PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A beloved animal at the Phoenix Zoo is on the road to recovery after undergoing surgery for a rare type of cancer.
Several months ago, keepers noticed a small skin mass on 38-year-old Michael, one of the zoo’s orangutans. Staff noticed the mass was slowly growing near Michael’s armpit. The orangutan then had surgery to remove the mass back in June.
Pathology specialists in both primates and humans confirmed the diagnosis as apocrine carcinoma, cancer of the sweat glands. This type of cancer is extremely rare and can be invasive and aggressive.
Experts believe, to their knowledge, that this is the first documented case of this type of cancer in any orangutan.
Michael is among the zoo’s four orangutans, alongside two females, Bess and Rayma and another male, Wgasa.(Phoenix Zoo)
“While apocrine carcinoma is an extremely rare cancer, our priority is to give Michael the best chance for a healthy future,” Dr. Gary West, Phoenix Zoo Senior Vice President of Animal Health & Living Collections, said in a statement. “Michael is an incredible animal with a big personality, and we are doing everything we can to ensure he gets the best possible care.”
Despite undergoing the first procedure, staff say not all cancer cells were removed. Michael had a second surgery on Thursday, where veterinarians removed additional tissue around the tumor site and injected tracer dye to track lymphatic drainage. Zoo officials say the injection will be used to help determine if the cancer has spread to his lymph nodes.
Michael had a second surgery on Thursday, where veterinarians removed additional tissue around the tumor site and injected tracer dye to track lymphatic drainage(Phoenix Zoo)
Pathology results from the second surgery will be released in the coming weeks. For now, Michael is recovering well as his team provides him with plenty of his favorite foods, rest and special enrichment.
Michael is among the zoo’s four orangutans, alongside two females, Bess and Rayma, and another male, Wgasa.
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