Melanoma that was removed, has now come back 2 weeks later and panicking

[I love my Spanish horse]

Will keep this short, but for those who dont already know i recently found a suspicious lump on my new spanish boys anus. Being grey thought melanoma instantly, vet came out and was also 99% sure thats what it is but wanted biopsy to make sure. Anyway whilst taking biopsy vet says thinks can get it all out, to which i agree thinking this is the best thing, obviously before i'd had a good chance to read up and that most people say leave them well alone Biopsy result came back and she got all of it, there was nothing left inside him, BUT in the last 2 weeks since another smallish lump has appeared on his tail this time and am now seriously panicking ive made it more aggresive by agreeing to have it removed! Thoughts anyone as am really stressing now, vet coming out weds to remove stitches but not sure what she's going to be able to say that will put my mind at rest as it already seems thats she's done the oppsite to every other vet in the country!

Eta ive only recently moved so dont know/ trust this vet in particular, and of course wasnt warned that removing it could make it more aggresive or i wouldnt have agreed so easily!

 

[mandyroberts]

My horse has melanoma under his tail and one on his neck. I thought you left alone because they are very slow growing and didn't cause problems but touching them did not necessarily make it worse - they are not like sarcoids?

 

[Littlelegs]

Mine grew her first at about 13 or so & since her late teens has grown more slowly. Has about 5 clustered under her dock now at 23 but not particularly big or fast growing. When I looked into it years ago it seemed to be more the case that removing the outside ones was pointless as its the internal ones that cause problems. I have heard removing them can make them spread, but also that unless they are effecting daily life its of no benefit. While it is a worry, plenty of greys die of old age not from melanomas so try not to get needlessly worried. Tbh though I've made my mind up that if mine has internals that effect her, what I do to the outside is irrelevant. Maybe if you do a thread asking for vet recommendations in your area you could get a second opinion?

 

[Jnhuk]

My lad several years ago developed a hard subcutaneous nodule which I suspected was a melanoma so I ignored it for 8 months and it hardly changed then got persuaded by couple of helpful folks on the yard that I really needed to get it seen to. Vet came wasn't sure so tried to biopsy and confirmed melanoma. Sorry OP but your original fears that it stirred things up were true with my lad. Two weeks after it was already growing in size. Wish I had stuck to my guns.... but then hindsight is wonderful and don't beat yourself up.

Have tried various things but nothing worked or made a change including cimetidine for a while. Some folks report good results with Sarc-ex although meant for sarcoids, the global herb vet reckoned it would help but fo rmy lad it did nothing.

However, seven years later, my lad has a few more melanomas on his dock but the original one is the worst and has meant a custom made slightly odd looking bridle was needed to accommodate the lump but we still manage to do everything we want to and have loads of fun

 

[KrujaaLass]

Sometimes your damned if you do and damned if you dont. You followed your vets advice thinking they know best so dont be too hard on yourself. We all do things that we wished we hadn't at some time