What to do about my 15-year-old unspayed cat's growing vulva tumor?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Fiona. Unfortunately, there is no way to determine if the mass is cancerous or not just by looking at it. Her veterinarian could perform a simple procedure known as a fine needle aspirated. The doctor would use a small needle to collect a sample of cells to evaluate under the microscope. This can lead to a diagnosis in some cases, but can be inaccurate. For a more accurate diagnosis, the mass would need to surgically removed and the whole mass submitted to the laboratory for a pathologist to review. I understand your hesitancy to do so given her age. That being said, cats have a higher rate of cancerous mammary tumors compared to dogs. Furthermore, the mass appears ulcerated in your picture. This can can associated with malignancy as well. Unfortunately, there is a good chance that it is cancerous. I hope this information helps.

I am so sorry that your and Gingers are both going through this. Mammy tumors in cats can be malignant or benign. Unfortunately, studies show that 90% of them are malignant and aggressive where only 10% are benign. The normal treatment would be a full mastectomy on the side that the tumor is located. With her age, this is still an option but you may just consider taking off just the mass to make recovery easier. The other option is to do nothing and just keep her comfortable. I am sorry that she is going through this and I know it isn't easy on your as she is part of the family. My thoughts are with you during this time and whatever you decide, just know you are doing it with her best interest in mind. I hope this helps!

It would be a good idea to have the lump removed, as there is always a chance any lump in a senior dog could be malignant. Plus not every type of cancer can be diagnosed with an aspirate, further tests are needed like a biopsy. I hope this helps!

Hi. Poor Martha. Yes, any lump around the mammary area is concerning until proven benign. Especially if she was spayed later in life. The sooner these get checked and then removed if needed, the better the outcome. I would definitely recommend getting it checked and having them take a needle sample to look at the cells that it is made up of. This will help guide the next steps. If you would like to discuss further, you can open a consultation if you'd like. Good luck.

Poor Vutu! Unfortunately I would be concerned it could be a malignant tumor. I would take her into the closest vet to you to have this examined, diagnosed, and treated. If it's not treated and it is malignant, the cancer will spread and kill her. If you get it removed, there may be a chance any cancer could be fully cured. Best of luck.

That's a good size growth on Mowe's face. No, she may not be too old for surgery. There are plenty of cats who are older who successfully have surgery. She does need to see a vet to discuss having this removed, and the vet can do a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis to assess her anesthetic risk for surgery. Those tests will let you know if it's ok or not to proceed with surgery. Give her vet a call now to make her an appointment. I hope this helps!

I have to agree with Mano's vet. Even though her mammary mass is currently benign, the presence of AMPK angiogenesis indicates that new blood vessels are growing in the mass, which in turn causes the growth of more tumor cells. Surgical excision of the mass with a biopsy afterwards to assure that all tumor cells have been removed is the best course of action.