Lump On Chest?

[he'smyhero]

I took Hero and got a second opinion on monday at a different vet- reccomended by my uncle who is a breeder and has used them for a long time. This vet reccomended leaving it for 2 weeks, keeping a close eye on it and if it gets any bigger to have it removed. She was alot better then my first vet- explained everything to me and answered all my questioned. She said it is definately not a cyst but she highly doubts its cancer as all his glands are normal as is his temp and he is in perfect health otherwise.

She said it is more likely it is from the anti-biotic shot he received when he had a bad bount of gastro, from rough housing with Lola or my even be a grass seed. She also explained that it's too small to asperiate as she could never be sure she got cells from the lump itself. She also quoted me for the surgury and it is alot less then at my regular vet.

I have traced around the lump on wax paper and check it every day so far it hasn't got any bigger at all which is good. She also said that if I'm still worried about it in two weeks, even if it hasn't gotten any bigger, just to get it removed and have it tested just for peace of mind.

[Staffyluv]

That is great that you found a vet that you feel good about and that they explained it to you.

Just some info on MCT and you can judge if the his lump really should be aspirated or removed... I am just a big stickler for not letting lumps do anything without having all the information.

Ollies MCT on his rump did not change in shape or size in a month. The one he had on his foot that looked like a wart did not change for years (yep, years - we were told it is just a wart and nothing to worry about, but it was and I so regret not insisting on an aspirate to this very day). His wart like one was about the size of a match head (they aspirated it with no problems when they did it). The bigger tumour on his rump, felt like it was about the size of a large pea (it was also aspirated with no problems) but this tumour when excised was more like the size of a golf ball - they can go deeper, his scar was about 12-15cm long and run from the top of his rump to his knee joint at the back of his leg.

MCT often feel like a lump under the skin (like the skin can move over the top of them, if you know what I mean), they can feel hard, like a pea under the skin or they can feel like a lump of jelly under the skin. They can even look like a clear or red wart.

Wishing you all the best with it

Jodie

[he'smyhero]

Thanks Staffyluv- I think I will get it removed, just for peace of mind. I would hate to decide to leave it there thinking it was nothing only to find out a year down the track that it is a MCT. The second vet said that even if they were to asperate it he would have to be sedated (because of where it is and how excited he gets at the vet) and if they were going to sedate him for that they may as well remove it and be certain.

She was happy that she could move the lump around - she said it was a good sign that it wasn't in the deeper muscle tissue so I don't think it's any bigger then it feels (which is about the size of a 10cent piece)

Now I just have to decide which vet to go with to get it removed!

[poodlefan]

Thanks Staffyluv- I think I will get it removed, just for peace of mind. I would hate to decide to leave it there thinking it was nothing only to find out a year down the track that it is a MCT. The second vet said that even if they were to asperate it he would have to be sedated (because of where it is and how excited he gets at the vet) and if they were going to sedate him for that they may as well remove it and be certain.

She was happy that she could move the lump around - she said it was a good sign that it wasn't in the deeper muscle tissue so I don't think it's any bigger then it feels (which is about the size of a 10cent piece)

Now I just have to decide which vet to go with to get it removed!

If you reread your posts about the vets you spoke to HMH, I think your choice is pretty clear cut. Choose the vet you think will do the best job, both in terms of surgery and advising you.

My personal belief is that if you can't trust a vet sufficiently NOT to get a second opinion, don't use them again. I don't care who's cheapest. I care about who I think does the best by my dogs and me.

Good luck with everything. Lumps are very worrying. :D

[he'smyhero]

[

If you reread your posts about the vets you spoke to HMH, I think your choice is pretty clear cut. Choose the vet you think will do the best job, both in terms of surgery and advising you.

My personal belief is that if you can't trust a vet sufficiently NOT to get a second opinion, don't use them again. I don't care who's cheapest. I care about who I think does the best by my dogs and me.

Good luck with everything. Lumps are very worrying.

I'm not worried about how much it will cost. I got a second opinion because my regular vets always jump towards surgury and the vet I saw in I don't particularily like (there's three vets at the surgury and the vet I prefer is on holidays). I know my regular vets will do a good job and have always used them for our other dog stuff but I did prefer how the second vet spoke to me and explained everything- she seemed more willing to take the time and answer all the questions I had and explain my options then the first vet. :D will have to give it some thought over the next couple of days.

