Hi to all on the forum

I need some advice or at least a consensus of opinion. I simply don't know what to do for the best.

My 17 year old cat, Baby, was diagnosed on Friday with mammary tumors, potentially malignant. We noticed that one of her teats was bleeding and swollen, so we rushed her striaght to the vets. Baby has lumps in all of her mammary glands.

I thought that the vet would test for malignancy, but she said it wasn't worth it. That the tests would be painful and invasive. She said that they treat all mammary lumps as malignant. She said because of Baby's age and the location of the lumps that it was most likely to be cancer and that it would probably spread quickly. We were given the option of an operation, but it sounds absolutely horrendous. To remove the tumors they strip all the glands and lymph glands down one side, then when that heals, they do the same on the other side. My problem is now what should I do? If the cancer is so quick moving, would it not be cruel to have such drastic surgery if it has already spread. Does anyone know what the survival rate is of these ops? Anything I've read on the WWW says that the cats have died not too long after having the tumors removed due to secondaries. Any treatments are apparently not considered as cures but more as a means to prolonging life as long as possible. I don't want to simply have Baby kept alive for my own selfish reasons, if her quality of life is impaired and she is not cured. On the other hand I don't want my little friend to die and feel I have done nothing to save her. She seems perfectly happy and healthy right now, so should I leave her be and let her enjoy her life for as long as it lasts? I don't want her last months/years of her long and happy life marred by painful surgery and I don't to be complacent and simply let her die. I have talked and cryed myself around in a circle and am no nearer a decision. So any feed back would be great.

Love and light to all

xxxx