This might make you feel better bedknobs, I do hope so. I have a little mongrel bitch now aged 17 who I found a lump on 4 years ago. They operated on her despite her being a bit long in the tooth then and she's still here today. She has got now some further lumps and they advised against operating because of her age but she's still perky and happy and she's had 4 nearly 5 years since I found the first one, so keep your chin up, it might not be as bad as you think.