Pearl has one teet (or could we call it boobie? I know how to spell that) that has become enlarged. In what I’d think would be called mammory tissue surrounding that one boobie there are 2 lumps. One is larger then the other.
Rico took her into the vet a few days ago and she said that 80% of the time it turns out being non cancerious fatty tissue tumor. Since Pearl’s visit to the vet, we had to take Asheligh in for her asthma. Ric mentioned to the vet that I’d discovered that with very light pressure on that one boobie every 2 days clear water comes out. At least it appears to be water. When I first was wondering if it would drain like it looked like it would, I expected some sort of infection, but it’s clear, odorless waterlike fluid that comes out. The other 2 lumps seem to stay the same size.
When Ric told the vet about my discovery, she said to go ahead and drain it but that she still couldn’t tell what was going on without a $500 biopsy. We can’t afford that. But I feel so helpless sitting by wondering if my little 4 legged loved one might have what I would guess would be called breast cancer.
Anyone out there with any ideas? I’m wondering about a second opinion. If I can drain her little boobie so easily every 2 days, isn’t it possible for the vet to drain the 2 lumps and maybe that would take care of it all?
Rico is having some extensive oral surgery on Tuesday so I’m worried about him and taking care of him, but I’m also worried about my cat kid. Ok, so I’m feeling overwhelmed and helpless right now. Anyone have any similar experiences? Anyone have any clue what could be going on? The best part of this, is Pearl doesn’t seem to be in any kind of pain whatsoever.
I wish you and your cat the best. I hope someone with more cat knowledge than I have will come along soon. But in the meantime my advice would be to call around to get quotes on the biopsy, can it be done for less than $500. You might try veterinary schools.
Is there a reason they can’t just remove them? My dog gets those benign tumors (above the skin) that start out like small skin tags and get larger. I never tried draining them, but he had no pain from them, just annoyance that they were there and unattractive. I had the vet remove them for $200. He said they’ll likely return in other places and he’ll keep removing them.
My dog is male, but one of the tumors was definately on his boy nipple. I worried it was cancer too, but the vet said they weren’t and just removed them.
I don’t know if that helps you any, but that’s my similar experience.
$500 for just a biopsy? Are you sure she wasn’t including surgery to remove the growths in that quote? Of course, even with surgery that seems to be a bit pricey. If she’s thinking it’s just a fatty tumor, you might ask about the possibility of a needle aspirate or punch biopsy.
Yes, I’m sure it was just a biopsy. I couldn’t believe the amount and triple checked it. Then talked with the next door neighbor who is a vet assist. and she said that was what prices are like in this part of the country. To remove them would probably be over $2,000.
The closest vet school is 460 miles away.
I would have them removed and biopsied after they were removed if I could afford it. I lived in Utah way to long I guess. No matter what it was that needed to be done with any of my furbabies there, I could be in the back room and the surgery room if I wanted. If I didn’t have the money, we worked out payment plans. And the prices were never anything this high. Here, they won’t even let me go with whichever furbaby while they draw blood or get an xray. I don’t like this. I want to go back to my vet I’ve gone to for years. If only I could talk Ric into moving to Utah. I think I’d have a better chance of talking the vets here in SoCal to let me in the back room. :rolleyes:
Even though the next door neighbor has vouched for the cost being what I should expect from Southern California, I’m still going to call around after my husband has his dental surgery and is back on his feet.
I’ve had fatty tumors in my arm and they were fine right there until they grew enough they were pressing on a nerve and causing a lot of pain. Then I had them removed. If Pearl just has fatty turmors and they aren’t hurting her at all, I can live with that. But I want to know that’s all it is. I can tell she’s not in any pain and she’s acting just fine so if it is cancer, she’s not sick yet.
I will ask about a needle aspirate or punch biopsy. I googled punch biopsy. I hadn’t heard that term before. I’m not sure that would work since her lumps are inside, but I’ll ask.
Can they determine if it’s cancerous or rule it out with just an aspirate biopsy? That seems like the way to go if it works that way.
I’m not sure if either of those options would be any good for this sort of case, but it’s certainly worthwhile to talk to your vet about it. If she’s planning to do a biopsy without a removal, then she’s probably planning to do something along those lines anyway.
I keep forgetting you’re in California, land of the ridiculous prices.
And don’t blame the vets for not letting you in the back–there are a lot of liability issues with letting owners in the treatment areas. You get bitten, scratched, or irradiated, or slip and fall or whatever, it’s their ass. Besides, if they let you back, they have to let everybody back, and they really don’t want the…ahem, highstrung owners back there. (Think Busy Bee scene from Best in Show. That sort of owner.) That kind of owner keeps the animal agitated and gets in the way, both of which compromise patient care. It’s nothing personal, it’s just that a policy of not allowing any owners into the back makes it easier for them to take better care of their patients.
Thank you for putting that into perspective… the back room. That all makes sense to me now. Like I’d said, I’d been spoiled in Utah where I had the same vet for years, watched his kids grow up, his wife knew my voice when she picked up the phone, etc.
I’ve been here for 3 years now and I still can’t get over how expensive it is! Ric will stop by the supermarket on his way home from work to pick up a few things and spends as much as I would have for 2 or 3 weeks before we got married. I start to get on him for it before my brain kicks in and I remember where we live. Then I apologize and end up telling him how good he did by getting things that were on sale :smack: