breast cancer in guinea pig

Question
Hello,
i'm writing you about my 3y.o boy, he has diagnosed with breast cancer about 3 months ago & our vet told me that there is nothing we can do because its pretty difficult to be on the surgery,  so there is nothing i am doing on except what i'm doing all these years, loving him, fead him and take him for walks(!) on my garden..
So the thing is that the nipple from THE breast  HAS STARTED to bleed, my vet told me that  probably antibiotic will be need and tomorrow i will visit her to see him.
any idea what could help him?
thank you in advance

Answer
We always think of breast cancer as a female thing, but in fact that's not true. Although not as common in males, it is certainly just as serious.

I don't know why an antibiotic would be indicated, but at this point it certainly can't hurt him.

Abnormal bleeding is one of the signs of many cancers. Whether or not an antibiotic will help will only be answered by trying. I suspect that the cancer has already metastasized, or spread and that your little fella's time is limited.

Mammary cancers in guinea pigs are typically so invasive by the time they're discovered that they're untreatable. These little creatures tend to hide illness from us until it has usually advanced to the point of being too late. Mammary cancer, aka breast cancer, is fairly aggressive and doesn't offer many choices.

Surgery is out of the question for a 2 lb guinea pig. Not just because of the prohibitive cost, but because the effect of lengthy anesthesia necessary to do the job would be extremely dangerous. They just don't tolerate anesthesia well. And to the best of my knowledge there have not been any studies on treating breast malignancies in guinea pigs.  

I wish I could give you something more positive to hang onto, but I'm sure you already know what is ahead. You will know when the time is right to say goodbye and not allow him to suffer. He will tell you, and when he does you'll know you will make the right choice.

I am so sorry you have to watch your little guy go through this.