Layman’s Guide to Lumps

Layman’s Guide to Lumps

At one time or another, most of us have found a new lump on our dog or cat and wondered, “How long has that thing been there?” Even though most new lumps and masses are benign, non-cancerous tumors, I always recommend that they be checked out by a pathologist. This can be done without any anesthesia if we take a tiny sample with the same type of needle that is used for collecting blood. Patients rarely pay any heed to this procedure, and our laboratory is often able to tell us whether the lump is worth worrying about.

Sometimes our pathologist tells us that surgery is necessary, but most of the time she tells us to leave the lump alone because it is inconsequential. No lump should be completely ignored, however; each one should receive some attention from time to time. A needle sample can only check the tiny piece of tissue that was at the very end of the needle during the procedure. If there was an important part of the tumor off to the side, this lump might turn mean at a later time, without any warning. That’s why I always ask pet owners not to neglect their lumps. Here are my six simple rules for checking a mass at home:

1.) It should move freely when you grab it. I am more worried about a lump that is firmly attached and difficult to wiggle around. That one deserves a second look.
2.) It should not be ugly on the surface. Most benign, safe lumps are just a little bit homely, not broken open or leaking. Safe lumps shouldn’t be irritated, bruised, or red in color, and they should not have open areas or craters in them.
3.) It should not be hard to the touch. Nearly all harmless lumps are soft or semisoft, like a stress ball or a water balloon, or like the fleshy part of your thumb where it meets your hand. Lumps with the firmness of an apple or even a ripe orange should be viewed with heightened suspicion.
4.) It should not be knotty-feeling or irregular to the touch. A harmless lump is usually smooth on the surface and rounded, with no sharp projections or points sticking out. Safe lumps usually feel as smooth as the outside of a grapefruit or even a racquetball. They should not feel bumpy like a golf ball or a tiny brain.
5.) It should not be painful. It shouldn’t feel hot to the touch, and it shouldn’t change color after you touched it. Safe lumps are terribly boring individuals. They don’t make your pet cry out or get snappy.
6.) It should not grow very rapidly. Harmless lumps do tend to grow, but not usually at a rapid pace.
Gentle reader, I am sorry to say there is also a Rule 7: once in a while, a scary tumor can follow all these rules just to pass as a harmless lump. Get them checked, and then keep an eye on them.

Dr. M. S. Regan