My first lump.

[Panda Phil]

 Awww, damnit. Just got back from the vet with my heart rat Geordie and the grape sized mass on his throat is definately a tumor. The doctor says he probably only has a month or so, judging by the size and growth rate. It's particularly upsettign because at 18 months, he seems his usual normal, active self. He was supposed to have had good breeding too.

 *sigh* I don't know what to do. I feel like I've failed as a rat dad again. 

 

[Scubbs]

Why not get it removed?  Apparently he's active, and he's certainly young.

[Panda Phil]

 Well, she told me it'd just grow back.

[wonderrodent]

Might be true, but now it's probably a lot easier to have it removed than when it gets huge. What are you going to do once it's big?

[Scubbs]

There's only one way to find out!  I'd get it removed immediately, before it takes up anymore of your boy's blood supply, and also get it biopsied.  I always remove tumors, even if there's a risk it'll come back.  Hearing they "might" come back isn't enough for me to make my rats suffer through a tumor and die prematurely without even trying to do something (IE, remove it) - this isn't a comment toward you or anything, I'm simply saying. 

I've had tumors removed when the chance for them returning was extremely great, and they've never returned (sans one, but I believe it was my own fault for letting it go for so long).

[Panda Phil]

 I'm certainly willing to pay for the operation if there's a chance. Guess I'm a little shy about contradicting a doctor. And wasn't sure if the stress of sergury would be good for him. But, if you guys recommend it, I can call the vet back tomorrow and ask about making an appointment.

[Scubbs]

Well, since you say he's still active and happy like normal, I see no reason not to go ahead with the surgery.  With ANY tumor there's a chance it'll grow back, honestly. 

Did your vet mention why the assumption was made that it would return?  Where is the lump located, and how large is it currently?

[Chaosbadgerling]

Is always good to contradict the vet if it doesn't sound right hon.  They often don't know everything about ratties especially if they only see a couple a year (is the problem I'm having atm)

Most vets will listen to owners of exotics though, so just try it (or find another vet)

[Panda Phil]

 Will give the vet a call on saturday and run the details by them. She basically just felt the lump, gave her diagnosis and told me that with its size, and sudden appearance he probably had about a month. Currently its located on the underside of his neck and is about the size of a grape or small olive.

 This is really the first time one of my rats has had a tumor and I'm just not sure what I should be doing. Like I said, I'd hate to put my little guy through the extra pain and stress of an operation if it just turns out I'll have to have him PTS anyway. But then again, I'd feel worse if I didn't do anything and just let it go.

 It's just so damn hard. 

[fuzzybee]

I recently went through this with my sweet Henry.  He was about the same age as Geordie, and he had a lump on the underside of his neck.  The vet immediately suggest that it be removed.  He had a pretty uncomfortable week post-surgery but when the swelling went down he had a month of happy healthiness before the damn thing returned.  I had to have him pts last monday, but I think the surgery and the extra time it gave me with him was worth it.  Of course there's a chance that your vet can remove the whole thing and it won't return, though it sounds as if it's in a very tricky place, just like Henry's. Talk to your vet some more, but don't feel bad if you decide not to have it removed, it is a very tricky decision, and a complicated procedure.  You've done nothing wrong; you absolutely HAVEN'T failed as a rat dad, and you'll make Geordie's remaining time special and full of love.

[ratlets]

The vet can't know that it will grow back unless she sent off a sample to determine if it is cancerous.

I would get it removed if it's in a spot where that is possible.

I hope your boy is okay!! I know how much my heart hurt when I found lumps on Scruffy and Kerfuffle.

[rapforjane]

Wow I worry now that I'm a bad ratmum for letting Valentine keep her leg at 28 months instead of removing the cancer attached to it...

PandaPhil, I would do whatever you're comfortable with. I don't know your vet, but I generally listen to my vet since he knows rats inside and out. I was in a similar situation with Valentine, the way the tumor started and got a running head start (it was the size of a golfball in less than a month) I was afraid of what I was going to put Val through. After it got to be a golf ball sized mass, my vet was absolutely positive the tumor was actual cancer and it was attached it to her scapula. If I had it operated on, she would have lost the entire leg, and she's not exactly little. I just couldn't make her relearn to walk at 28 months old when she weighs almost 900g, that is if she survived the surgery. More than likely, my vet said it would come back even if we were sure he got all the cancer. Currently, Valentine is happy and living the rest of her days out with lots and lots of love.

[LadyRattus]

Ah, I hope my rats never have to get tumours I don't know if I could take it..

[Panda Phil]

Ah, I hope my rats never have to get tumours I don't know if I could take it..

 I know the feeling. That's one of the reasons I chose boy ratties over girls, and swore I'd only adopt from breeders. *sigh*

 Arrrgh! The stupid vet office closes at noon on Sat, so I just missed her! Left a message on their machine though, and will try back on Mon. I'm a little worried about the cost, but I guess its just part of the resopnsibility of being a rat parent.

 Also fishing around for other vets in the south Seattle area, in case my current doctor isn't up to the surgery.

[Panda Phil]

 Good news everyone! Just got off the phone with the vet and the test results say its an abcess and not a tumor after all. She wants me to keep him on antibiotics the rest of this week, and if there's no improvement, to bring him in for surgery.

 The return visit and test was a bit pricey at $130, but I'd much rather have my wallet squealing in pain than my rattie.

 What a relief. Thanks to everyone who advised me to go back to the vet. I knew what I had to do, I just needed reminding.

[crtjh]

whew!! thats great!!! my girl has an abcessed tooth right now and is on medicine, but she might have to get that tooth pulled. yea, our vet bill was/is pretty big too...oh well, they are worth it!!

[LadyRattus]

Oh that's good news..I've got a story to tell, Me and my sisters were going camping we got back just a few days ago, but, before we left, I noticed Gypsy had a bump under or around one of her fore arms. I was quite scared  I didn't know what to do since we were leaving the next day. I decided to just tell my mom, who was going to be taking care of them, I told her that Gypsy might have a tumour and that it probably can be removed by a vet, I told her that she could go to the vet if it got any bigger and I would try and make enough money to pay back for any vet bills. So during the whole week trip, three days camping, I was worried about her when I thought about it. As soon as we got home, I ran to check up on her, but the lump was gone..I don't know what it was, but I'm pretty sure it was there..Gypsy's ok, and so is Namir, I just need to clean their cage today!