| Yes, even hamsters can have cancer form within
them. Like humans, the older the hamster is the greater they
are at risk of forming cancer. Females hamsters are also more
likely than males to form cancer because they are at risk
to various forms of cancer that form in their reproductive
systems.
If the form of cancer your hamster contracts involves an
external tumor it is quite possible for a veterinarian to
remove it and it will be visible early on. The same array
of drugs that humans use to prevent reoccurrence just are
not available to hamsters so there is not much you can do
but remove the tumor and hope that it does not reform.
On the other hand, if the cancer is formed internally it
is much more difficult to remove in hamsters. Internal cancer
at times is impossible to diagnose early on and it may be
too late for the hamster by the time it is discovered. The
organs in a hamster are much smaller which makes operating
on them much more difficult. Furthermore, often the cancer
forms in areas that are inaccessible without causing great
harm to the hamster. In addition, it can be very costly to
operate on hamsters, which is why euthanasia is such a popular
selection when it comes to hamsters with cancer. Some owners
instead decide to leave the hamster be and let it live out
its natural life without the added complications and cost
of surgery. A consultation with your veterinarian should be
able to help you determine what action if any to take.
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