Melanoma removal, is it possible?

[Rambling Horse]

Hi. I know there are a ton of posts about melanomas but every situation is different and I'd rather not hijack someone else's thread for their particular issue.

My pony has a large-ish(?) melanoma thought to be growing in ring of muscle around his anus (not sure if this is the correct term for the place, apologies), although it is off to the side and is rubbing against his bum.
It has caused him no real issues apart from this rubbing, and yesterday it appears he had rubbed it in his stable against his tail and it had bled.
The last time this happened with a smaller sized one under his tail (on his tail rather than bum) we had it removed.

The vets advised against removal of this one (before it got to this size and rubbed) as apparently it could mean he would 'lose control' of being able to hold in poo.

I was wondering whether it would be possible to have only the visible surface of the melanoma removed rather than digging into his muscle to remove any potential invisible root growth? I know melanomas are rarely malignant and his don't seem to be, so would it be possible to have it only partially removed? (Or starve it of blood in some way so it falls off? It is much thinner at it's base and this is why I am sceptical at the idea that it has a massive root underneath, and the vet wouldn't know unless they cut him up anyway).

Just curious really, as otherwise he is completely healthy and I don't want this to become an ongoing issue.

 

[be positive]

This is a question only your vet can really answer or you could get a second opinion if you want, I would urge caution though as disturbing the melanoma without getting it all out could result in the cells becoming aggressive in nature therefore growing back faster, that is without the concern of the muscle function being affected which is a serious possibility.

My show cob had several, mainly on his neck, which suddenly became cancerous growing extremely rapidly, they were probably inside him as well, less than 18 months after competing at HOYS he was pts aged just 11 years, we think that as he had sweet itch he rubbed the growths a little now and again and that set off the overreaction, my vet could not believe how quickly they developed and there was nothing that could be done, it is a nasty condition that often shortens the life of grey horses, although it is not only greys that suffer many will have them to some extent.