I think there's a second tumor...

[DarkBlade]

Kamchie just got out of surgery and it went all and it looks pretty neat and clean. I'm not sure she realized what happen, she acts normally, which is good.

But... While I was patting her, I noticed a little pea-sized lump inside her, just over her ribcage on the other side of her body. :sad3: It's moving around like the other one but... I don't know if it's a tumor or not, it's so small but I honestly don't wanna take any chance. Get it while it's small!

Sad thing is... I just spent 230 on the big tumor... just to find another. :sad3: This time, I really have no money left at all. I'll be picking on my bills and I can't do that unless I want to be kicked out of my apartment. Is there any way I can find moneyz somehow? What do you do when you're out of money? :cry: And, she's nowhere near ready to be put to sleep. She's so lively and bright.. Still wants to steal food from others. XD

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

I am able to turn to my parents if I ever ran out of money...not sure if that's an option for you though :hugs:

How old is she?

 

[DarkBlade]

Well, I got her in January 2009 and she was mostly adult size. I imagine she's around 2 years old.

Her baby was born on December 18th 2008. Even there, she was adult or teenage size.

And no, my mom doesn't believe in trying to keep a rat healthy. She finds me silly for "wasting all that money". That's how she describes it. My daddy is dead and my boyfriend is broke. anic:

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

If it's a mammary tumor (which I'm assuming it is) there is always the possibility that won't grow very fast and she could live out her life without it affecting her. That's just another option to consider.

 

[DarkBlade]

Think I should take a risk and wait until I get a job and a first paycheck? It's surely gonna be at the beginning of jully.. if I'm lucky at finding a job.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

If I were in your place I would wait and keep an eye on it to see how fast it grows and go from there, especially if money isn't readily available.

 

[victoria]

How long ago did you get the other tumor removed? Has the site fully healed and the hair grown back? Is there anyway you could be feeling scar tissue from the first surgery?

I personally would not put her through surgery again very soon after the first one, she needs time to recover. Some tumors grow faster than others, unless it's not impeding her ability to move around or to breathe, then it does not have to be removed right away.

Many mammary tumors are benign and pose a danger to the rat because they will eventually grow so big they will not be able to eat or drink or the put so much pressure on surrounding organs that they hemorrhage. You should talk to your vet about this, but when you're removing second or a third tumor, you do have to take into account their age and the toll each surgery takes on their body and their immune system and whether or not the risks associated with the tumor outweigh the risks of surgery, especially given their likelihood to keep coming back. I'm not saying surgery isn't the way to go, but that it isn't necessarily the only right answer.

I totally understand the situation with your parents and it sucks. I'm lucky that I had credit cards in my last year of uni and that my now husband helped me with my other bills after I graduated so I could pay them off ASAP. If I were you I would focus on searching for a job and spoiling my ratties however I could in the meantime. It's a sad reality, but you have to have a roof over your head.

 

[mamarat]

If it doesn't grow very fast I would wait too and hope she's still in great health in July. I know how sad it is to find another tumor so soon after a removal.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

How long ago did you get the other tumor removed? Has the site fully healed and the hair grown back? Is there anyway you could be feeling scar tissue from the first surgery?

The surgery was very recent and in the first post Darkblade states that the new tumor is on her other side.

 

[jorats]

Was the rat spayed? If so, that second one may very well shrink and disappear or grow very very slowly.
If not, then I would make sure to keep her on a very low fat and no sugar diet and hope it grows slowly. I've seen some rats live another 6 months with their mammary tumours.

 

I always can get a lend of money off my mom, and if it's an emergency and mom's not around, my vet will let me pay when I get the money.

 

[eagle]

I had a very large tumor removed from my girl Lilac (she is not spayed) and while in surgery the Vet found another small one. Lilac was not doing good during the surgery so the vet did not remove it. Within 10 days another one had popped up near her incision site. Lilac is 2.5 years old now and still going strong and the tumors are slow growing. I hope to get many more months out of my alpha girl.

 

[DarkBlade]

She got surgery yesterday morning. It's awful to find another one but I think I'll wait out and watch it. She's not in pain or anything though, she barely rest, that little ball of energy. But no, she isn't sprayed cuz I couldn't afford to do that. I decided to do my males cuz I had alot less of them and sprays we're more expensive. I see my vet the 30 of May to go trim Boo's teeth. I'll speak to her about it than. I'll just hope it doesn't grow. I'll need to keep an eye on my boyfriend too than, he loves to share his food with them and sometimes, it isn't always good for their health. He's Mister Treat. I don't have to wonder why the rats always run to him before me. :thud:

So, so fat and sugar for Miss Kamchie!

 

[eagle]

I had a very large tumor removed from Molly yesterday (not spayed) that was down by her girly bits. Hopefully no more will pop up.

 

[DarkBlade]

Oww I hope so too. Mine wasn't big enough to impair her vital things, it was growing from the outside... Well, I think. When I went to pick up Kamchie, my vet had a house-call so she wasn't there. Sad, I couldn't speak to her. But, I think she would've let the receptionist know if something was wrong. They told me everything went well. Enyways, all that to say, it was only annoying her to walk on that leg.

 

[DarkBlade]

That's not very good. I think the little pea tumor doubled in size. :sad3: It feels bigger enyways.

 

[mamarat]

:sad3: That's too bad.

 

[victoria]

I have two girls with lumps right now (I'm not having them removed because we are trying hormone implants instead) and because of the placement of one of the lumps it feels different from day to day... sometimes it's even hard to find. Keep an eye on it, if it is growing quickly maybe you can explain your situation to your vet and see if you can work out a payment plan. I know most don't do that, but if you can afford $20 a week maybe it's worth asking. :hugs:

 

[DarkBlade]

Yeah the problem is I have no money income until I finish college and that's June the 18th and then I have to find a job and get my first paycheck. :sad3: It's not good at all!!

Maybe I'll do a money loan from my mom... if she wants to. Fingers crossed.