Fatty lump ...what would you do ...

[Tinytom]

Tilly is a lurcher and 12 yrs old in November. ..she is in good health apart from a little muscle wasteage in her hind legs and a fatty lump on her side ...we noticed it about 4 years ago ..it was the size of a large pea ...in the past year it has trebled in size its about 1"x 1.5 " it doesnt cause her any problems and can be moved on examination. ..
I took her to the vets last week to have it checked as hubby is worried it has got bigger ....she would like to operate and remove it ....my dilemma is the anaesthetic. ...she is an older dog and although the vet says her heart is strong she does get raspy after her offlead walk/run .....
I would never forgive myself if she didnt make it through the op ...and then i think if it is more than a fatty lump (cancer) disturbing it could cause spreading of the disease. ....
My auntie had a lump in her breast for years was told it was a fatty lump ...was convinced to have it removed and it turned out to be cancerous and she died within 6 months ...the oncologist then told us if they hadnt removed it the lump would have stayed contained and she would not have died so soon ..........
Hubby is worried it will get bigger over time and then be inoperable but i think let her have a good quality of life and worry about that if it happened ....what would you do ...suggestions gratefully received xxx

 

[excuseme]

At her age I would be tempted to leave it alone and let her enjoy life without cutting her about and creating possibly more problems.
Of course your vet would like to remove it. Hmmm

 

[Hemlock]

I may have said this in another post - if so, apologies for repetition.

I would leave it. In fact I have a 12 year old dog who is lumpy as well. My vet and I agree to leave them be, on the basis that if they are cancerous (which hers very probably are) fiddling with them, even aspirating for tests, may well accelerate their progress, and if they aren't, it doesn't matter. He sees a lot more of this than I do. Also, as she is a lurcher, any anaesthesia is a big risk.

We also made this decision with our last terrier, who had quality life for three years after the lumps first appeared.

 

[Tinytom]

Thanks for your replies ..i have told the vet we will not be going ahead with an operation to remove the lump ..

 

[Ash2021]

Think you have made the right decision - at 12 years old I wouldn’t be putting my dog through an op like that x x

 

[RGC]

Tinytom, I would concur with previous responses. If the lump isn’t affecting the happy quality of her advanced life, why disturb her?

 

[Tinytom]

I noticed Tillys fatty lump has nearly dissappeared......

 

[RGC]

Amazing. How is she in herself? Do you have a photo to compare with the one of 21st May? Great news.

 

[Tinytom]

Apparently the vet says it can happen ..will upload a pic later ...so glad we didn't operate xx

 

[JudyN]

That's such good news

 

[excuseme]

Lucky you and Tilly, unlucky vet!

 

[Hemlock]

Great news - made my day!

 

[Tinytom]

 

[Tinytom]

You can see there is still a small lumpy bit but it is certainly half the size it was

 

[Tinytom]

Amazing. How is she in herself? Do you have a photo to compare with the one of 21st May? Great news.

She is absolutely fine. .the lump has never bothered her it was my hubby who was worried ....what if it got bigger or she knocked it....

 

[JudyN]

I had no idea they could just shrink like that. Jasper has a couple of lumps, but this thread has made me feel better about my decision not to get them checked, as with the distancing rules, the vet just having a feel would be tricky.

 

[lurcherman]

I had a lurcher 25 years ago and at the age of 3 this lump appeared which the vet said just a fatty one and said just leave it but come back if it got much bigger, over the years it very slowly got bigger but the dog was in good health so I left it and never did have the opp, my other lurcher got a small one also on her leg which I checked on weekly but 8 years later it was still the same size and dog lasted until 16 of which died from old age ,