Cancer Looming update - Digital Chondrosarcoma
Hi:
Montgomery (per previous post) had toe amputation on Wed.
Report came in last night saying it is a digital chondrosarcoma.
This is the summary wording:
The neoplasm is of stromal origin. However, it is showing
differentiation towards cartilage which places into the
chondrosarcoma category. These are not common tumours in
guinea pigs. If we can extrapolate from their behaviour
in other domestic speciies, we would expect their tumour
to have an infiltrative growth habit but not necessarily
to have a high metastatic potential.
She also had her footpad on same foot biop. because of
discolouring but these results aren´t back. So we don´t
know if we got it all. And, to add to everything, else
she´s got a lump on her side. The vet doesn´t think
necariily it´s a tumour but if it is then she would
have 2 types of cancers. Damm, she´s only 10 months old.
We´re already $1,000 in with all the vet bills and just
not sure how far we go, if it makes sense, to save her life.
We want do to everything we can and feeling pretty helpless right now
Anyone have any experience with this type of cancer?
Thanks,
Andrea
Montgomery (per previous post) had toe amputation on Wed.
Report came in last night saying it is a digital chondrosarcoma.
This is the summary wording:
The neoplasm is of stromal origin. However, it is showing
differentiation towards cartilage which places into the
chondrosarcoma category. These are not common tumours in
guinea pigs. If we can extrapolate from their behaviour
in other domestic speciies, we would expect their tumour
to have an infiltrative growth habit but not necessarily
to have a high metastatic potential.
She also had her footpad on same foot biop. because of
discolouring but these results aren´t back. So we don´t
know if we got it all. And, to add to everything, else
she´s got a lump on her side. The vet doesn´t think
necariily it´s a tumour but if it is then she would
have 2 types of cancers. Damm, she´s only 10 months old.
We´re already $1,000 in with all the vet bills and just
not sure how far we go, if it makes sense, to save her life.
We want do to everything we can and feeling pretty helpless right now
Anyone have any experience with this type of cancer?
Thanks,
Andrea
- Lynx
- Celebrate!!!
Wow, only 10 months old! No experience, just sympathy. I hope she heals well and this lump on her side is nothing. Are they going to do a fine needle aspiration to determine what it is?
All I can say is your experiences are not typical. I don´t know (remember) how many guinea pigs you have or have had, but problems like this occuring this young are not common.
All I can say is your experiences are not typical. I don´t know (remember) how many guinea pigs you have or have had, but problems like this occuring this young are not common.
I asked my vet. if they were going to remove the
lump and he said he didn´t want to put her through
more surgery right now. I´ll ask about the fine
needle aspiration. Does this require her to be asleep?
This is our first guinea pig and she lives solo. I didn´t
think this could be too typical. I thought she would live
until around 5 years. Thanks for responding.
lump and he said he didn´t want to put her through
more surgery right now. I´ll ask about the fine
needle aspiration. Does this require her to be asleep?
This is our first guinea pig and she lives solo. I didn´t
think this could be too typical. I thought she would live
until around 5 years. Thanks for responding.
No, they don´t need to sedate for a fine needle aspirtation - but they might not get enough cells for a definitive diagnosis. For a proper biopsy they most likely would have to sedate to get a chunk with enough cell matter.
Lumps can be pretty common tho and often are no more than sebacious cysts.
This is atypical and I haven´t dealt with this kind of cancer myself. My first instinct would be to do a blood panel to see if there are any signs of illness elsewhere - Josephine could say better than me exactly what you would learn(I think the vet would order specific tests on the blood)and if it appeared the cancer was localised, amputate the entire leg.
My experience has been that there are too many complications with pressure sores on stumps to make it worth just taking off the foot. The pigs adjust brilliantly. It seems it is a bigger deal to the owner than to the pig - except for phantom scratching.
Lumps can be pretty common tho and often are no more than sebacious cysts.
