Worried it's lymphoma in my young piggy :'(

[Fluffbabies]

Between health checks I found one of our piggies who are just over 2 years old had a couple of very small (pea sized) soft, loose lumps on her belly. Roughly around where Goldie's nipples/belly button is. I tried not to worry and booked her an appointment with Kim for the earliest I could travel (next week). I thought because they were quite soft and felt like they moved around under the skin, it wouldn't be something too serious. And because she's young. I thought maybe they'd be little fatty lumps I'd heard of. I decided not to google or look on here because I didn't want to be worrying waiting for the trip.

I'm also taking Effie on whom I found tiny ovarian cysts probably about a year ago so very young. Kim suggested to leave them be unless they grew big or there were other symptoms. Well they're considerably bigger, her nipples are a bit bigger and crusty and we've had disruptive dominant behaviour almost constantly. So I'm expecting her to have them out when we go after her morning appointment. So I'm already worried about her coming through an op and seeing her through her operation post care.

(Side note: I'm under long term stress from risk of redundancy with a new expensive mortgage and a partner who is long-term sick with a virus he's struggling to fight off, my mum's heart failure is progressing and I'm just trying to keep my head above water. I still don't feel like I've grieved for Nugget who passed in March or Oreo who passed in October. I feel so fragile. I have no support from work. They've literally told me people have it worse and I need to get on with it. I can't risk my job because it's niche so I earn about double what I could without this specific job. I see a counsellor once a week but other than talking and crying I don't know how to work through all the emotions.)

Well when I did a health check I found another very similar lump in her armpit and my curiosity got the better of me... and from people's threads on here I'm now really worried it's lymphoma and we don't have long left with Goldie even though she's well at the moment. And I notice that being just over 2 definitely doesn't mean it's not cancer. I didn't feel the armpit lump a week or so ago but I'm not sure I checked her all over I just immediately booked the vet appointment so I don't have an idea of speed of progression.

But from what I understand it would be weeks or months? And there's no treatment or way of slowing it down? And I'm guessing because there's three little lumps all at once that this means it's unlikely that three little fatty lumps developed at the same size. I'm not sure how long they've been there because I've barely been coping with life, I haven't done weights or health checks since we lost Oreo. I just couldn't bring myself to even though I know how important it is. :'(

We lost Leia to cancer just over 4 years old and Ginger to a different type at 4 and a quarter. Then Nugget and Oreo to old age issues at 5.5 and 6.5 so I guess we've been relatively lucky so far. I just can't cope with another bereavement. I'm already worried about Effie's op. Piggies are the best, cutest things in my life but why do they get so many illnesses and live such short lives. It's not fair. I couldn't be without them but that also means I can't cope with the worry and grief every time one is ill or passes.

I don't want to bring this up with my partner because he's ill and he'll cry and worry a lot over Goldie like I now am!

Is there a chance that small moveable lumps in the belly and armpit could be anything but lymphoma?

 

[Wiebke]

Between health checks I found one of our piggies who are just over 2 years old had a couple of very small (pea sized) soft, loose lumps on her belly. Roughly around where Goldie's nipples/belly button is. I tried not to worry and booked her an appointment with Kim for the earliest I could travel (next week). I thought because they were quite soft and felt like they moved around under the skin, it wouldn't be something too serious. And because she's young. I thought maybe they'd be little fatty lumps I'd heard of. I decided not to google or look on here because I didn't want to be worrying waiting for the trip.

I'm also taking Effie on whom I found tiny ovarian cysts probably about a year ago so very young. Kim suggested to leave them be unless they grew big or there were other symptoms. Well they're considerably bigger, her nipples are a bit bigger and crusty and we've had disruptive dominant behaviour almost constantly. So I'm expecting her to have them out when we go after her morning appointment. So I'm already worried about her coming through an op and seeing her through her operation post care.

(Side note: I'm under long term stress from risk of redundancy with a new expensive mortgage and a partner who is long-term sick with a virus he's struggling to fight off, my mum's heart failure is progressing and I'm just trying to keep my head above water. I still don't feel like I've grieved for Nugget who passed in March or Oreo who passed in October. I feel so fragile. I have no support from work. They've literally told me people have it worse and I need to get on with it. I can't risk my job because it's niche so I earn about double what I could without this specific job. I see a counsellor once a week but other than talking and crying I don't know how to work through all the emotions.)

Well when I did a health check I found another very similar lump in her armpit and my curiosity got the better of me... and from people's threads on here I'm now really worried it's lymphoma and we don't have long left with Goldie even though she's well at the moment. And I notice that being just over 2 definitely doesn't mean it's not cancer. I didn't feel the armpit lump a week or so ago but I'm not sure I checked her all over I just immediately booked the vet appointment so I don't have an idea of speed of progression.

