Hairless Rat w/growth between shoulder blades

Question
QUESTION: I have a young hairless male, who is maybe 7 months old. He was a "feeder" that I bought from a reputable reptile store. A few months ago he developed a growth that looks like a small marble under his skin between his shoulder blades. It has grown and reduced over time, and is now in a growth stage again. It is scabbed over from his scratching it, but it does not seem to bother him, and he has a healthy appetite and normal bathroom. I cannot afford a specialized vet, as I am disabled and on a fixed income. His purpose is to be a family member, nothing more. If it is cancerous, I just want to make his life comfortable, if it is one of the non-cancerous tumors I have read about, then I'd like to know the best way to treat him at home. I periodically swab the area with Hibi-cleans, and make sure he is eating and drinking normally, and that his cage is kept fresh. So far everything is normal other than this growth. I have photos on my cellphone, but currently am without the necessary cord to transfer them to my pc, but I will be able to send pix in a follow up if needed. A perfect physical description of it would be that it looks like Boba (a tapioca) in shape and size. I will include an image link of Boba for reference. http://www.rasamalaysia.com/uploaded_images/boba.JPG
I appreciate your time and help in this matter, and welcome any follow up questions that I could answer to help you better understand the issue.

Sincerely,
Jennifer B.

ANSWER:
I wish I could see what it looks like.  It may simply be a fluid filled cyst which would explain why it gets larger and smaller at different times.  However, this area can be tricky to have a mass and if it is a tumor, the problem would be that it can spread, almost like "Ivy" would and it could wrap around the muscles and connective tissue in the shoulders of the rat and also in the forelimbs causing loss of range of motion not to mention pain.  

I am not real sure what you mean by saying his purpose is to be a family member, nothing more?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I will try to upload a picture to you so that you may see the lump. I will need to get the proper cord so that I can transfer pictures from my phone. I can tell you that the area does appear to be fluid filled, although it seems somewhat solid...meaning, when I press it, it doesn't give much, doesn't flatten out or feel squishy. Periodically small amounts of blood drains from it, as he has managed to scratch it open, and he keeps opening his scab (which I try to keep clean with Hibi-cleans). I have tried a warm compress, but cannot keep him to remain still for very long, so it doesn't seem to be of much help. It doesn't seem to bother him at all, other than being an annoyance, his ability to walk, run, climb or jump does not seem at all impaired. As I previously mentioned, he eats and drinks and uses the bathroom as he did prior to the lump.
Is there anything I can do for the time, while I get my photos transferred over so that you can see the lump?


ANSWER: This looks oddly like a cyst of some sort which would be very good news to be honest.  How are things?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


Rufus   QUESTION: Thank goodness. I'll gladly take a cyst over cancer. It is slightly discolored, as if there is a lot of blood build up in the lump--not black or red, just a very slight purplish tint. Rufus opened it up again today and it is bleeding slowly. This happened the last time and then the lump decreased in size. I am hoping that will happen again. He is still eating and drinking and playing and using the toilet in a normal manner. Since his lump has re-opened, I have tried to keep it clean with soap and hibi-cleans.
Is there anything I can do for him to make it go away? It doesn't seem to bother him much, at least not until it opens and bleeds which annoys him, and he is beautiful to me with or without it, but I am concerned that it could develop into something sinister over time. I have attempted warm compresses, but he doesn't seem to like them as he tries to escape.
I hope my photos were clear enough for you, my cellphone is not a very good camera. I will attach the photos again with this message. Thank you for your responses so far. I look forward to your advice on treating this, and what I can do for him at home.

Answer
Has it decreased in size lately?  

The more I look at this photo the more I am thinking that it may be more than a cyst now since the photo seems more clear.  I am going to send it off to a pathologist friend of mine for another opinion so hang tight, ok?   DONT WORRY!  I am usually more right than I am wrong......LOL...