Mammary tumour ?

[Honey&maple]

The vet noticed my girl having 2 pea sized lumps around her nipple 1 on either side . They are quite hard. She said that mammary gland cancer is normally rare in Guinea pigs and said to just keep an eye on them to see if they grow. I have not noticed them before so it’s hard to tell how long they’ve been there . I’m just worried if it is cancer.

Has anyone had any experience with lumps near nipples ?

 

[Wiebke]

The vet noticed my girl having 2 pea sized lumps around her nipple 1 on either side . They are quite hard. She said that mammary gland cancer is normally rare in Guinea pigs and said to just keep an eye on them to see if they grow. I have not noticed them before so it’s hard to tell how long they’ve been there . I’m just worried if it is cancer.

Has anyone had any experience with lumps near nipples ?

Hi

Mammary tumours (they are always cancerous) can be both benign or malign (we have seen both on here) but one characteristic is that they just keep on growing and never stop. The most extreme case I have seen is of a rescue intake who was no longer able to stand on all four legs and walk around.

Ideally you want to remove any mammary cancer while it is still small and - as it doesn't go deep in the body - is still one of the operations with one of the best recovery rates. As long as the cancer is still encapsulated when removed it doesn't actually matter whether it is benign or malign because it has not yet spread into the body.

If you haven't noticed them before, it means that they have likely not been around for any length of time, so please try not to feel bad about it. Mammary tumours are not all that uncommon although boars get them more often than sows. They can happen underneath one nipple or both.
PS: Many lumps of whatever category come up very quickly to quite a size. That is just how they are.

Sow Problems 'Down Below' (Ovarian Cysts, Super-seasons, Womb Infection, Pregnancy & Mammary Tumours)

Tips For Post-operative Care

 

[Claire W]

I once had a guinea pig who had a pea sized lump around her nipple. The vet performed a fine needle biopsy but we didn’t send it away for testing as just fat came out so the vet was confident it was just a harmless fatty lump so we left it and it never grew so not all nipple lumps are mammary cancer but perhaps your vet can perform a fine needle biopsy to give you an idea of what you’re dealing with and then you can make any decisions from there? x

 

[Honey&maple]

I once had a guinea pig who had a pea sized lump around her nipple. The vet performed a fine needle biopsy but we didn’t send it away for testing as just fat came out so the vet was confident it was just a harmless fatty lump so we left it and it never grew so not all nipple lumps are mammary cancer but perhaps your vet can perform a fine needle biopsy to give you an idea of what you’re dealing with and then you can make any decisions from there? x

Yeah that could be what it is as she does have a fatty lump on another part of her body but I think because it’s around the nipple you think of the worst that it could be . Both of my piggies are prone to fatty lumps. But this one does feel a bit different and weird. It is mobile in the skin though which I think is a good thing?

What did your pigs lump feel like and do they do the needle biopsy without GA?

 

[Wiebke]

Yeah that could be what it is as she does have a fatty lump on another part of her body but I think because it’s around the nipple you think of the worst that it could be . Both of my piggies are prone to fatty lumps. But this one does feel a bit different and weird. It is mobile in the skin though which I think is a good thing?

What did your pigs lump feel like and do they do the needle biopsy without GA?

Mammary tumours are always underneath a nipple. If they are just near a nipple, then they are more likely harmless fatty lumps or cysts. Has your vet mentioned anything about their nature and whether they are actually mammary tumours?

A picture may help us as we can only go by your own speculations and fears but do not have any form of access.

PS: Pictures are best upload via the Attach Files button by your post when you write it. This works for all formats.

 

[Honey&maple]

The lumps are defiently next to both nipples and the vet isn’t too concerned about them. She just said to check them weekly and if they grow in size to go back. I don’t think she was sure what they were but just mentioned the things that they could be.

I don’t think a picture would work as you can only feel them as they aren’t visible to the eye .

 

[Claire W]

Yeah that could be what it is as she does have a fatty lump on another part of her body but I think because it’s around the nipple you think of the worst that it could be . Both of my piggies are prone to fatty lumps. But this one does feel a bit different and weird. It is mobile in the skin though which I think is a good thing?

What did your pigs lump feel like and do they do the needle biopsy without GA?

Eliza’s lump felt a bit like a pea and was mobile under the skin and yes, the needle biopsy was performed without GA. My Elizabeth also had a nipple lump and that too was fatty after a fine needle biopsy was performed. The vet was more concerned about her as she had several lumps on her mammary line and a bit of blood came out one of the lumps that was being tested but the lab concluded harmless fatty lumps

If the lumps are just around the nipples rather than underneath, then I think mammary cancer is unlikely x