[ruthless]

OH brought Ivan on a road trip around the vets in Rose Bay trying to find the one where my cousin originally had him desexed so we can get the cert and finally lifetime register him Turns out he's going to be 9 in March, not 7 as my cousin had told me. It came as quite a shock.

He also had the lump checked out again and was told that aspirating it may not give a conclusive result. The lump is the size of a golf ball but the actual cancer [if there is any] may only be the size of a match head and could easily be missed. They suggested cutting it out also, but their quote is almost half that of the original vet.

We're going to make a phonecall to another vet to get a quote on the surgery and then take it from there. I know we need to move fast though. I'll keep you all posted.

[Janba]

I hope all is well with Hero. I know what you are going through with the 2 weeks waiting.

My dally had a mast cell tumour removed from her ear in April 2003 when she was only 12 months old. She had been clear until now but another small lump has appeared on her ear and is the same as the tumour was. She saw the vet yesterday(fasted and ready for surgery), but he wants to wait a couple of weeks to monitor it and also because she is recovering from kennel cough. The lump at this stage is too small to aspirate successfully.

[ruthless]

Ivan went for surgery yesterday and had his lump removed. The vet confirmed it was fatty tissue, so we're quite relieved.

[he'smyhero]

Ivan went for surgery yesterday and had his lump removed. The vet confirmed it was fatty tissue, so we're quite relieved.

Thats good to hear Ruth!

Still keeping an eye on Hero's lump but even if it doesn't get any bigger we will be getting it removed next week - I just have to decide which vet to go with I'm leaning towards our regular vet, even though they're more expensive, because they have his medical history and have been treating him since he was a pup so they kind of know him there...

[dogbesotted]

phew! just gotta love those fatty lipomas....

h

[Mooper]

Yay, Ivan!

[he'smyhero]

Hero's lump has gotten smaller Before it was the size of a malteaser now its the size of a small pea. Should I still get it removed or does this mean it's nothing to worry about??

[dogbesotted]

still get it removed..

it could just be a small infection or similar BUT MCT's can increase and decrease in size as well . As Lucinda has MCT I am more than a little lump phobic

Cheers

H

[Staffyluv]

still get it removed..

it could just be a small infection or similar BUT MCT's can increase and decrease in size as well . As Lucinda has MCT I am more than a little lump phobic

Cheers

H

Totally agree with H...

Ollie has a couple of MCTs that go up and down...

[Gemma75]

My dog Gemma (aged 9 and a half years old) recently - 2 weeks ago went in to have a lump looked at that was only the size of a pea under her ribs back in August but had grown to the size of a walnut - concerned that I was as was my mum who was helping me track the size of it. They did an aspirate and the cells withdrawn looked suspicious so they went in and tried to remove the lump however was unable to get it all as it had embedded into the abdominal muscle layer - a week ago I got the results and unfortunately Gemma has been diagnosed as having a Soft Tissue Sarcoma Grade 3 which is not too good . They gave me 2 options - go in an perform a radical surgery resectioning a lot of her muscle but not guarantee that it wasn't anywhere else in her body or because of her age leave it and give her a happy and comfortable life while she still is jumping around and active. They stated that it has a 50% chance of metastasising quicker, now that they have disrupted the tumour and not got all the margins and have said that given the grade of the sarcoma with 4 being extremely malignant that they can really only estimate she will have 3months to 3 years, depending on how quickly it takes hold. As much as I love my dog (she is my baby) and her age I have decided that I will not operate again but that when the time comes I will not allow her to suffer either. By operating and having no guarantees of it giving her any longer and that I would be only doing it for my own sake I feel is selfish to the dog. She has had a happy and active life (and at present still is very active) with a lot of love from me and her extended family in my parents. It has been a tough decision to make and all I feel like doing is crying but I think I have cried enough (when I got the results) and there will be more to come so I am going to be strong for Gemma and give her the best for the time she has left.

Never leave a lump left unchecked. It is an expensive process with the cost of the vet, the surgery that may follow but if you love your pet you will do anything for them.

