PHOENIX -- An orangutan from the Phoenix Zoo is recovering after having a second surgery to remove an extremely rare form of cancer, the zoo announced Friday.
Michael, a 38-year-old Bornean orangutan, was diagnosed with apocrine carcinoma, a type of cancer that affects sweat glands, several months ago.
The diagnosis was made after zookeepers noticed a skin mass, later determined to be a tumor, that was growing near the orangutan's right armpit, the zoo said in a press release on Friday.
To the zoo's knowledge, this is the first time any orangutan has been diagnosed with this form of cancer, which can be aggressive.
Michael underwent his first surgery in June. During the procedure, veterinarians removed the skin mass so it could be tested further.
Recent testing showed that the initial surgery did not remove all of the cancer cells. That led to the second surgery on Thursday.
During that operation, more tissue and lymph nodes that were located near the tumor were removed.
The lymph nodes will now be tested to see if the cancer has spread.
"While apocrine carcinoma is an extremely rare cancer, our priority is to give Michael the best chance for a healthy future," Phoenix Zoo Vice President of Animal Health and Living Collections Dr. Gary West said. "Michael is an incredible animal with a big personality, and we are doing everything we can to ensure he gets the best possible care."
Results from the latest tests are expected in the next few weeks and will be used to determine how Michael will be treated moving forward.
The zoo added that Michael is recovering well and that his care team is giving him enrichment, rest and some of his favorite foods.
The Phoenix Zoo has four Bornean orangutans. Two of them, Bess and Rayma, are females. Along with Michael, there is one other male named Wgasa.