Lump on French Bulldog's leg, need help please!

[girlfromtheloch]

My 8 year old french bulldog has had a lump on her L leg for 12 months now. I have seen the vet regarding this three times. She's had some cream which made a tiny bit of difference and the vet thought it was benign.
In the last few months it's got bigger. Probably about 2cm diameter, elevated from the skin.
She is now listed for a GA and removal this week.
However i've noticed since returning from holiday that she is significantly slower now, struggling on her walks. She suddenly seems very much older. Otherwise well, eating fine etc.
I'm worried about putting her through surgery incase she comes to harm.

The vet said biopsy wasn't really an option but there are obvious concerns that this might be malignant given that it's got bigger over 12 months. When I look at photos online it looks very much like either a histiocytoma or mast cell tumour - these both look quite similar to my eye!

She has had two cancers previously - one near her vulva and another near her nipple about two years ago. She coped well with surgery then. She has no chronic health problems except for allergies.
I was hoping for advice as to what to do! This lumps isn't bothering her at all. Should we just leave it as she suddenly seems to be a lot older and more frail or just get rid of it incase this lump is more likely to cause her harm. Thank you for your help!

Have they done a fine needle aspiration? That’s always been the go to for my dog when he has lumps. They use a fine needle to take a sample of cells and look at them. I think he had them under sedation.

If you’re unsure, question your vet. They know your dog and can explain what and why, if you don’t like the answer then consult a different vet.

Dogs are so hard to own, I worry about mine even when he’s fit and healthy

v hard decision! I have an elderly dog (13) who we decided last year that we wouldn’t put her through any surgery unless it was to alleviate pain.For example she has cataracts-she could have surgery to fix this but she’s adapted-we just think she’s had enough done to her already-she has arthritis and has really slowed down in last year as well.We believe just be because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.She’s already had a lot of problems health wise.
Really talk it through with your vet again.I don’t know the life span of a French bulldog but they don’t do that well with sedation-especially adding in age as a factor.Maybe ask if it was malignant how
much time she has without surgery etc and would she be made comfortable ?im sorry! What a decision xx

Thank you for your replies. I questioned the vet about needle aspiration but he suggested that often this doesn’t give adequate results and then she would have been put through this procedure for nothing and still need it removing.
Yes I’m a bit fraught as to what to do as if we have it removed, it’s benign and then she develops complications from the anaesthetic I’ll feel terrible!
I might think about another opinion at a different vets just to see what they think.