my cat has a lump on her nipple. What should I do?

Question

My 11 year old spayed cat has a small (vet said 4-5mm) lump under one of her nipples. Obviously i'm going to get it taken care of but i am trying to figure out the best course of action. Do I let them put her under and remove the lump and bipsy it before proceeding (this is what my vet wants to do. I go to banfield who are notorious rip-off artists for anything other than preventative care)  to see if it is malignant and go from there, have them go ahead and do a masectomy, or first get x-rays to make sure her lungs and stuff are good. Obviously i'd like to have my cat cut open as few times as possible, but i also would like those times to be as minor as possible...please advise

J C · Accepted Answer

Best bet (IMHO).  Have x-rays done to be sure that - if it is cancerous - it hasn't spread into the lugs.  Once it gets to that point in cats, there is nothing that can be done.  If that hasn't happened, have them do the mastectomy, and send it out for biopsy.  The lump should be removed, and it's certainly better for her to have one (slightly more aggressive) surgery than one minor, followed by one more for removal of the entire nipple area.  I know this is the process that my vet recommends, and has now been done twice for cats in rescue.  She's not quite the money-hungry outfit that Banfield tends to be, but this is the procedure she feels is best for both owner and the cat.  There needs to be a balance between the expenses involved, and what is best for the cat.

Leslie · Answer

Go to another vet for another opinion. I would do the biopsy and remove it. It could also simply be an abcess or cyst they may go away or stay, but cause no harm

blairs baby · Answer

i would try and find a good vet that is near you and see what they say. but def try to get it takin care of

my cat has a lump on her nipple. What should I do?

3 Answers