Over the past year, Rocko’s tumor has grown rapidly and in the last three months, it’s been progressing even faster.

2025 Timeline:

January: His dad first noticed something unusual.

April: I noticed a lump on his stomach and found out it was a benign lipoma, which is common for dogs his age. Later, I found another lump on his face and thought it was the same thing.

June: The lump on his face grew larger and harder, so we took him to the vet. The vet recommended a needle biopsy and X-ray. We were hesitant about anesthesia since he’s never had it before, so we waited.

July: Between work and dealing with insurance, things were hectic. Rocko started on antibiotics, but they didn’t help.

August: We began searching for better treatment options.

September: With some financial help from CareCredit, we finally went through with the biopsy and X-ray. The X-ray showed it wasn’t bone cancer and hadn’t spread — a huge relief. However, the biopsy results were inconclusive, so the vet referred us to an oncologist.

October: The oncologist recommended radiation therapy three times a week to see if the tumor can shrink. Surgery isn’t advised because the tumor is too large and located dangerously close to his throat, eyes, and ears. The estimated cost for treatment is around $12,000–$15,000 plus hospital visits and medications.

Despite everything he’s been through, Rocko is still the happiest dog I’ve ever seen. He plays like he’s still a puppy and eats like there’s no tomorrow. His spirit hasn’t changed one bit — he’s full of love, energy, and joy every single day.

Current Situation:

We’re now looking for more affordable options and shorter wait times — because time isn’t on our side.

Rocko will turn 9 years old next month. We’ve had him since he was just 3 months old. We have him for 9 years but he has us for his whole life.

If anyone has any advice, recommendations, or suggestions that could help us make the best decision for Rocko, we’d be truly grateful.

Even a small donation we are really appreciated.