I just got back from the vet. Dr. Emerson was all ready to schedule a surgery so she did a chest scan just to double check and it turns out the cancer has spread EVERYWHERE. There's a big mass next to her heart and little masses all throughout her lungs. Giving her surgery would just cause her pain. She wouldn't really be able to recover because her immune system is working too hard to fight the cancer and wouldn't have the energy to heal the surgery openings. Plus, it wouldn't help since the cancer would just kill her anyway.
Before you say anything, I realize that she should have the surgery back in December. Dr. Emerson said she would have happily made that happen and would have given the proper advice had I gone to her at the time. The cancer had not spread then. I got some terrible advice from that vet and will never go back to her again no matter how desperate I am. That being said, it's too late now. We're back to taking it one day at a time now.
Dr. Emerson told me to take her off her meds as the Baytril is doing nothing to help her and the metacam could actually cause problems. If it turns out she needs the metacam because of the pain, I'll put her back on it. It was recommended I see how she does without it for five days.
She also gave me some options for the future. If the tumor ruptures, I can just call and they'll hook me up with the antibiotics necessary and we'll start her on an infection routine for the rest of her life. However, she did say that a rupture was unlikely. As it has already opened up slowly, nothing spontaneous like a rupture should happen.
Basically, at this point, I'm going to keep a close eye on her and, when she stops eating or her breathing gets really bad, I'll take her in to get put down.
I now know, for the future, to, one, never go to that other vet! and, two, what all the signs and such are for taking the proper care of any other rats that might end up in this situation.
OH, and, it probably is a bone tumor. Dr. Emerson took a close look at the x-rays and there's a chance it's an ulcer but it's probably a tumor especially considering all the masses in her chest. Either way though, it's very much inside the bone and not treatable. Even in December before everything progressed, amputation would have been necessary because the bone is very much mutated and nasty at this point.
I just wanted to get you all up to date. I'm pretty upset because I was really hoping for surgery so I don't know how much I'll be online in the near future. Also, if anyone says anything rude or bitchy to me on this thread or on chat, I will cry or cuss someone out so please back off! Any support or advice is very much appreciated though!!!!
I'm sorry there is nothing to be done for your little lady. Please don't beat yourself up about it - you went with the information you had. Hugs and snuggles from us...
