Shocking find and the possibility of Cancer?
 

Now for a more serious problem with Miah.... Cancer is a big possibility !

I found a pretty large mass on her chest above her rib cage. About the side of my cupped hand 4.5" in diameter. It started out about the size of a quarter and has grown fairly rapid within the past 6 months.

I had my hands full with the other two and our appointment and wasn't able to take her with us. But, I spoke to the doc about it and she says that it could be a number of things from calcium, cyst or even cancer. That the first step is to have it looked at and have a sample taken by needle. (?) on what that is called.

So we have an appointment on Monday the 27th.

I should have kept an eye on it and seen that it was growing. I bath and groom her once a month, I should have seen had some idea that something wasn't right, but I didn't. She has been acting weird lately, more clingy, panting and wanting more of my attention. I had just given her her bath and a treat and out of character she came to me and jumped up on the couch. Which is a no no, and she wouldn't get down. I had to pick her up and put her on the ground and that is when I felt it. I was shocked when I felt how much it had grown !! I've seen lumps and cancer on other dogs but never one this big or on one of my own. I'm scared of the though of loosing her to cancer.

I just feel so bad, like I'm a horrible mom. I just hope that this is something other than cancer. I dont want anything to happen to my baby ...

Oh Dawn I'm so sorry. It is so hard when are babies have problems. Praying that Miah's lump is nothing serious. I think it was Jadabug who went through a lump on her Jada. Maybe she can give you some information on Jada's lump removal. Sending prayers your way.

Im hoping and praying its just a cyst. Try not to panic. I had to go through a biopsy on my breasts one time and I was sure it was cancer and it just ended up being cyst so dont assume its cancer untill you know for sure

Dawn I am so sorry and I know how worried you are:( Jada had a lump on her back right between her shoulderblades. Thank Goodness it wasn't cancer..so I am praying that it is the same with your baby. Jada did have to have major surgery to remove the lump because they couldn't get anything when they did the needle aspiration.

I am so sorry this is happening to your little Miah. Praying that it will be something they can fix easily. God bless.

That is what they are going to do with Miah. Couldn't remember what they called it.

I am hoping that it is something minor that can be taken care of with no invasive surgery. But this thing is HUGE ! About the size of an egg and oval shape. It's under the skin but above the rib cage. It doesn't seem to be hurting her when touched. I just hope that it has not attached itself to any of her major organs. Thinking positive and Keeping my fingers crossed.

I appreciate all of your prayers. Thank YOU . . will check back after her appointment with more details.

Thank goodness you are ok !
Those cyst can be scarry .... Ive had one also.

Dawn, I know how scary those lumps can be. Chizzie had one - turned out to be a harmless cyst which was removed and hasn't regrown. I'll keep you and Miah in my thoughts and prayers.

Praying it's a cyst and nothing serious.

Praying for good results for Miah...

I will keep Miah in my prayers. Praying it is cyst and nothing serious.

Oh Dawn, Those lumps are so scary, and it's great that you are pursuing getting it checked out with a needle biopsy. Lumps or lipomas are very common in middle age and older dogs. They are fat cell growths that can become huge over time. Usually they are found on the belly, and are movable below the skin. Years ago, my very old (now deceased, but not from the lipoma) Irish Terrier had one removed, after it got too big. His other lipomas were just left alone after the biopsy. My sweet ol' Yorkie, Lucy, just had one removed last spring because it was located right between her shoulder blades and was uncomfortable when she walked. We also left a small lipoma alone on an elderly foster I had, after it was biopsied. Even though I now know lipomas are common and not cancerous, I am still worry every time one crops up on one of my babies. I just wanted to share my experiences to help ease your mind that yes, biopsies (fine needle aspirations) of these nasty lumps can, and most often do, have a wonderful outcome. :) Still, I will say a prayer for your sweet Miah (and you) during this scary time.
Veterinary Q & A - Lipomas (fatty tumors) in Dogs and Cats

This does help ease my mind, this is exactly what it is like. . . .thank you so much. I had tried to do some research but was coming up with nothing that would make me think that it was what she was experiencing. Thank you for the link.

You only groom her once a month? But between month to month it didn't get any larger until just now? That's crazy! If it were me, at the first sign of the lump I would have been at the vet.

Firstly, I'm sorry Mia has this going on at all in her little body :eek:. Sugar was clingy and panting in July and we were off to the vet to see if it was a bigger problem than just nerves (was thinking it was related to loud noises but wasn't sure). Turned out to be nothing we could figure out and gave her a calming gel and the problem resolved itself in a week or so.

But a lump ~ I would have been at the vet yesterday :( Especially if I knew I wasn't grooming and feeling all over for bumps and ticks daily. It's sad that little Mia now has an egg on her chest. Thank God you are getting her in for a biopsy now. I will be :hands: that it's just a fatty tumor.

Gosh I am recovering from surgery myself and missed the part about the lump first appearing 6 months ago. I found the lump on Jada's back when it was the size of a tiny pea on a weekend day. Called my vet on Monday morning and he said it would be fine to wait until Wed. So total of 3 days before I took her in and I was a basket case.
I hope it is just a fatty tumor or cyst and they don't have to do surgery.

I hope it's just a harmless cyst! Please keep us posted!

I appreciate the kind words and the prayers from all of you !!

I forget to mention that yes I did take her to the vet when I first found it. We already had an appointment that same week for annual vaccinations so I brought it to the vets attention at that time. She said to keep an eye on it and call if I notice any change.

I feel so bad, I screwed up, and now my baby is paying the price. I have no experience with these sorts of things and I certainly did not expect a growth the size a a quarter to grow to the size of an egg is such a short amount of time.

I will fill you all in on our visit to the vet as soon as I know somehting.

Praying for your baby:hands: Hopefully it's just a cyst or benign fatty tumor.

Sending hugs to you!!!

Positive thoughts and prayers going out to you both.

Headed out the door to the vet with Miah..... am hoping for the best of the worse results possible.

Any word ?

Prayers or Miah. Let us know how the visit today goes.

I hope you get good news.

Checking in for news and praying for her. Hugs and thoughts are with you.

Update:
 

Well we are back from the doc and with a sci of relief I can say it is somewhat good news. It's not cancer thank goodness. Diagnosis is that it is a Lymphoma fatty tissue tumor.

Due to the side of it and the fact that it grew so rapidly and will continue to grow there is no question that I am definitely going to have it removed. Doc says that it wont grow back but there is definitely that chance of other growing in different places.

Im so relieved that this was not cancer and that it can be removed .

Thank you all for your support and well wishes.... it has helped calm my nerves tremendously !

Very good news!!!!

Yeah! I'm so happy for you!

I had a lipoma that was the size of an orange in my upper thigh. The oncologist told me that because it was so deep within my muscle, they suspected it was cancer. However, I opted to having the entire mass removed without a preceding biopsy (my doctor applauded that choice) along with extra muscle tissue. I healed without any pain and the mass never grew back, suggesting it was not a true lipoma (as they are known to grow back in humans, anyway). I also never noticed any difference in strength, caused from missing muscle tissue. I do pray that your dog has an exceptional recovery and that the mass will not grow back. Are you sure that it is not a lipoma rather than a lymphoma? It is my understanding (and perhaps I am wrong) that the difference is that a lymphoma is cancerous and the lipoma is the one more attributed to being a fatty tumor (unless designated lipocarcinoma or liposarcoma).

That's great news! I am glad Miah will be just fine:)