does anyone else have experience with carcinoma?

[jennag446]

my piggie’s name is penny, and she’s almost 4 and a half years old. about 4 months ago, she began to develop a lump. i got it checked out by the vet, and she said that it didn’t feel attached to any organs and it was pretty squishy, so she wasn’t too concerned about it. however, it began to slightly grow, so i took her to the vet today for an aspirate. she hasn’t lost any weight since she was last there, and she’s eating and drinking ok. i thought doing the aspirate was more for my own peace of mind, because i didn’t know that it was that bad, but i’m happy i did it. the vet looked at the cells in house and said that it is most likely carcinoma. we decided to send the aspirate out to a specialist to determine whether or not it is cancer, and they sent us home with some meloxicam. i am absolutely heart broken over this. i feel awful for not getting the aspirate done sooner. the vet said that if it is cancer, we have the option to remove it, but because of her age, we should probably either euthanize her, or make her comfortable until she passes. has anybody else had a pig with carcinoma? if so, how long did they live after the diagnosis? the vet said she seems like she’s doing great, and the tumor was really slow growing. any advice or information on this type of cancer would help me a lot

 

[Wiebke]

my piggie’s name is penny, and she’s almost 4 and a half years old. about 4 months ago, she began to develop a lump. i got it checked out by the vet, and she said that it didn’t feel attached to any organs and it was pretty squishy, so she wasn’t too concerned about it. however, it began to slightly grow, so i took her to the vet today for an aspirate. she hasn’t lost any weight since she was last there, and she’s eating and drinking ok. i thought doing the aspirate was more for my own peace of mind, because i didn’t know that it was that bad, but i’m happy i did it. the vet looked at the cells in house and said that it is most likely carcinoma. we decided to send the aspirate out to a specialist to determine whether or not it is cancer, and they sent us home with some meloxicam. i am absolutely heart broken over this. i feel awful for not getting the aspirate done sooner. the vet said that if it is cancer, we have the option to remove it, but because of her age, we should probably either euthanize her, or make her comfortable until she passes. has anybody else had a pig with carcinoma? if so, how long did they live after the diagnosis? the vet said she seems like she’s doing great, and the tumor was really slow growing. any advice or information on this type of cancer would help me a lot

Hi

4 years is not particularly old. Lumps sitting loosely in the skin are generally harmless. You are always within your rights to ask for a second opinion.

My Hafren was just one month short of 7 years when she needed a ca. 2 inch sebaceous cyst with fleshy inclusions removed. It had unfortunately put on a sudden massive growth spurt after two years of just keeping an eye on it (vet recommendation) and promptly burst while my specialist was closed for summer holidays. My local general vets aired some cancer concerns because of the heavy bleeding from the unusual fleshy bits and thicker than usual mantle but these concerns didn't materialise during the removal operation. Hafren made a full recovery and eventually died from old age related issues several months later.



My Tesni was 6 years old when she needed an infected burst cyst right next to her genitalia removed. She also made a full recovery and lived to celebrate her 7th birthday.

 

[weepweeps]

I don’t have any experience of this but wanted to send you a hug.

 

[jennag446]

Hi

4 years is not particularly old. Lumps sitting loosely in the skin are generally harmless. You are always within your rights to ask for a second opinion.

My Hafren was just one month short of 7 years when she needed a ca. 2 inch sebaceous cyst with fleshy inclusions removed. It had unfortunately put on a sudden massive growth spurt after two years of just keeping an eye on it (vet recommendation) and promptly burst while my specialist was closed for summer holidays. My local general vets aired some cancer concerns because of the heavy bleeding from the unusual fleshy bits and thicker than usual mantle but these concerns didn't materialise during the removal operation. Hafren made a full recovery and eventually died from old age related issues several months later.