This is atypical and I haven´t dealt with this kind of cancer myself. My first instinct would be to do a blood panel to see if there are any signs of illness elsewhere - Josephine could say better than me exactly what you would learn(I think the vet would order specific tests on the blood)and if it appeared the cancer was localised, amputate the entire leg.
My experience has been that there are too many complications with pressure sores on stumps to make it worth just taking off the foot. The pigs adjust brilliantly. It seems it is a bigger deal to the owner than to the pig - except for phantom scratching.
Thanks Pinta. I guess we can make more concrete
decisions once the footpad comes back. In the meantime,
woke up this morning to find she had completely removed
the foot bandaging. She´s been worrying over her toe
and going at the stitching. Off to the vet again for
re-bandaging and ideas for getting her to leave it a
lone. If she opens the stitching and scabbing we´re
going to have a mess on our hands.
decisions once the footpad comes back. In the meantime,
woke up this morning to find she had completely removed
the foot bandaging. She´s been worrying over her toe
and going at the stitching. Off to the vet again for
re-bandaging and ideas for getting her to leave it a
lone. If she opens the stitching and scabbing we´re
going to have a mess on our hands.
-
- Little Jo Wheek
You might have to put an e-collar on her. I don´t like to do it, but sometimes it is necessary. I will only put a SOFT e-collar on a gp. I hand-made mine from interfacing and strong tape. It just slides over the head, without tying at all. You have to make it small enough so the cavy can´t slide it off, but not so tight that you are causing problems with the neck and throat. I would try a few more creative bandages first. Sometimes it takes some trial and error to find the easiest and best way to keep such small bandages on difficult to bandage areas. Another thing I might suggest is proper pain management. My recent amputee left her leg stump (the scapula and a bit of the humerus were left) alone as long as she had good analgesia.
I would certainly do blood work to stage the cancer. A chest x-ray will also help see if the cancer has spread to the lungs. If these are clear, I might go for a limb amputation, but it seems as if the cancer is quite localized.
A needle biopsy takes minutes and can be done while the pig is awake. Hopefully, it is not cancerous!
I would certainly do blood work to stage the cancer. A chest x-ray will also help see if the cancer has spread to the lungs. If these are clear, I might go for a limb amputation, but it seems as if the cancer is quite localized.
A needle biopsy takes minutes and can be done while the pig is awake. Hopefully, it is not cancerous!
- RavenShade
- Thanks for the Memories
It took a couple of people to hold Max, but we were able to draw cells from his tumor without putting him under.
Not all lumps are cancer. Pigs are prone to cysts and abcesses, too.
Not all lumps are cancer. Pigs are prone to cysts and abcesses, too.
Thanks for all the info. I will print this and
take to our vet on Wed. visit for next step planning.
They feel at this point they got everything and didn´t
detect cells on the footpad biop. Still not understanding
why it is discoloured. She is becomine highly skilled at
removing the tape at the top of the bandaid. Were trying
to make do ourselves instead of rushing her to the vet (2X
now). Vet thought she could probably have the dressing off
I´m just concerned that her love of pulling threads will include
her stitches. Haven´t ruled out the collar yet - am just
going to try and monitor her. What a week, I feel like
sitting down with a big scotch and sleeping for 12 hours.
Thanks again for your responses and information, it´s made
this a little less stressful.
take to our vet on Wed. visit for next step planning.
They feel at this point they got everything and didn´t
detect cells on the footpad biop. Still not understanding
why it is discoloured. She is becomine highly skilled at
removing the tape at the top of the bandaid. Were trying
to make do ourselves instead of rushing her to the vet (2X
now). Vet thought she could probably have the dressing off
I´m just concerned that her love of pulling threads will include
her stitches. Haven´t ruled out the collar yet - am just
going to try and monitor her. What a week, I feel like
sitting down with a big scotch and sleeping for 12 hours.
Thanks again for your responses and information, it´s made
this a little less stressful.