Mass growth

Question
Hello, at this moment, my dog is still in recovery, I want to know how to see if the small mass that grew in the soft tissue by her urethra could just be a mass and not cancer. the Vet could not reach it with a needle yet for biopsy, we are going to watch the mass to see if it grows, she is 95% sure it is the cancer, but my question is, Have you ever experienced a mass growth that could be cause from something else? see cause i got her spay and she had cyst and nasty ovaries, so I am hoping with that taken care of i am safe, I might be wasting your time, My dog is not even home yet from the bladder surgery, by the way, no cancer in the bladder or urethra, just the mass growth in the soft tissue pressing the urethra, a very hard spot to get a biopsy

Answer

Hi Jeff,

As a pet owner, I totally understand your concerns and fears. But there's no use in trying to guess at what the biopsy or prognosis might be. Though waiting is hard, you try to avoid thinking the worst. Try to remain positive, and take one thing at a time.

The prognosis for urinary tract cancer in dogs depends on how extensive the tumor is within the bladder, and whether or not the tumor has spread beyond the bladder. Three types of treatment are available to dogs with bladder cancer: surgical removal of the mass and parts of the bladder, chemotherapy, and/or anti-inflammatory drugs. Surgery is an option only if the cancer has not spread beyond the bladder. It is also possible only on small masses confined to certain locations in the bladder. Chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin, carboplatin, adriamycin and mitoxatrone, can be used in combination to help treat bladder cancer. Purdue University has found the combination of chemotherapy and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to be effective.

Cancer treatment for a pet can be an expensive and emotionally exhausting. Sometimes participation in a study where treatment is free is helpful. To review on-going studies and learn how to qualify for free treatment, visit:

http://www.animalci.com

http://www.vet.purdue.edu/pcop/

I sincerely hope your vet doesn't find any cancer, and that none of this info will be needed.

Feel free to get back to me if I can be of further help.
Best of luck,

Patti