo:)
@Elwickcavies, I'm sorry to hear about Lily. Good luck to you both <3
 
Elwickcavies said:
My girl Lily has an inoperable kidney tumour. She has a great quality of life at the moment, so I'm just making the most of whatever time she has left. If these lumps are coming and going, it may not be cancer. I hope the results are here soon and that they are what we want to hear. Fingers crossed. xx
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What's weird about Smudge's lumps is that they're coming and going, but also moving through her body. I'm wondering if it's infection from her foot making it's over throughout her body - you can'y actually see the lumps on her, they just feel like...uh.... Liquid-hard lumps which are moving all the time. For example, I found them on her sides, and Mum says they've move down to rest at the base of her legs. It's really...weird. Good luck with Lily!

No results today - I'll have to call again in the morning and see if they've come through. I had a lab class this afternoon so I wasn't able to get to my phone (It was a really good class! We were extracting DNA!) but I didn't have any missed calls and the receptionist this morning told me to wait until tomorrow, or even Thursday. A part of me is dying inside as I was meant to get the results today, but I can wait! Smudge is responding well to the Baytril and her foot is less inflamed. Her appetite is back, too - but we are worried as she is definitely thinner. She is eating well, but it's worrying as she is loosing weight despite this. Mum's been hand-feeding her separately in a carrier or run for the time being - multiple times a day to ensure that she's eating. I think the hardest part of all this is being so far away - Smudge is back home in Bristol and I'm in Manchester! It's killing me that I'm so far away and can't do anything.
 
I have emailed Rachel and asked her if she would chase the results for you if they are not in by tomorrow - she is usually in on a Wednesday as it's one of her operating days - but she might be on holiday or lecturing / speaking - as she certainly put a rocket up them when we were waiting for Bumble's biopsy and they were slow - can't promise it will help - but won't do any harm either - keeping everything crossed for you.
 
TAN said:
I have emailed Rachel and asked her if she would chase the results for you if they are not in by tomorrow - she is usually in on a Wednesday as it's one of her operating days - but she might be on holiday or lecturing / speaking - as she certainly put a rocket up them when we were waiting for Bumble's biopsy and they were slow - can't promise it will help - but won't do any harm either - keeping everything crossed for you.
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Oh my goodness; thank you so much! You're an absolute gem. We are going to have to meet up at one point so I can get you a bottle of wine as a thank you for all you've done!
 
Save your money! I only drink Pepsi max anyway - just try and enjoy your uni course - you have done amazingly well to get to Manchester to do Zoology - very hard to get a place to do that anywhere! - you are the same age as my daughter who has just started at Leeds, (who like you is also full of freshers flu ) so I know how tough things can be for you - Smudge has a great mum in you and you are doing everything you possibly can for her.
 
Still no results! They've been checking the system for me but there's still nothing and was told to call back again tomorrow :( the wait is absolutely killing me!
 
IT'S NOT CANCER. WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! *SCREAMS INTO THE SKIES*

Ahem....Sorry.

What we're looking at here is an actual infection of her lymph nodes, which are causing the lumps to be coming and going; as well as moving around her body. The next course of action would be to get her on antibiotics - she's already on Baytril and seen some improvement - to clear both the infection in her little foot as well as the lymph infection. It will be a pretty long course of antibiotics - Dad began to sneer at how much this would cost but I'm ignoring him - and might take two or three different types of antibiotics to wipe it out completely. Just a side note. Lymphoma can't be ruled out completely, but Rachel (thank you, @TAN !) Is confident that it's an infection rather than cancer, as these things are coming and going and not attached to any organs.

Plan of attack are as follows: Wait until next weekend (14th) to give Smudge time to finish her course of Baytril. We need to hand-feed her, along with a boost of Critical Care to help her maintain her weight (Or mushed pellets. Probably use the mushed pellets - we just need to try and get her weight up and insure she's eating. Bring on all the fattening, but rich in Vitamin C, veggies!) as the infection is taking all of her body weight in order to get rid of it.

Rachel then gave me her mobile number to shoot her a text over the weekend about how Smudge is going, along with her weight. Hopefully, if we give her a boost and hand-feed her regularly, then it should be holding steady or improve. Since Smudge has been improving with more energy and increased appetite, it's optimistic for the time being. I just wish I was home to nurse Smudge myself! I might ask my reception very nicely if I can just have Smudge with me, but I don't think that'll go down well!

I'm shaking right now - I'm so relieved, I was sure I was going to have to arrange to put Smudge to sleep. We're not out of the woods - we never are with Smudge - but this thing is treatable. That's all that matters to me.
 
Whoo hoo! that's great news! - I had an email reply from Rachel at 12-13 this afternoon with regard to the email I sent her last night about the results not being through - it simply said "I will see what I can do!" with an exclamation mark - so she must have got on to them there and then - she really does have clout - I reckon she must be a partner in the practice, as her emails also say she is Director of Pet Rehab - There are not many of us that have Rachel's mobile number (possibly only you and me and one or two others - so we are very privileged ) - but then we do have super special piggies -

I remember Rachel telling me when Bumble had lost weight after an operation and we needed him to put back on the weight he had lost, that pears are a good fruit to help put the weight on as not too high in sugar and apple is also good as long as Smudge isn't prone to chelitis if she eats lots .

So pleased for you both xx
 
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