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Milo has a Melanoma

YvonneBlue

YvonneBlue

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Milo has been diagnosed with an aggressive melanoma on his back. He went for a review today (post histology results). Sadly it is too big to get a good margin and close the skin.

However, we have been given the option for a surgery that is more usually carried out on cats/dogs where they use a skin flap from another part of the body(where the skin is looser) to close the wound. The surgery cannot be done until 23 January as it will be one of the other vets that carries out the operation. I asked lots of questions and it is a big operation for a small animal and the recovery will be longer, so i am thinking it over. I have booked him in but can still cancel if i decide it isn't the right thing to do. He is almost 5 years old and also has arthritis but this op could give him another year or two (as long as the cancer doesn't come back. He may only have a few weeks if we leave it, as it will spread internally eventually. It is very difficult to decide what is the best option for him. Do i go ahead and put him through a big surgery which hasn't been carried out on a guinea pig before or do i opt for palliative care and give him a comfortable life for the whatever time he has left.

If anyone has any thoughts / opinions on this i would be be happy to hear them.
 
Aw I am very sorry for the diagnosis 😞 To put him through surgery or not is a difficult one. I’m afraid I really wouldn’t know what to do if I were in your position but just want to send healing vibes for whatever decision you make as ultimately it is your choice but whatever decision you make for Milo will be the right one (((hugs))) x
 
It's a difficult one Yvonne. Make a decision about what you want to do, live with it for a few days, if it feels right, its the right decision, if it doesn't go with the other option. You know Milo the best so whatever you decide will be the right one as it is made out of love for him.
 
YvonneBlue said:
Milo has been diagnosed with an aggressive melanoma on his back. He went for a review today (post histology results). Sadly it is too big to get a good margin and close the skin.

However, we have been given the option for a surgery that is more usually carried out on cats/dogs where they use a skin flap from another part of the body(where the skin is looser) to close the wound. The surgery cannot be done until 23 January as it will be one of the other vets that carries out the operation. I asked lots of questions and it is a big operation for a small animal and the recovery will be longer, so i am thinking it over. I have booked him in but can still cancel if i decide it isn't the right thing to do. He is almost 5 years old and also has arthritis but this op could give him another year or two (as long as the cancer doesn't come back. He may only have a few weeks if we leave it, as it will spread internally eventually. It is very difficult to decide what is the best option for him. Do i go ahead and put him through a big surgery which hasn't been carried out on a guinea pig before or do i opt for palliative care and give him a comfortable life for the whatever time he has left.

If anyone has any thoughts / opinions on this i would be be happy to hear them.
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BIG HUGS

I am so, so sorry that it is the worst possible kind of news.

It is a very difficult decision since either way has got some major pros and cons. In the end, you have to go with what feels right in your heart of hearts because you are the one who has to live with the fallout and has to ultimately make peace with whichever way you choose to go. We all feel differently; there is no right or wrong in that kind of situation and there is unfortunately no easy way out.

Anyway, I would recommend that you make a list of pros, cons and other factors in play (like financial limits, the strength of your mental/physical health, work commitments re. the need of round the clock feeding care post-op if things don't go well etc.) and let that stew for a few days. Then go and listen to how your gut is voting. It is all about working out which factors in play are the more relevant ones for yourself.

I know how I would choose, having been between a rock and a hard place often enough with piggies of mine to know when and in what respect I have gone too far one way or other with previous piggies (and have paid the emotional price for that) but what is right for myself is just right for myself and doesn't apply to any other person or situation. :(
 
Poor Milo. Decisions like this are so hard. Whatever you decide to do it will be with Milo’s best interest at the heart of it. Sending you a hug and healing vibes ❤️
 
It would be so much easier if we could have a sneak peek at the various outcomes, wouldn't it? A large part of the difficulty is that we have to make these life-or-death decisions blind-folded. We all want the best for our piggies - but we have no way of telling which way would be the better outcome in that particular case. :( :( :(

Give yourself time to digest and then listen to your gut. You subconcious is usually better at unpicking it all.
 
Oh Yvonne, I’ve just seen your sad news, I am so sorry. Milo is such a gorgeous boy and so friendly and cuddly, what a terrible shame. I hope you can come to a decision, it will be really hard working out the best option for him, but whatever decision you make it will be the right one :hug:
 
I had a chat with the vet nurse this evening when I collected Milo. She explained a little more about the surgery. The skin flaps would basically be skin from his flanks which is left connected on one edge and then pulled across the wound and stitched in place. The fact that he is a bit chunky is in his favour as it means he has 'spare' skin. The healing time is quite short as this skin still has all its capillaries and circulation. Blood loss isn't a huge risk as it is not a particularly invasive surgery but the longer anaesthesia could be. Infection or Milo biting the wound are also risks we have to consider.

We are going to have a long think about it. The cost isn't a problem but it must be the right decision for Milo.
 
Oh Yvonne what a tough decision to have to make. I’ve no experience with this particular problem but can only agree with what the others have said: consider all the pros & cons; make your decision, sit with it and see how you feel after a day or so. I’ve no doubt that you will do whatever is best for Milo. You know him best. Huge hugs xx
 
What a hard decision, I'm sorry for the difficult choice you have to make. I hope you are soon able to reach a decision that you feel at peace with. It's tough being responsible for these little lives.
 
YvonneBlue said:
I had a chat with the vet nurse this evening when I collected Milo. She explained a little more about the surgery. The skin flaps would basically be skin from his flanks which is left connected on one edge and then pulled across the wound and stitched in place. The fact that he is a bit chunky is in his favour as it means he has 'spare' skin. The healing time is quite short as this skin still has all its capillaries and circulation. Blood loss isn't a huge risk as it is not a particularly invasive surgery but the longer anaesthesia could be. Infection or Milo biting the wound are also risks we have to consider.

We are going to have a long think about it. The cost isn't a problem but it must be the right decision for Milo.
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This is what surgeons did in the war when people where horribly disfigured, they use skin flaps to cover over wounds and burns. I hope everything goes really well for him x
 
So we have decided to go ahead with the op to remove the melanoma. It will take place tomorrow. I'm hoping it's the right thing, giving Milo a chance of a longer life. It has been the most difficult decision we have ever had to make. Especially, as currently he is really well and I know that after the op he will probably be quite poorly for a few days. I realise that someone has to be the first and if it is successful it will help other piggies too.

Thank you everyone for your support and kind words.

Please all send healing thoughts for our boy.
 
Sending Milo lorry loads of healing vibes for tomorrow. You can get through this Milo xx
Thinking of you tomorrow too Yvonne and send hugs:hug:
 
Hope it goes really well tomorrow’s for little Milo, I’ll be thinking of you all :hug:Good luck little man 🤞
 
I have everything crossed for a successful operation and uneventful recovery for Milo. Hope you’re holding up ok Yvonne.
 
Bandit and Bunker are sending supportive wheeks and healing vibes for Milo!
 
YvonneBlue said:
So we have decided to go ahead with the op to remove the melanoma. It will take place tomorrow. I'm hoping it's the right thing, giving Milo a chance of a longer life. It has been the most difficult decision we have ever had to make. Especially, as currently he is really well and I know that after the op he will probably be quite poorly for a few days. I realise that someone has to be the first and if it is successful it will help other piggies too.

Thank you everyone for your support and kind words.

Please all send healing thoughts for our boy.
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Elective surgery is always harder but see it as you buying Milo a chance at a longer life he would otherwise not have. The surgery is a bit fiddly but not really invasive so recovery chances should be good. ;)

ll the best!
 
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