View attachment 232544

My Tesni was 6 years old when she needed an infected burst cyst right next to her genitalia removed. She also made a full recovery and lived to celebrate her 7th birthday.

thank you for the advice! it’s comforting to know that your piggie was able to make it that long. i guess i’m just going to wait the week or so to hear the results from the specialist. if it does come back as cancer, and penny is still acting ok, i think i’m going to schedule a lump removal. i know that they can be risky, but i would rather take the chance of her being healthy and cancer-free. i guess i’ll also need to hear the severity of it to make a decision. i haven’t heard much about carcinoma, and i can’t find anything about it online in guinea pigs. the vet said that it was not a 100% guarantee that it is carcinoma, but it appears to be that way. i’m hoping for the best, but i’m also going to prepare myself for if it is cancer.

 

[jennag446]

I don’t have any experience of this but wanted to send you a hug.

thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

thank you for the advice! it’s comforting to know that your piggie was able to make it that long. i guess i’m just going to wait the week or so to hear the results from the specialist. if it does come back as cancer, and penny is still acting ok, i think i’m going to schedule a lump removal. i know that they can be risky, but i would rather take the chance of her being healthy and cancer-free. i guess i’ll also need to hear the severity of it to make a decision. i haven’t heard much about carcinoma, and i can’t find anything about it online in guinea pigs. the vet said that it was not a 100% guarantee that it is carcinoma, but it appears to be that way. i’m hoping for the best, but i’m also going to prepare myself for if it is cancer.

If the cancer is still encapsulated, then chances after removal are excellent even if you get the worst news. Please try to take a deep breath. We have got helpful practical guides for post op care, by the way.

Trichofolliculoma (tumours at the roots of hairs) are generally not cancerous, and neither are sebaceous cysts or fatty lumps.

All the best.

 

[jennag446]

If the cancer is still encapsulated, then chances after removal are excellent even if you get the worst news. Please try to take a deep breath. We have got helpful practical guides for post op care, by the way.

Trichofolliculoma (tumours at the roots of hairs) are generally not cancerous, and neither are sebaceous cysts or fatty lumps.

All the best.

yes, i’m hoping for the best! i’m already transferring some more money into savings for surgery if the cancer is just in that one area. i was quoted $700-$900, which isn’t super expensive compared to the prices that i’ve seen other people have had to pay for a lump removal. i’m hoping that she’ll hang in there while we’re waiting on results, she’s been doing great this whole time. i’m sure the meloxicam will help if she has any discomfort, too

 

[jennag446]

If the cancer is still encapsulated, then chances after removal are excellent even if you get the worst news. Please try to take a deep breath. We have got helpful practical guides for post op care, by the way.

Trichofolliculoma (tumours at the roots of hairs) are generally not cancerous, and neither are sebaceous cysts or fatty lumps.

All the best.

i work as a veterinary technician at a clinic that specializes in small animals, but the doctor used to specialize in exotics. he’s offering to do the removal, and i get an employee discount that cuts the price in half, so i’ll be doing the surgery there based on the results we get!

 

[jennag446]

If the cancer is still encapsulated, then chances after removal are excellent even if you get the worst news. Please try to take a deep breath. We have got helpful practical guides for post op care, by the way.

Trichofolliculoma (tumours at the roots of hairs) are generally not cancerous, and neither are sebaceous cysts or fatty lumps.

All the best.

i just wanted to update and say that the results came in! the vet said that the sample did not exfoliate well under the microscope, meaning that carcinoma and lymphoma can be ruled out. she said that the only cancerous possibility that she thinks it may be is a sarcoma, but she is pretty positive that it is a benign growth. so, we have the option to either do an incisional biopsy, a full lump removal, or observe it and observe her health. i’m going to think about doing the biopsy, but because the vet thinks that it most likely is not cancer, i think i might choose to observe her for now.

 

[Freela]

I'm glad the results came back benign! One of my pigs had a large lump on her back removed surgically (it was probably a cyst, but when the vet did an aspirate the skin over the wall of the cyst died, leaving her with a big fleshy mound poking out of her skin and making it necessary to do the removal.) She did just fine, looked just like Hafren above when she came home from the vet. Hope this helps and all the best!