Dorothy's skin tumor/growth thing

Dorothy came to us with a benign growth on the back of her neck, it was a black shiny bubble looking thing. Maybe 1/4 inch diameter or so. Not a problem, my vet said they're pretty common and not to worry about it. A basal cell tumor, I think she called it. So we didn't worry about it, until this past weekend, I noticed it was scratched open! It looked like a small shriveled raisin, not smooth anymore, with a bit of dried blood on/around it. Eeek! So I got her an appointment on Monday, and the vet again said they're pretty common, and sometimes they open up, from a scratch or whatever. She cleaned it up, checked it out, and said it's fine, we should just keep an eye on it. While we were there, we got her hyperthyroid blood tests done which were due in a few weeks anyway, so that was good. (Tests came back great!!)

Last night, in a million to 1 chance, I found what looked like a piece of this growth on the floor! Genever was staring at something by the front door (which turned out to be a cricket), and I went to see what she was after, and I saw a black thing on the floor, thought it was a bug, bent down to look and saw it had some orange fur on it. So I picked it up and said to BF "I think this is Dot's neck thing! Or a piece of poop maybe." She was on the sofa with him, so he looked and said it's definitely smaller, I looked at it too, and at the piece I found, and yeah, it was a big piece of it. I don't know if she scratched it off or if Genever groomed it off, but this is freaking me out now! Why all of a sudden she's messing with it?

So I called the vet this morning- again- and my vet isn't in, but I left a message and I guess one of the other vets will give me a call back about it to decide if we need to do anything more about it, or just keep watching it. Not sure what else I should watch for though...

Anyone else have a cat with a skin tumor thingy?

Well.. I got a call back a few minutes after I posted this thread actually. It was the office manager who is really nice, well everyone there is really nice actually. She said she talked to the one vet and said it'd be hard to say if it's a problem without seeing it, that I could certainly bring her in again if I wanted, but it's probably ok, and to check on it for any changes. So I asked her what you're asking- what changes do I look for? It already changed- first it burst open somehow, and then a big hunk came off! She said look for signs of infection, like oozing or bleeding, if it's warm to the touch, if Dot starts acting weird like vomiting or lethargy or trying to get at it, then definitely call back. And she was going to put the note on my vet's desk so she sees it tomorrow and knows what's going on.

So, yes, I guess I shouldn't worry about it, but you know... easier said than done. Also, today is Advantage day, but I decided not to dose Dorothy, I don't want it running into the 'wound'.

I think the funniest thing about this, I just remembered, is last night BF asked if we should put the piece that came off in a jar or something. I laughed and said 'What? Why?' I guess he meant if the vet needed it, for what, I don't know, testing maybe? Even so, a JAR? Not a little bag? However, it's still sitting on the book shelf thing on my side of the bedroom. Guess I can toss it out. It's definitely what used to be her bubble, it's shriveled but hollowed out. What's left now on Dot is still black, but I suppose like a scab of sorts. I'll 'keep an eye on it'.

I am so happy with my vet and the whole office there. My vet called me this morning to see how Dorothy is doing! Even though she probably had a note on her desk that someone called me back yesterday, she still called to check. I love that.

So I told her what went on, with the chunk falling off, and that it's not bleeding but there's some dried blood on it. And she said to still keep an eye on it, and it should just heal up, but if anything else weird happens like it opens up again or more of it comes off, that Dot's such a good kitty that they could just do a local anesthetic and remove it. (My girls do make me a proud meowmy with their good behavior!)

So, still, I'll watch it.

I was petting Dorothy this afternoon, and checked on her mole thing, because I still keep checking it to make sure it's ok. Well, another piece came off! It was kind of stuck on by a few hairs, but I pulled it away easily. What's left of the growth is smooth, kind of like before it burst open in the first place, and grey, almost silvery?? It was black before this all happened. Not sure if I'll call the vet about it or not yet. I emailed BF about it (he's in England). I know he would be happy to get it removed, he's weird about skin things, but I'll see what he thinks, and if I do call the vet, see what she thinks.

Any thoughts?

So, out of curiosity, what makes you guys say grey/silvery is better than black? Both kind of freak me out!

The vet called it a basal cell tumor (which sounds horrible and scary!!) but she also said it's benign. Dorothy had it when we adopted her, and it was noted on her shelter vet records too as being benign, and when I took her to my vet for her first check-up after adopting her back in January, the vet noticed it when examining her and said then that it's benign and common, especially in older cats. So, I guess it's ok, just kind of weird, especially now since it's changed.

So... it's fine I guess, but it keeps freaking me out that things are happening to it. I emailed BF about it, and I'm probably going to do the video chat thing over Windows Messenger tomorrow morning with him and his parents in England (getting his parents' PC webcam set up and teaching them how to do it), so I'll talk to him about it and see what he thinks too. I am leaning towards just asking the vet to get rid of it, especially since she said that Dot's such a good kitty that they can just do a local anesthetic, so it's not like major surgery. I'll let you know tomorrow what we decide....

Well, a black growth certainly doesn't seem to be a good thing, but grey/silver???? Yikes!

I emailed the vet about what happened to it now, and asked what the risks of removing it vs. letting it be are. So I'll probably hear back at some point today.

Well I missed the vet's call back, but they left a message saying we might as well remove it since it keeps changing, and they can send it off to the lab to make sure it's not cancerous or anything, and that it can be done with sedation and local anesthetic, so no putting her under. Not sure if they said to remove it just so I stop bugging them about it or if they really think it should come off, but that's what we'll do. BF said in an email he wants to go along too so I'll email the vet today and say I'll call next week to schedule it. It will be good to get this over with.

I feel bad, I'm 'between jobs' and have been for way too long unfortunately, but I do pay a few house bills and also for the cat supplies and vet visits, and BF kees saying he wants to pay half at least for the vet stuff. I tell him no, I got it. You're paying the mortgage, which is WAY more than the cat stuff. But I think that's why he wants to be there when Dorothy gets her growth removed- i think he wants to sneak his credit card in before I do. Sigh. I need a job. But that's another conversation...

Callly- that's pretty much what Dot's looked like before it burst (or got scratched) open. A smooth black bubble, but hers was maybe twice that size.

Anyway, we'll have to drop her off in the morning and get her in the afternoon because they want to monitor her because she'll still be sedated, even though not knocked out. So I'll see when BF can take time off or whatever he wants do do, and then I'll schedule it. Yes, he is a great BF and kitty dad, he LOVES the girls.

I finally scheduled the 'surgery', for Monday the 9/26. We have to drop her off early in the morning, then the vet will call me when it's done around midday I guess and let me know when we can pick her up. Hopefully there will be no problems, and then the whole thing will be done with! I will miss her during that day, and she will hate not having food or water Sunday night... but I think it'll be for the best.