[Shannonmcn]

Honestly I agree with you about it sounding more like a cyst or an injury that's swelling. I know cancer can be aggressive in hamsters but if it was over the course of a few days? I dunno. I also agree that it was the right thing to bring her home if she's still hamstering about normally.

I have had one vet also jump to tumor and euthanasia very quickly. Too quickly for me to be comfortable with. I now suspect it was actually pyo but I didn't know enough about it at the time to argue. I don't know about palliative metacam (since that's how it's been prescribed) only being used for a few days either. Doesn't make much sense to me. Maybe someone else will have heard that before but I don't think I have.

I don't know your vet obviously and they could be completely right but you can always consider a second opinion. Just to put your own mind at ease if nothing else. Honestly maybe take anything I say with a grain of salt. I'm still bitter about that experience with one possibly poor vet.

You're right to try and make sure she doesn't irritate the area too much but maybe just watch her and see if there's anything she's actually having trouble with before you change too much, especially if she's a bit stressed after her vet trip.