Campbell's Dwarf hamster with a tumor-what to expect?

Vierville · 07-12-2019, 10:15 AM

Hi. I have a beloved little male Campbell's Dwarf hamster who is around 18 months to two years old (not sure of his exact age as he is a rescue). Today I was watching him going about his usual routine and I noticed a lump on his flank, just forward of his back leg. It is about the size of a small marble and round and quite soft. I hadn't noticed it before because it is pretty well concealed under his fur.

I took him to the vet immediately and she took a fluid sample from the lump and confirmed that it is a tumour that contains 'suspicious round cells'.

She also confirmed that he is in very good condition apart from the tumour and he is his usual active self-we haven't noticed any changes in his behaviour or apetite or anything.

I must confess that I'm quite scared about what lies in store for him... He's been through a lot of horrible things in his little life including being attacked by a cat and losing an eye and being abandoned by his previous owners and I really can't bear the thought of him suffering.

Any advice from others who have had hamsters with a similar diagnosis would be most gratefully accepted.

Vierville · 07-13-2019, 08:36 AM

Just an update , he looks his normal self today, he ate all of the fresh food as normal (tiny pieces of broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, spinach green bean and a meal worm) and was running on his wheel last night... He seems unaffected for now.

I know however that he's not going to stay like this and that his time is getting short which absolutely breaks my heart

PuppyMintMocha · 07-13-2019, 01:12 PM

Did you talk with your vet about treatment options like removal surgery, and do you know if the tumor is cancerous?

The most similar experience I've had was when my syrian hamster, Specter, developed a tumor on his face, on the right side of his nose. We were going to get surgically removed, but when I took him in for his appointment, the vet said the tumor was too far into his nasal cavity to remove, that there was nothing that could be done, and that it would probably eventually cause his death, so I had to pick a time to end his suffering early so that the effects of the tumor didn't get too gruesome and painful (it was very large and disturbing to look at by the time I chose to let him go)
I hope that doesn't scare you too much, just sharing my experience. I imagine a tumor on the flank is fairly different ballpark, and maybe something can be done, or if not, it sounds like he'll have had a very wonderful life! I'm very sorry for your little guy, and I hope something can be figured out, good luck!

Vierville · 07-13-2019, 01:39 PM

Hi PuppyMintMocha, thank you for your reply.

The vet took a sample from the tumor in order to check for malignancy and to rule out that it wasn't a cyst or abscess and she confirmed that it is definitely a tumor and that there were irregular cells present.

She said that surgery is not really an option as he is an old little man and the risks of anaesthesia and surgery would be very high and the chances of success in removing it would be low.

She also said there are no options for medicinal treatment in this case so since he is still looking OK we must just monitor him and bring him in if he takes a significant turn for the worse. I'd honestly pay almost anything to fix him if there was an option available.

We love him so much and don't want him to suffer.

PuppyMintMocha · 07-13-2019, 05:14 PM

I'm so sorry. That's a very hard thing to go through. Losing them is so difficult, and even though I've been through quite a few pet deaths, every one is just as hard as the first.

Since he is around two years old like you said, sadly something is bound to take him away sooner or later. Short lifespans are very hard for people to cope with, but he's had a long and happy life, and the best thing for him is just for you to give him a lot of love and attention until it's time. ♥