a vet question... cyst?

[E13]

...which I am sneaking in here, shhh it's about a cat but more people use AAD and I believe it can happen to dogs too!

Anyway, one of my cats is booked in to have a (most likely) cyst removed and I wanted to know a bit more. I've kept a close eye on it, it's like two small lumps, like one lump that's split into two rather than two separate ones, if that makes sense. Covered with skin, and the same colour, and hard to the touch. A couple of days ago one had, not burst, but there was a scab on it - underneath was blood, but I don't think the lump itself was open - just the surface. I had a look again just now, the scab thing is the same; I did a little squeezy check just to see if anything was leaking/if the scab section was indeed shallow like I thought (yes I shouldn't really do that, I won't again). I noticed that actually, yes there is a double lump, but in fact it's sitting on a bigger lump, rather than just the skin. This lump is the size of a grape. Again covered with skin but underneath it looks a bit purple.

She is booked in to the vets early next week, so I will go with her (parents but I get involved as much as poss) and will raise any concerns, and hopefully they will look at it properly (been in for other reasons before, and post-check too grumpy to attempt). Just wondered if others have experiences with cysts, and/or have insight/advice into this? Putting my mind at rest really.

 

[ann-jen]

A cyst is a fluid filled mass so the vet should be able to drain a little fluid out of it to confirm this, but the fact that it sounds like its bi-lobed make it unlikely to be honest and I think the best option is probably removal and then send it to the lab for analysis to find out what it is

 

[E13]

Thanks - if it is bi-lobed, what would this mean/what is it likely to be? I think the vet will be sending it for testing anyway, but I'm trying to research myself I worry about them all!

 

[spike123]

one of my cats had something similar. He came in one day with what looked like an abscess at the base of his tail. I took him to the vets who gave him antibiotics,but it didn't heal. On further investigation they did a scraping and sent it off for analysis. It came back as containing dubious cells so the vets went in to remove the lump. It turned out to be a fibrosarcoma. He had roots going right down deep into his pelvis and the vet was unable to remove them without the risk of paralysing him. He is on borrowed time but we have no idea as to how long that time will be. That was about 4yrs ago and so far he is fine,in fact he seems to be more energetic than he ever was before it happened.

 

[E13]

Thanks spike123, I've googled fibrosarcoma and it sounds worryingly possible. Fingers crossed though, agh I just want to get to the vets and get things sussed out!

 

[SusieT]

sounds more like a papilloma-the vet won't be able to give any definites until it's sent to the lab.

 

[E13]

You know when people say don't google? Listen! I'm now very worried. Hopefully it's a cyst. Does anyone know if cysts/fibrosarcomas (I don't think it's a papilloma as the description doesn't fit) can cause behavioural changes? She's always been a bit moody, but it seems more so now, she seems more grumpy and sometimes flies across the room, stops and madly grooms, then sprints again. That could well be her normal self though!

I will have to see what the vet says on Tuesday. If I lose her I honestly don't know how I'll cope. I know I'm overreacting, we don't even know what it is yet! If we go ahead as planned, the lump will be removed and sent for testing. A bit worried about vaccinations though as they can cause the sarcomas, and she was meant to have her annual ones at the same time. By the way she's almost 15.

 

[spike123]

my cat was quieter and grumpier than normal but not having mad episodes although he does have them now, but we know what to watch for and he is showing no signs of discomfort so for now we arent worried at all about him. Vets never said about vaccinations causing problems although he didn't have his at that point in time. Maybe an idea to ask vet to delay them if possible until you know what you are dealing with.