Urgent: Is it time for me to say goodbye to my hamster?

[MmeMaquet]

I am extremely conflicted right now. My hamster was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor nearly three weeks ago. Since then, her tumor in her ear has grown, and she has developed a tumor that now covers nearly all of her stomach area. I can't pick her up anymore because I fear that it will be painful for her if I do, but just by looking at her, and seeing bits of the stomach tumor, it looks all red, and possibly painful. She has lost a lot of weight, and now just stays in her nest unless she wants to eat. However, she hasn't lost her appetite, which is the main reason why I didn't want to put her to sleep. However, today my hand accidentally brushed against her side, and she made the scariest noise I've ever heard. It sounded like a ferocious growl, and it made my heart race. This noise makes me think that she is in pain, even though I give her pain medication. In fact, I couldn't get her to take her medicine today by just putting the syringe in front of her face while she was in the cage. I don't take her out of the cage to give her the medicine anymore because I feel that I could cause her pain that way, but she had been willingly taking her medicine up until today.
So I am extremely conflicted about what I should do. One one hand, she has a lot of tumors, possibly causing her a lot of pain. She is barely walking, and even when she does move, it seems like she is struggling a lot. Today for instance when she left her nest, she looked so weak while she slowly wobbled to her food bowl. On the other hand, she has been eating all of her food, and thoughout yesterday night and today she ate all of her broccoli and oatmeal, meaning that she is still eating. Just a half hour ago she left her nest to drink some water. This makes me feel like I shouldn't be taking her life away if she is still willing to fight her way through the cancer.
Could you all tell me if you feel that I should put her to sleep, or if she can still live a descent life. I will do whatever is right for her, so it is not like I am keeping her alive for selfish reasons just because I don't want to feel upset if she leaves me.
If Cara was your hamster, what would decision would you make?
Thank you in advance, and thank you for reading this long and confusing rambling.

[cypher]

I'm really sorry you have to consider making such a difficult decision, no one can really decide for you but I do know how hard it is.
While it's good that she's still eating & has some fight in her it does sound as though she's in a lot of pain & has very little quality of life now.
It's very hard to know when the right time is but it does sound as though she may well have reached that point, whatever choice you make it will be from your heart & with love, sometimes ending their pain & suffering is the only gift we have left to give our little ones.

[Scargirl]

It may be hard to say goodbye to our little ones but sometimes it's the best we can do for them to end their suffering.
I agree with cypher. What ever choice you make it will be from your heart and with love.
Sorry you have to make such a hard decision, MmeMaquet. Whatever choice you make, it is probably for the best.

[Nancy's Hamsters]

Perhaps she is telling you what she wishes by her refusing her pain medications. As others have said it comes down to you and what you decide. There is really no right or wrong time for the decision to help a pet to be free of pain. All I can give is my own experiences and the fact that no matter when you decide you will beat yourself up if you make the choice to help her be at peace then keep rethinking the choice made.

You may wish to also look at the fact the Pain meds block her sense of pain so she may actually be in some very serious pain but because of the pain meds has no way to know so will eat and drink like normal though inside the cancer is running wild eating her body up from within.

You asked what we would do if she were ours so I will answer as if she were mine and say beyond a doubt I would help her to the bridge so she wouldn't have to die a slow and very nasty death from the obviously spreading out of control cancer.

BUT she is not my hamster and I can't make the choice for you. It is very obvious you love and care of her, and hard as it will be the final decision is in your hands. I'm sure you will do whatever it takes for your beautiful Hamster
with all love and all kindness.

Hugs to you for support while you make one of the hardest decisions that you will ever face as a caring and loving pet owner.

[Thin Lizzy]

It's never easy making a decision about an ill hamster but, deep down you know what you need to do.
I agree with Cypher, whatever choice you make will be from the heart and with love.

[Jenibelle]

I'm so very sorry you are being faced with this decision. From your description, if she were my pet, I would choose to put her to sleep. *hugs*