Tumour removed from Cat

Hello, my cat had a tumour and they removed what they could in July so they could close the wound, this however left some tumour behind. A small lump has started to return. What are his options if it grows back again and causes another open wound? He’s 14 so I didn’t want to put him through radio therapy. If the wound opens again can he live with an open wound or can it be removed again? Thanks!

Hello and thank you for your query.  Your vets' opinion on this should have been informed by the histology report, their experience and what they have observed on the patient.  Therefore, in your particular cats' case, they are always going to be a better judge than me and we would support their opinion.   On a personal level, I have certainly refused to operate on tumours a second time, on grounds that if the wound has come open once in ideal circumstances, then the chances of it healing a second time, in less than ideal circumstances, are poor (scar tissue being weaker than fresh tissue and tumours tending to spread outwards.  Depending on the tumour, thry might be likely to adversely affect the skins' healing capacity).  However, I know nothing about the circumstances in this cats' case.  Are grafts or similar are an option?  Usually I would try to find an option that favours the length of extension of good quality life against the pain / trauma of surgery and the likely outcome.  Unfortunately, quite often, there isn't such an option (or - as in the case of radiotherapy -  costs rule it out).    Questions such as, 'How long do you think you might you be able to prolong comfortable life by, if you do everything and the surgery goes well?'  'How does this compare to the length of life NOT doing surgery?' And crucially, 'How much will it cost - financially and in other ways?' are important ones to ask.   If you search in the blog for things like 'put to sleep' and 'end of life care' and 'chemotherapy,' you will be able to read around the subject.   I personally do not like to manage animals with tumours that are causing persistent open wounds and will often offer euthanasia if this is the case.  Wishing you both all the best at this stressful time.