[Staffyluv]

My dog Gemma (aged 9 and a half years old) recently - 2 weeks ago went in to have a lump looked at that was only the size of a pea under her ribs back in August but had grown to the size of a walnut - concerned that I was as was my mum who was helping me track the size of it. They did an aspirate and the cells withdrawn looked suspicious so they went in and tried to remove the lump however was unable to get it all as it had embedded into the abdominal muscle layer - a week ago I got the results and unfortunately Gemma has been diagnosed as having a Soft Tissue Sarcoma Grade 3 which is not too good . They gave me 2 options - go in an perform a radical surgery resectioning a lot of her muscle but not guarantee that it wasn't anywhere else in her body or because of her age leave it and give her a happy and comfortable life while she still is jumping around and active. They stated that it has a 50% chance of metastasising quicker, now that they have disrupted the tumour and not got all the margins and have said that given the grade of the sarcoma with 4 being extremely malignant that they can really only estimate she will have 3months to 3 years, depending on how quickly it takes hold. As much as I love my dog (she is my baby) and her age I have decided that I will not operate again but that when the time comes I will not allow her to suffer either. By operating and having no guarantees of it giving her any longer and that I would be only doing it for my own sake I feel is selfish to the dog. She has had a happy and active life (and at present still is very active) with a lot of love from me and her extended family in my parents. It has been a tough decision to make and all I feel like doing is crying but I think I have cried enough (when I got the results) and there will be more to come so I am going to be strong for Gemma and give her the best for the time she has left.

Never leave a lump left unchecked. It is an expensive process with the cost of the vet, the surgery that may follow but if you love your pet you will do anything for them.

Personally, I would be operating and depending on whether it is systemic or not - I would also be doing chemo (systemic) or radiation (if not)... My boy Ollie was in the same position and we excised lots of tumours, then did chemo and treated him holistically as well- he is still here, six months more than was predicted and is looking so well, even the oncologist cannot believe it... He was 8 when he was operated on the first time.

If you are still against surgery, please consider holistic therapy. Lucinda (dogbesotted's girl) has lived with terminal MCT for over 5 years now and she has only been treated holisitcally.

Best of luck..

Back to Hero - how is he going, any news???

[dogbesotted]

I firmly believe that holistic treatment has given lucinda a quality of life that she otherwise would not be having.

In Sept 2002 the uni oncologist advised that I take lucinda home for a few days to say goodbye.....she is now over 19 years old a bit doddery but still enjoying life and food.

H

[Gemma75]

My dog Gemma (aged 9 and a half years old) recently - 2 weeks ago went in to have a lump looked at that was only the size of a pea under her ribs back in August but had grown to the size of a walnut - concerned that I was as was my mum who was helping me track the size of it. They did an aspirate and the cells withdrawn looked suspicious so they went in and tried to remove the lump however was unable to get it all as it had embedded into the abdominal muscle layer - a week ago I got the results and unfortunately Gemma has been diagnosed as having a Soft Tissue Sarcoma Grade 3 which is not too good . They gave me 2 options - go in an perform a radical surgery resectioning a lot of her muscle but not guarantee that it wasn't anywhere else in her body or because of her age leave it and give her a happy and comfortable life while she still is jumping around and active. They stated that it has a 50% chance of metastasising quicker, now that they have disrupted the tumour and not got all the margins and have said that given the grade of the sarcoma with 4 being extremely malignant that they can really only estimate she will have 3months to 3 years, depending on how quickly it takes hold. As much as I love my dog (she is my baby) and her age I have decided that I will not operate again but that when the time comes I will not allow her to suffer either. By operating and having no guarantees of it giving her any longer and that I would be only doing it for my own sake I feel is selfish to the dog. She has had a happy and active life (and at present still is very active) with a lot of love from me and her extended family in my parents. It has been a tough decision to make and all I feel like doing is crying but I think I have cried enough (when I got the results) and there will be more to come so I am going to be strong for Gemma and give her the best for the time she has left.

Never leave a lump left unchecked. It is an expensive process with the cost of the vet, the surgery that may follow but if you love your pet you will do anything for them.

