Benign lump on anus

Hello #vets, my senior girl recently had a fine needle aspirate done and the results came back as benign tumor for perianal gland adenomas and the vet used the cancer called adenocarcinoma. The vet said the best option is to have surgery because it will continue to grow and may affect her bowels? It has been the size of a pea and looks like a white pimple but now there is a mass growing that has reached the size of a large marble next to it on the skin part of her anus. My question is what is the prognosis if the surgery is done? Is surgery necessary? Will she be okay if no surgery is done? She does have anal gland problems normally and has to get them extracted frequently ever since she was a puppy. I feed taste of the wild ancient grains and put chicken , chicken broth and pumpkin on top. She is on 30 mg galliprant daily and takes vitamins for joints daily as well because she has a bad leg and does laser therapy about Once a month. She is almost 8 years old.

Hello!   Adenomas and adenocarcinomas are potentially identical from the outside and the only way to tell the difference between them would be to take a biopsy.  It seems that your vet did this and got the preferable answer (suggestive of non-malignant adenoma) but the lump has continued to grow and is now potentially causing a physical obstruction. Malignant cancers are ones that spread throughout the body, but even benign lumps can grow and cause a problem in the place where they sit, which is what I understand to have happened here.  I cannot give you a second, or better, opinion;  your vet has undoubtedly examined the lump and considered the possible and likely outcomes to an extent that I cannot do online.  The dilemma appears to be between removing or debulking the lump and risking incontinence, or leaving things be and risking problems associated with blockage.  Neither is 'good,' but what is 'best?'  If you and they cannot arrive at a decision together, then my only suggestion would be that they call a specialist in this area (oncology or soft tissue surgery, perhaps?)  and to ask for their input, as they may be able to help you and your vet to arrive at the best possible decision in these difficult circumstances. However, it seems that there are two lumps, the superficial one and then a deeper one within the anus.  Has your vet felt this internal one too? It could simply be connected to the contents of the anal gland.  However, I do still recommend going back to your vet on this and, if they need a second opinion, an appropriate surgeon.  The anal ring is very delicate and the obvious course of action not straightforward;  your vet, having examined the lump carefully, is the best person to outline your options and may want to involve a specialist if they are not happy. Best of luck and please let us know what happens next.

Hello!  My apologies for multiple replies to this post:  I think that I now understand the situation.  FIRST:  There is a small, superficial lump to the anal ring (pictured)   SECOND:  there is a deeper, larger lump next to it. FIRST LUMP) If your vet has carried out microscopy or sent the cells away for testing, they may have reached an expected prognosis as to and future behaviour of this lump.  I am unclear from your description what they found as I keep reading it in different ways, but that information should put them in a position to make a recommendation as to what happens with the rest of the lump from here.  Even if such a lump is not cancerous, they may be worried that it will grow and thereby affect the anal ring (which may affect the patient's ability of hold faeces), so they may still recommend removal while it is small.  Their local laboratory or pathologist may well be able to advise on the expected future behaviour of the mass if the vets are unsure, and this should help them to reach a conclusion regarding what to do next.    Questions that you might find helpful to ask include, 'What is the most likely outcome if we leave that lump where it is?'  'What if we have it removed?'   'What is the likelihood of this?' and even 'what would you do if this was your dog, and why?' SECOND LUMP)   From re-reading your description, it sounds as though this lump hasn't been checked.  It could be a cancerous lump, but it could also be a benign lump or a full or impacted anal gland or even a hernia.   It may therefore be nothing or everything to do with lump number one.  Therefore, an examination to determine whether this is a physical lump or an anal gland issue, would be the next step in deciding what to do. I hope that this is clearer.