Couple notes up front:
Tonja: Keratin is also what scales are made of.
Damieboo: Cancer works differently in animals than it does people. Generally animals do not get cancer that is triggered from excessive UV exposure but those who have darker pigmented skin have seen higher cases of cancer or tumors. According to the vet I take my beardies to, this hasn't been deeply researched as to why or how the tumors develop. We only have treatments to try and control it but ultimately success is gauged on the aggressiveness of the cancer itself.
MexisMom: I think it was you who posted in another thread earlier today that popped up in my email notification. I wanted to reply in depth with some pictures as I do have a beardie that has been tested for and came back positive with melanoma.
I know you're worried now and I know the operation is expensive, but the best thing you can do for your baby is get a biopsy done so you know one way or the other what is going on. Even benign tumors can turn cancerous if given time. See if the vet would be willing to work out a payment option for you. Mine was very flexible and allowed me to pay half upfront and billed me the remaining the following month. Look at some options in terms of extraction but I do think they need to be put under for proper removal and stitching to be done. As other's have said, in the meantime keep an eye on the growth and make sure
if it gets bigger that you take her
in. The problem with cancer is that while you might think everything is on the surface, there could be metastasis going on that you are not aware of. If this is the case, you aren't going to know until her health is tanking. Reptiles by and large are hard to detect illness with. It takes a while for you to know something is wrong and by that time the situation can be worse. I'm glad that her eating and behavior is normal though! That's a great sign! My beardie, despite having her tumors, eats and moves about as well (though admittedly she doesn't move around frequently but I suspect she is just old - as she is a rescue her age is unknown).
Sienna's melanoma looks very different from Mexi's lump. None of her tumors are raised, but they are flat and black as if her scales are rotting. This does not mean that this is the case 100% of the time. I have seen videos of maligent tumors being removed from reptiles that are raised above the surface. This is only to show you there are differences in the way melanoma can manifest. Below are some images for you to take a peek at to see the difference.
This is a recent darkening of her scales on her tail. Probably in the last month or so this has shown up and I've been having to monitor it.
I know this is going to be hard to see due to lighting and due to her skin being dark already (that's why I included a small shot of circle A). However, Sienna's melanoma is all over her body to the point that it's almost impossible to extract them due to size. When she was getting surgery done to remove a much larger mass (which was not melanoma but a epidermal inclusion cyst), the vet removed the largest cluster of black scales to be sent into the pathology lab. All of those circles contain tiny pin point black dots where the melanoma has begun to or has been spreed(ing). They are very hard to discern in this light but I've been handling her long enough to know where they are on her... and then some. She has them all over her body; feet, belly, tail, beard, but the most is on her back where her natural darker pigment is. I could get a better photo showing you how many are on her if she get's scared as she turns ash grey. But I'm not about to frighten her just to make a point on a photo.
When I got the pathology report, it was noted that the samples were so heavily pigmented that the lab techs could not do a proper cell count. The one positive to all this is that when she was undergoing her operation, the vet did not see signs of metastasis inside Sienna's body. The only reason we had to cut her open was because the vet discovered Sienna was egg bound and so I had the vet desex her and remove all those eggs.
I know, deep down, I will lose her to cancer. I've already consulted with the vet regarding additional treatment but at this point, extraction is the only advisable method of regulating her cancer. Just like you don't want to put Mexi through stress, I don't want to stress Sienna out with repeat surgery either. That will have an impact on her well being just as much as dealing with the cancer. Honestly, it's a rock and a hard place. Ultimately, I decided that I'm going to forgo future operations on her
unless a sizable mass occurs. I just want her to live the rest of the days she has with as little stress as possible. Thus far, she has been doing very well!
Anyway, that's my experience so far with cancer and a beardie. I do urge you to have a test done just to be on the safeside but ultimately it's your choice on how you want to proceed. I wish you and Mexi luck in this and I hope the growth doesn't get bigger.
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