Maria (Liverpool girl) - aggressive tumour Question

[SQ]

When putting Maria back into her cage this afternoon I felt a large hard mass in her abdomen. It is deep and I didn't feel it yesterday so it may be growing very fast. Maria hasn't been feeling well but I attributed it to slowing down due to her age as well as fighting off respir. issues for about a month - she is doing well and it is almost time to stop the meds.
Tumours in this family tend to pop up suddenly, be extremely aggressive and grow almost exponentially.

Maria now has a vet appointment for late Wednesday (the soonest they could get me in) and I am hoping desperately that it is nothing .....

Thinking of trying pred .....
Any suggestions for while we wait for Wednesday afternoon to hurry up and get here?

 

[SQ]

The lump is now protruding from Maria’s abdomen. It is growing unbelievably fast.
Maria just enjoyed a treat of boiled egg with her family and friends. It was so great to see her enjoying it. I’m going to get meds ready and then give everyone another treat ... perhaps some cooked sweet potato.
I think we’re going to need an emergency vet appointment by morning. :cry4:
I pray the vet will give me one because they are all booked up.

 

[victoria]

I'm sorry :cry4: Do you think it's a mammary tumor or something else? I hope there's something that can be done.

 

[SQ]

It isn't a mammary tumour.
I am afraid that it is an extremely aggressive tumour that is doubling in size very very fast. Since it is so deep it may be attached to one or more organs. If I am correct it likely isn't operable.
If I am right then Maria will need to be put to sleep, probably tomorrow to prevent her from suffering a tremendously.

I really, really hope I am wrong.
I'm probably going to be up most of the night ....
When I felt the tumour this afternoon I thought Maria would have to be put to sleep this week ... but I thought I would have a few more days with my sweet girl.

 

[Jems71]

Oh no! Is she one of your older ratties?
Will be thinking about you and your girl, and wishing for the best! Hang in there and try to get a bit of sleep I know easier said than done...but...try.
Good luck tomorrow.

 

[Rachael]

I'm sorry that I didn't see this sooner SQ. I'm so sorry to hear this, hear from you soon Lots of treats :cry: :rose:

 

[SQ]

Maria's lump hasn't grown as fast overnight as I expected so looks like we will be going to the vet tomorrow afternoon.
Maria may have been two years old in Jan. or Feb. or she may be older then that ...

 

[mamarat]

Poor sweetie. Good luck at the vet.

 

[lilspaz68]

Those incredibly nasty internal masses Once you can see/feel them it's really advanced under there. Almost like the only visual part of an iceberg is the tip and most of it is under and out of sight.

Instead of Pred try pain meds for any discomfort.

I hope you get your girl for a little longer Holly

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

:hugs: Sending good thoughts to your girl.

 

[jorats]

Oh SQ, I'm so sorry. My Ness had an abdominal tumour that grew incredibly fast. We managed with metacam, there was nothing more we could do.

 

[SQ]

Thanks everyone.

I gave Maria pred last night and again this morning just in case it would slow the growth.
Pred has beeen helping slow the growth of Jessie's lung tumour .... but nothing helped with the masses the other Liverpools (Sandy, Betsie, & Luke) developed.
I'm going to have to wait to give the metacam because I gave her pred but if she starts to look bad I can give codine.
Would that help in this situation?

A few pics from last night and today:

...... Maria last night by the ladder

Maria, Jessie and Laurel (in the front)
Jessie has lost a lot of weight and her breathing is laboured today ... I think her lung tumour must be growing larger even tho the pred has slowed it down.

.... Jessie last night ... staining due to incontinence

..... Jubilee, Laurel, and Maria .... Laurel has badly damanged lungs

Maria, her sister Laurel, and Laurel's daughter Jessie will all be going to the vet's tomorrow.
Maria and Laurel are now my two oldest ratties ...

 

[jorats]

The codeine should help in managing pain.

 

[SQ]

thanks

 

[SQ]

Maria went to the vet on Tuesday and again this afternoon.
The tomour is aggressive but not growing as fast as feared .... it is attached to the muscle but not to any internal organs.
The vet says Maria is a good candidate for surgery and has recommended that as the best course of action.
Maria is scheduled for surgery on Monday afternoon.

 

[victoria]

I hope all goes well for her on Monday :hugs: I will keep her in my thoughts.

 

[mamarat]

Sending good thoughts for Maria.

 

[SQ]

Maria is home ... she isn't feeling well but she is doing ok.
Her incision is weeping a bit of blood but the vet said that was normal.

I think I made the wrong decision
... I went with the vet's recommendation but it looks like it turned out to be the wrong decision for Maria after all.
The tumour would have killed her within a few weeks, but it looks like the surgery may have just made her last days a bit more painful.
This aggressive tumour was deep after all ... it had grown through 3 layers of muscle and because of the type of tumour it turned out to be, there is a good chance it will grow back.
The vet said that once he opened Maria up and saw the tumour, he thought about just closing her up again.

Hopefully Maria will quickly recover and heal without complications due to the tumour having grown through three layers of muscle.
Hopefully the tumour will not grow back so Maria will be able to enjoy life with her family a bit longer.


:wallbang:

 

[mamarat]

:hugs: Hope Maria heals fast too.

 

[mccauleywent 73005]

im so sorry

i hope she heals fast as well :/