Squeals when picked up. Never did this before

My chihuahua mix has recently begun squealing, sometimes screaming when we try to pick her up or set her down. We’ve touched her all over her body and she doesn’t whine. We can’t find if there’s some injury spot on her. Once we’ve picked her up and are holding her, she doesn’t really squeal. It’s only while in the process of being picked up or put down. We’ve had her for over a decade and this has never happened before. She never had any problem before this with being picked up. Began recently within the last two weeks. in addition, she has a tumor in her cheek. She’s already had surgeries to remove it and really bounced back from them quickly but it’s grown back within two weeks and we’ve decided not to put her through any further surgeries. Not sure if that is somehow affecting this pick up trauma/discomfort otherwise, she is eating and pooping normally.

Hello and I'm sorry to hear about the tumour.  Do you know what sort of tumour it is, or what it's expected to do?  I only ask because I wonder whether its growing, and when she's picked up she maybe tenses her mouth and catches it.  Another possibility - depending on the type of tumour - is if it's spread elsewhere and is causing pain in a new location, for example around the body wall near the liver.  Not all lumps / tumours spread, however.  Another idea is that there could be something like pancreatitis, which causes cranial (towards the head-end of) abdomen-pain.  This could occur in association with, or completely independently of, the lump.  It usually presents as pain in a region or as lack of interest in food.  There is a plethora of reasons for squeaking, but because they mostly seem to reflect discomfort, it may be a good idea to let the vet examine her again.  Even if they do nothing else, they may opt to offer pain releif.   It isnt unusual for dogs not to whine when deliberately handled in a painful area; quite often, they're ready for it.  But when pain catches them unawares eg leaping or being picked up - I can imagine a dog vocalising where otherwise they might not.  Lots of people and animals eat and poo normally when painful somewhere inside.  I hope that something here helps; pain releif may prove a useful option.