Lumps - terrified (now merged with Mast Cell tumour thread)

Hi everyone,
This past weekend I found a bump on my three year old lab’s (Bella) neck. I am not sure how long it has been there - Bella is rubbed constantly so I feel we would have felt it sooner if it had been there a while. The bump is hard, the size of a pea, and kind of scaly and red looking. I scheduled an appointment with the vet to have a look. That appt was on this coming Thurs.

Tonight, as I was rubbing Bella, I found another smaller one on the side of her belly. Now I have gone from scared to terrified. I am taking Bella in tomorrow...won’t see our usual vet but at this point, I want her examined ASAP.

Bella does have allergies and I hopeful it is this or at least something else benign.

I know there is not much you can say...vet needs to have a look. I have been doing a ton of research but of course, I am not trained and this is to be handled by a professional other than “Dr. Google.”

I would appreciate any prayers and/or positive thoughts you may send our way. I am hoping to find an open appointment tomorrow when I call first thing in the morning.

Bella is a treasured member of our family. I am trying to not assume the worst but I am so scared.

Thanks and blessings to all taking the time to read this. I can’t sleep!

Jenny

Moderator Note: Jenebeka's thread has been merged with another thread started a day or two later. Some posts might appear a little out of order as a result

 

I am sorry that you have this worry with your lovely dog . I think you do absolutely right to get her seen as soon as possible , most lumps are benign , but vigilance is always best . I fully understand your worries, having gone through this myself , and I know it sounds trite, but try to keep calm around Bella as she will pick up on your stress , please let us know how you get on at the Vets today x

 

I agree with @kateincornwall , most lumps are benign, and dogs do tend to get 'lumpier' with age. That doesn't help the worry, though, so I hope all goes well at the vet today so that you can relax again.

 

I hope you have a reassuring appointment with the vet today. Please let us know how you get on.

 

Good luck with the vet today.

 

Oh Jenny you poor thing, of course you are worried. Bumps and lumps put the fear of God into me! Lots of us have been in the same boat, so thoughts are with you.
Please do let us know how you get on with Bella at the vet today.

 

I can’t remember how many times I’ve taken my dogs to the vet with lumps. On all occasions except one the lumps were nothing and didn’t need any attention. The one lump that did need removing turned out to be a skin cancer but it wasn’t a particularly worrisome kind and it never returned anywhere on my dog (who lived for many years afterwards).

Totally understand not being able to sleep though as I’ve been there myself. You will be seeing the vet very soon and will get some answers. I’m sure you and your dog will be in good hands.

 

Thank you all! We have an appointment this afternoon. It isn’t with our long time vet (he is in surgery today) but his partner in the office. I know she is very good...just don’t know her. However, for peace of my own mind, I need Bella seen today. I don’t want to wait another day for Bella and my own well-being.

I will keep you all posted. I greatly appreciate your kind thoughts. Now to work on my stress level!

Jenny

 

Hoping all went ok at the Vets today, been thinking of you .

 

Yes, same here. Hope things are ok.

 

Just got home and the news isn’t good. The larger pea sized growth on her neck is most likely benign. However, the smaller growth I found just last night is a mast cell tumor. I am devastated.

Surgery is tomorrow and then we wait for pathology which will take 5 business days and probably longer due to the holiday. The vet feels Bella will be okay because the tumor is tiny and we caught it early. They are removing both growths so we will know what is going on. They told me they see this kind of thing all the time to try to reassure me. Just no answers for a while.

Tonight I will feel all over her for any others. They are so easy to miss.

Devastated.

 

I am so sorry, I am hoping that the vets' optimistic view is some consolation, worrying all the same xx

 

Oh my goodness I am sorry. Very good thing though that you noticed the growths (especially the second one) while still so small.

 

It’s good that the vet was reassuring. They are the experts. You caught it as early as possible, which is great. Because it’s on her belly where there is plenty of stretchy skin they will be able to get a very good margin around the lump.

Still, it completely sucks to get a cancer diagnosis...it is very stressful. Hopefully, though, removal will fix the problem and that’s all there will be to it.

We’ll definitely be in your corner the whole time.

 

Hi everyone,
Starting a new thread to hear of your experiences. My three year old yellow lab Bella has at least one mast cell tumor. It is tiny and will be removed tomorrow along with what the vet feels is a benign growth on her neck.

The vet is optimistic but can’t tell me much until pathology comes back which could be the end of next week. Both growths will be removed in the morning. I hope the other growth is truly benign.

I am terrified as you can imagine. This dog means so much to our family but she truly is my girl.

Please respond with any experience you have with these types of tumors. We feel it has been caught early and praying for the very best.

Thank you again for your kind words and empathy.

Jenny

 

This must be a bit of a shock for you.
I agree with the others - caught early and removed completely is good.
Try to keep positive about this.
x

 

I’m glad you spotted the lumps in good time, were able to see the vet today and that surgery is tomorrow. It’s a worry having to wait for the pathology results, but at least the lumps will have been removed. I hope all goes well.

 

Bella is going to get a major rubbing session tonight...looking for any others. The cancerous tumor is seriously tiny. It is about the size of a piece of rice, but more of a oval shape. Please check your beloveds tonight.

I do feel some peace in knowing it will be removed tomorrow. The wait though....ughh.

 

Hi all...maybe I should have kept this in my original thread. Sorry for duplication. Not thinking clearly.

 

You’ve done seriously well to find that. You are a very diligent owner.

It will be gone tomorrow.