Got the call from the vet today with Stella's pathology results. The pigmented skin tag on Stella's paw, the one the oncologist was somewhat worried about, was nothing; just a skin tag. The one on the back of her right hind leg, the one BOTH our regular vet and oncologist was certain was nothing turned out to be Mast Cell Tumor #3. The pathology report however stated that the tumor was Grade 1 and had clean margins, which means it was fully excised and there are no residual cancer cells in the area.
So there's nothing more to do with this tumor but I somehow feel so sad, so uneasy. A third one? Really? We pointed out the lump on Stella's right hind leg in August, a little more than a year post treatments. At the time it was thought to be nothing but in hindsight we now know that she developed another MCT in one year or just over a year after the discovery of MCT #2. MCT #2 had been discovered around a year after the removal of MCT #1. Is this a pattern?
The oncologist said there is no pattern. MCT's pop up "just because". There is no "likelihood" one way or the other. Asked Dr. F if there was any sort of drug therapy to start as a preventative - we already knew the answer, as I was sure we asked this before....."no, there is nothing you can do to try to prevent this from recurring and/or progressing".
So it's as it has always been - we have to keep a close eye on Baby Girl and whenever we feel or see ANY little thing we are to report it right away. The oncologist said it does not have to mean surgery each time; we can start with a biopsy or needle aspiration.
Stella and Betty get a bath in our bathtub every 2 to 3 weeks and that is the time we really scrutinize her skin and body. This is how we found the lump on her hind leg. We're doing the best we can, I only wish there was something else we could do. But she remains a happy spoiled little girl so that will have to do for now.
Stitches will be removed next week.....
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