Personally, I would be operating and depending on whether it is systemic or not - I would also be doing chemo (systemic) or radiation (if not)... My boy Ollie was in the same position and we excised lots of tumours, then did chemo and treated him holistically as well- he is still here, six months more than was predicted and is looking so well, even the oncologist cannot believe it... He was 8 when he was operated on the first time.

If you are still against surgery, please consider holistic therapy. Lucinda (dogbesotted's girl) has lived with terminal MCT for over 5 years now and she has only been treated holisitcally.

Best of luck..

Back to Hero - how is he going, any news???

Where we live (in rural country) the region does not have the facilities for chemo or radiation or evven holistic therapy for animals, that is the downside and why I think I have to chose the option I have for Gemma. I would be all in for surgery and chemo etc etc and I do not have the means to move to be closer to such facilities. It is sad but I can only provide for my baby girl with what is available to us right now. :D

[Staffyluv]

My dog Gemma (aged 9 and a half years old) recently - 2 weeks ago went in to have a lump looked at that was only the size of a pea under her ribs back in August but had grown to the size of a walnut - concerned that I was as was my mum who was helping me track the size of it. They did an aspirate and the cells withdrawn looked suspicious so they went in and tried to remove the lump however was unable to get it all as it had embedded into the abdominal muscle layer - a week ago I got the results and unfortunately Gemma has been diagnosed as having a Soft Tissue Sarcoma Grade 3 which is not too good . They gave me 2 options - go in an perform a radical surgery resectioning a lot of her muscle but not guarantee that it wasn't anywhere else in her body or because of her age leave it and give her a happy and comfortable life while she still is jumping around and active. They stated that it has a 50% chance of metastasising quicker, now that they have disrupted the tumour and not got all the margins and have said that given the grade of the sarcoma with 4 being extremely malignant that they can really only estimate she will have 3months to 3 years, depending on how quickly it takes hold. As much as I love my dog (she is my baby) and her age I have decided that I will not operate again but that when the time comes I will not allow her to suffer either. By operating and having no guarantees of it giving her any longer and that I would be only doing it for my own sake I feel is selfish to the dog. She has had a happy and active life (and at present still is very active) with a lot of love from me and her extended family in my parents. It has been a tough decision to make and all I feel like doing is crying but I think I have cried enough (when I got the results) and there will be more to come so I am going to be strong for Gemma and give her the best for the time she has left.

Never leave a lump left unchecked. It is an expensive process with the cost of the vet, the surgery that may follow but if you love your pet you will do anything for them.

Personally, I would be operating and depending on whether it is systemic or not - I would also be doing chemo (systemic) or radiation (if not)... My boy Ollie was in the same position and we excised lots of tumours, then did chemo and treated him holistically as well- he is still here, six months more than was predicted and is looking so well, even the oncologist cannot believe it... He was 8 when he was operated on the first time.

If you are still against surgery, please consider holistic therapy. Lucinda (dogbesotted's girl) has lived with terminal MCT for over 5 years now and she has only been treated holisitcally.

Best of luck..

Back to Hero - how is he going, any news???

Where we live (in rural country) the region does not have the facilities for chemo or radiation or evven holistic therapy for animals, that is the downside and why I think I have to chose the option I have for Gemma. I would be all in for surgery and chemo etc etc and I do not have the means to move to be closer to such facilities. It is sad but I can only provide for my baby girl with what is available to us right now. :D

All vets can do chemo - it is tablets and a drip... Ollies chemo was tablets one week, drip the next week and then a week off for 28 weeks.

Our holistic vet sends our stuff to us by post - we liaise with her via the phone and email (they are in Sydney and we are in Canberra, if you would like to chat with them, I am sure they would talk to you about it)...

You could try high does of Vitamin C (Ollie takes 1500mg a day) - it is like a tonic for dogs. Giving 1000mg of fish oil a day also helps.

Only you can choose what is best for your girl and I wish you all the best, no matter what decision you make. I was just offering some advice on what could be done.

Cheers

Jodie

[he'smyhero]

Back to Hero - how is he going, any news???

sorry I missed this staffyluv- Hero's lump has all but disappeared you can barely feel it now and for the past couple days I haven't been able to find it. He has an appointment for Friday at the vets and we will decide then if it's worth operating.