But from what I understand it would be weeks or months? And there's no treatment or way of slowing it down? And I'm guessing because there's three little lumps all at once that this means it's unlikely that three little fatty lumps developed at the same size. I'm not sure how long they've been there because I've barely been coping with life, I haven't done weights or health checks since we lost Oreo. I just couldn't bring myself to even though I know how important it is. :'(

We lost Leia to cancer just over 4 years old and Ginger to a different type at 4 and a quarter. Then Nugget and Oreo to old age issues at 5.5 and 6.5 so I guess we've been relatively lucky so far. I just can't cope with another bereavement. I'm already worried about Effie's op. Piggies are the best, cutest things in my life but why do they get so many illnesses and live such short lives. It's not fair. I couldn't be without them but that also means I can't cope with the worry and grief every time one is ill or passes.

I don't want to bring this up with my partner because he's ill and he'll cry and worry a lot over Goldie like I now am!

Is there a chance that small moveable lumps in the belly and armpit could be anything but lymphoma?

Hi

Loose sitting lumps in the skin are usually harmless. Lymph nodes sit in the body, not loosely in the skin; they are also running more along the sides of the body and not in the middle of the belly. So I think that we can put that one to rest immediately.

What's going on with the armpit is down to the vet examination. I cannot comment sight unseen as to what that one is. Lymphoma is however only one of several possibilities and by far the worst so you will inevitably stumble on it as it is much more talked about. Keep in mind that if you do online research that information is highly tilted towards worst case scenarios - and that also includes this forum.

All the best for next week but please try not to lose any sleep over it.

 

[Fluffbabies]

Hi

Loose sitting lumps in the skin are usually harmless. Lymph nodes sit in the body, not loosely in the skin; they are also running more along the sides of the body and not in the middle of the belly. So I think that we can put that one to rest immediately.

What's going on with the armpit is down to the vet examination. I cannot comment sight unseen as to what that one is. Lymphoma is however only one of several possibilities and by far the worst so you will inevitably stumble on it as it is much more talked about. Keep in mind that if you do online research that information is highly tilted towards worst case scenarios - and that also includes this forum.

All the best for next week but please try not to lose any sleep over it.

Thanks for the reassurance as always Wiebke. I cannot be sure if they are loose in the skin as I am still relatively new. I'm pretty good and quick at finding or sensing any abnormalities physically, behaviourally or in the herd dynamics but I don't know if the lumps are in the skin or deeper. But I do think they are mobile... it's like I can move them around. Compared to abscesses, cysts and tumours we've had before. The belly ones anyway.

I'll try not to worry and I'll move to weighing daily so I have more information over the next few days before their appointments. You just get flooded by this overwhelming dread, anxiety and panic. It's hard enough at the best of times when other areas of your life are smooth sailing. But when you already feel like you're drowning in all areas of your life, it's too much.

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks for the reassurance as always Wiebke. I cannot be sure if they are loose in the skin as I am still relatively new. I'm pretty good and quick at finding or sensing any abnormalities physically, behaviourally or in the herd dynamics but I don't know if the lumps are in the skin or deeper. But I do think they are mobile... it's like I can move them around. Compared to abscesses, cysts and tumours we've had before. The belly ones anyway.

I'll try not to worry and I'll move to weighing daily so I have more information over the next few days before their appointments. You just get flooded by this overwhelming dread, anxiety and panic. It's hard enough at the best of times when other areas of your life are smooth sailing. But when you already feel like you're drowning in all areas of your life, it's too much.

If you can move the lumps, then they are sitting in the skin. If you can't move them, they are sitting in the body. Harmless sebaceous cysts are the most common loose lump and they can appear just about everwhere.

Please concentrate on your mindfulness exercises but you are definitely not dealing with a case of advanced lymphoma and impending death.

I highly doubt that your piggy is at risk of any weight loss. Please do not weigh more than once daily first thing in the morning. The more often you weigh, the more the weight is going to jump around - it is going up and down about 30g over the coursee of a day. It is a perfect rabbit hole to disappear into if you suffer from anxiety.
You may find some of the very practical advice in here helpful right now: Pet Owners Anxiety - Practical Tips For Sufferers and For Supporters

 

[Pound Shilling & Pig]

Hi, your description of the lumps and location on the belly does not sound like lymphoma to me, and sadly I have experience of pigs with lymphoma. Even if you were to find enlarged lymph nodes it would not necessarily be lymphoma.

I am sorry you are going through such a difficult time right now, I am not surprised you are feeling fragile. It sounds like your bosses need to educate themselves with regard to mental health. Your emotions and fears are valid regardless of what anyone else is dealing with.