Hi

My first time here, hope someone can give me some help.

My 9 year old labrador has Just had an operation to remove a mammary tumor. After 2 weeks I have noticed another pea sized hard lump about 2-3 cm away from the wound. Also in her bottom breasts there is a pencil lead sized lump in each breast.

The vet says the first lump may be a reaction to the wound, which itself has gone hard.

The vet has said that over 2 weeks the hardness of the wound should go down and if the other lump doesn't then it will need to be removed; and to keep an eye on the other smaller lumps.

I really don't like her to be cut open every month and am wondering if the first operation had caused the secondary lumps.

They didn't do a biopsy of the lump which I should have told them to but it was all done so quickly and I was so worried about her.

I've Just lost a 2 year old Labrador 7 weeks ago and am so worried about the others.

Has anyone had any experience with mammary cancer, can you offer me any advice.

Has anyone had any experience with mammary cancer, can you offer me any advice.

Many Thanks

Tom

Hi Tom

I had a mammary strip on one of my bitches a few years ago (my first Dobe) due to what turned out to be a particularly malignant cancer. The cancer came back almost immediately and I declined to have any more operations on her and would not consider putting her though chemotherapy.

From my experience the only advice I would give is make her life extra special from now on, let her do things that you might not normally do and do everything you can for her so that, once she has gone, you don't think "I wish I had done that with her".

I realise this sounds defeatist but I feel that my dogs are so special I would not put them though any treatment that would only give an extra few months when they may be feeling ill or in pain for much of it.

If she starts to ulcerate (get sores) underneath they it is time to start thinking what to do. If she recovers well from her operation and remains fit and alert (which I hope for your and her sake that she does) then make the most of her company :)

Good luck

Christine

I would have to agree with you Christine. By all means do a biopsy to see how aggressive any malignancy is likely to be, but major surgery like that really knocks the stuffing out of a dog, and her quality of life post-op may not be all you would desire. Often it can be for the best to make her last months really happy.
Sorry I can't be more positive.

Hi thanks for your comments

are we talking months here?

She is as alert as ever after her first operation.

I have done some reading on mammary cancer and understand that 50% are malignant and 50% benin , also that 25% of the malignant cancer is likley to kill her.

So about 12.5% of the lumps are likely to kill her.

I know this is only statistics and anyone can fall on the wrong end of them.

Christine, How long did you have with your Dobe after the operation and how well was she post op?

Many Thanks

Tom

If the tumours are benign she could live for years. (Fingers crossed).
:)

My first Labrador had four mammary tumours removed when she was 10 years old. Pretty much the same age as your bitch. She lived a happy life for another two years before dying of a totally unconnected problem. I know it's hard not to worry about these things but it's the only advice I can give. If the new lumps do start to grow then cross that bridge when it happens. Till then, help her to enjoy life.

Regards, John

My 11 year old Spanish has quite a few lumps and I've decided to leave things be. One of my friends had hers done and 2 weeks later the dog was dead, I don't want to put my old girl through that and she's had these lumps for a while now and except for a few weeks ago when she seemed low she still has her puppy phases!!

With Dilita I was told that one side would be done one week and the other a couple of weeks later and so I said no, and the vet agreed with me.

Hiya Tom.

You sound so worried....I know how awful it must be for you.

My Mom's bitch has lived with 'lumps' for 11 years, she's 14 now and she's still going strong.
I'm not trying to give you false hopes here, I just hope you have lots of time left with your baby.

Take care,

Lots of love and our thoughts are with you.

Lisa & the gang
x

It is more usual to strip the whole of the affected side, well it used to be, have know 3 bitches & 1 dog who have been done when the lump about the size of a 2p piece and all made a good recovery and lived the normal span. One got pea size lumps on the other side and that was removed too, she was fine.

Hi Tom

I had Keri for 6 months after her operation - the vet had estimated 2 weeks after receiving the biopsy results but she surprised us all. Once she recovered from the mammary strip (this is a horrible operation and takes them a few weeks to recover) she was fine in herself for quite a while. I did not initially realise what the sores on her undercarriage were, if I had I would probably have had her pts a few weeks earlier but she was eating and playing - in fact played tuggy with me the day the vet came out.

A few days after she had her op her daughter was diagnosed with lymphoma and only lived 2 weeks as she went downhill very fast.

As your vet did not do a biopsy you cannot know for sure what the lump was so hopefully it may have been benign.

Christine

Thanks for everyone's comments

Reading other peples experiences does help a bit but I guess it's down to luck.

I won't say much more as I'm on the edge of tears everytime I think of her.

Many Thanks

Tom

Take care and I know how you feel. I was in tears a few weeks ago with Dilita but at the moment she seems great and hopefully she has a few more years in her yet.

My mum's yorkie bitch Amy has mammary lumps, we noticed them about 10 months ago and it was suggested she was operated on to remove them - however if they were malignant they could just come back...after much debate (and remembering how much she struggled with an anesthetic for a dental) we decided to leave her be, she is still very happy and loves her walks, her lumps are bigger now but she does not bother with them and they do not weep or ulcerate - she is 12 years old and it would be sad to put her through a massive op that may not solve the problem.
Sarah.