My hamster has a tumor help please:(?

Question

he has had this tumor for a month and a half now. and it hasnt bothered him until this week. he is very slow and is not eating much. we dont have enough money to get it removed and we are probly going to get him put to sleep. how long can a hamster live with a tumor? are there any hammys that arent as prone to tumors?? btw he isnt very old actually he got this "tumor" when he was about 3 months old

Answer 1

I used to have a vet, this is in the 70's, that would operate on our pet mice that developed cancer in their  hind legs.  

The funny thing to us is that so many of our pet mice developed cancer that we stopped believing all those reports that said saccharin caused cancer in laboratory mice.

Answer 2

Hamsters cannot have their tumors removed because their bodies are so small and they cannot handle it. There is nothing you can do but just let him pass peacefully. Feed him some milk, fruit, and pet him often. Make sure he is warm.

And there are no types of hamsters, or animals for that matter, which are prone to cancer. Cancer cannot be prevented.

He won't be able to live long, but you've been a good owner. It wasn't your fault because it can't be prevented.

Answer 3

Cancer

Cancer is very common in pet hamsters. The incidence increases with age (as is the case with most animals) and is higher among females than males because of the variety of cancers that involve the female reproductive tract. Tumors of hamsters may be benign or malignant Hamsters are vulnerable to an unusually large number and variety of benign cancers.

Cancers involving hormone-producing organs (such as the thyroid and adrenal glands) are among the most common tumors found in hamsters. These cancers cause hormone imbalances, hair loss and changes in behavior, as well as other significant signs.

Veterinarians can often perform surgery to completely remove small external tumors. Internal tumors, however, are much more difficult to diagnose and remove. The small size of the patient, the even smaller size of the organ(s) involved, the sometimes inaccessibility of the tumor and the expense involved are some of the reasons why an owner of a pet hamster might elect euthanasia (putting the pet to sleep) or do nothing, allowing the hamster to live out its life instead of performing surgery in these situations.