Hamster - operate or say goodbye?

[TeenPlusTwenties]

15yo DD's beloved Syrian hamster is 2 yrs 3 months.
He has developed a lump under his armpit.
We took him to the vets 2 weeks ago, she said at that time she couldn't tell what it was, could have just been a knock, and to monitor it and him.

Lump has grown. Hamster is generally OK but not walking all that freely, not losing weight or anything, still eating well. Going back to the vet on Friday and trying to be prepared.

If they say they could operate for whatever it is, will that cause distress to him given he is already a reasonable age?
DD (who doesn't do loss well at the best of times) is preparing for the worst.
If the vet says PTS, will they let me bring him back later with DD so she can say goodbye?

This is our first pet.
Any insight / guidance on this would be much appreciated.

Aww I’m sorry for your loss :(
Poor hammt.

*poor hammy

Aww poor hammy. He was a good age though and must have had a good life even to reach that age. She clearly looked after him very well.

Sorry to hear the news sounds like he had a great life!

How is your daughter doing? She must be devastated but I hope she's doing ok

4 weeks on. DD has just written to Santa (she knows it's us, promise) saying don't leave her a stocking as she doesn't feel like Christmas...

So sorry Teen for DD and you. I was drawn to your thread as I’ve just started a similar one about DD’s elderly guinea pig. She similarly will struggle to cope with the loss of her very special guinea - she has autism and has had an awful time at school which has led to her being out because of anxiety.

My DD’s first pet was a Syrian hamster - she lost him at 2 and three-quarters and that was difficult although having the guinea did help. And my reasoning on getting (or rather not getting) another hamster was like you the needing to avoid possible trauma at GCSE time _ DD is Y10 too. It did take many months before DD could talk about her hamster without getting upset about missing him. So I understand just how difficult it still is for your DD.

UPDATE

DD has been really struggling since November, not sleeping, hand tremors, worrying about germs, etc.

She is today the owner of a new female Syrian hamster, white with a grey face, who she has named Misty. We don't think this will solve all of DD's struggles, but we hope it will help.

Welcome Misty

We had a long series of guinea-pigs , and I know you don't have favourites but one of DDs boars (GP6) was a particularly charismatic fellow .( Rescue with a sad tale and though he was lovely , he was as thick as mince)

I used to dread him dying at exam time .

When he did cross the Bridge it was early January , we looked after him relentlessly over the festive period, he rallied them plummeted .

Surprisingly , DD was very calm and efficient .
No she didn't want him put on a drip. He was an old chap and we knew he'd reached his time .

Me ? I was a snotty mess at the vet