Hi, my name is Dani. I am reaching out to the world for our tabby cat named Boo Boo. My cat is a senior and is unfortunately ineligible for any pet insurance reimbursements for her cancer treatment. She is so strong and brave. She is the most loving and trusting cat I have encountered in my lifetime. She drools when she is happy and loves to bunt her head off every surface she can.

Sadly earlier this year, I noticed Boo Boo had a small, dark bump on her chin. It quickly enlarged into a swollen red mass that suddenly ruptured the morning of her vet appointment on 1/22/26. She was given antibiotics that day and told to return in 2 weeks for a follow-up. A fine needle aspirate was not recommended due to the fact it was an open wound at the time.

Two weeks later, we returned to the vet and at this point, it was becoming more clear this fast-growing ulcerating mass was a concerning tumor. We were referred to a list of soft tissue surgeons in Boston and the first appointment available was 2/17/26. They took a FNA that day, and I was advised on 2/20/26 that the mass was most consistent with squamous cell carcinoma. I was advised she most likely had 6 months to one year to live, with or without treatment.

Hours of research and phone calls with our vet and surgeon team began. We ended up getting a second opinion on 3/2/26 and went forward with surgical removal of the mass on her chin on 3/3/26. By this time, she had grown a secondary tumor on her right lymph node which was removed as well. Five days later, we received a call that the biopsy returned as metastatic cutaneous apocrine gland adenocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer in cats.

On 3/26/26, when I was petting under her chin, I felt a new mass on her left lymph node. I took her back in on 3/30/26 and had this mass removed the following day. Not even a week post-op, new masses began appearing in the original area. We met with a veterinary radiology oncologist on 4/14/26. Due to the rarity of the cancer, there is limited research on what causes this cancer or how to treat it. The oncologist strongly believes this cancer is treatable with radiation with limited invasiveness. It is recommended to have a CT scan of her full body to ensure the cancer has not spread before attempting certain levels of treatment.

I have paid over $5,000 out of pocket in medical costs for her since January, and affording the full-scale radiation treatment is currently out of reach. Her tumors are fast-growing and I am hoping to get her treatment as soon as possible. Anything helps and is appreciated beyond measure.

Future medical costs:

* CT scan (estimate range $2,370.50 to $5,890.55)

* Radiation planning (estimate range $10,050.05 to $17,486.85)