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On March 7th, I brought my boy to my work for a check up. I work part time at a Vet Hospital and I noticed the day before Tuxedo had a couple of unusually swollen lymph nodes underneath his jaw. His vet examined him and thought it could be a possible infection. She recommended to take a couple of aspirate samples just to make sure it's nothing malignant and have it sent out to the lab to be analyzed. I didn't think too much of it, so I agreed just to be safe.
9:30am on March 9th, I was studying for my Math test when I had recieved a call from his vet. She asked If I was available to talk since the results came back for Tuxedo. I listened as she began to explain how much it's killing her to break the news to me, her co-worker, and her favorite patient, that Tuxedo has Lymphoma. I paused, until I was able to speak. I finally asked, "Is Lymphoma cancerous"? She sighed and said, "Yes, and it's a very agressive form of Cancer". I couldn't contain my composure, I had to put her on mute while I broke down crying. My whole world shattered at that very moment. She was explained that she was consulting with an Oncologist at a specialty center about further testing and evaluation and recommended to bring him in later that day.
I brought him back in for bloodwork, but the Oncologist had called his vet and recommended her to do some X-rays, an Ultrasound and an additional 2 aspirate slides to determine what stage his cancer is in and which cells his Lyphoma has. I work part time at a Vet Hospital as a receptionist and go to College as well. I don't have a lot of money and even with an employee discount, his bill racked up easily to $1,200. I knew I had to use whatever savings I had and the money I received back from my Tax refund to help my lovebug out.
Later that day his vet came up and sat down next to me. She began to cry and couldn't look me in the eyes when she said he's at a multi-centric stage and his cancer has spread more than she thought, apparently he has it EVERYWHERE. His X-rays and Ultrasound shows tiny lymph nodes developing throughout his abdominal and chest cavity. She told me that it's agressively getting worse as each day that passes and I won't have much time for remission if I don't have him seen at the Specialty Center asap to discuss treatment options.
Less than 2 weeks ago I was just celebrating his 4th birthday, and his sibling's 2nd birthday. Now he has Cancer and he's facing a life threatening disease. I adopted him from the San Martin Animal Shelter in CA, 2.5 years ago when he was already a 1 year and a half old. It's not fair that his life is already being cut short so suddenly and drastically.
On March 11th, I was able to have him seen for a Consultation at Sage Centers in Campbell, CA.
Dr. Tu and Dr. Kiselow reviewed his X-rays, Bloodwork, and Ultrasound and determined that his cancer has progressed to Stage 4 Lymphoma. His kidney values are elevated and are already showing signs of early Kidney Failure without treatment being involved. They discussed that he's at Substage (A): Meaning physically, my lovebug is strong enough to endure Chemotherapy Treatment and might have a fighting chance of possible remission if treatment is started immediately. Only issue is, the cost for a weekly, 25 week Chemotherapy Treatment will be roughly $6,000 (that's if he goes in to remission and doesn't have a re-lapse). Without treatment, Tuxedo is only expected to live between 6-8 weeks at most.
Since I don't have the finances to start his Chemotherapy, they offered a temporary fix to buy me some time. For an additional $400, they gave him a L-asparaginase Chemotherapy Drug that will supress his cancer from spreading temporarily for about a week in order to buy me some more time with him.
Until the aspirate slides come back determing which Lymphoma cells he has that gives us a more visual of how much longer he's expected to live, I am left helpless and reaching out to the community for assistance. If he has the T-Cell Lymphoma, he would be spared about another 6-10 months with treatment with possible chance of remission. T-Cell Lymphoma does not respond as well to Chemotherapy compared to B-Cell Lymphoma. If the slides come back that Tuxedo has B-Cell Lymphoma, he could live up to another year or possibly longer.
I want to give Tuxedo the best, comfortable, and painless free life as much as possible. He's only 4 years old and deserves to enjoy a couple more trips to the beach, long walks, hikes, holidays, and even a chance to drive up and see some snow. Life is too short, and I want to spend whatever time I have left with him, even if it only means a couple more months, or even a possible year.
All donations are welcomed, and will be going towards starting Tuxedo on Chemotherapy Treatment located at Sage Centers in Campbell, CA. To all my friends, family and the community, any amount helps. If you can't make a donation, please spread his page to raise awareness and to give him a possible fighting chance against this disease. The figure listed in the goal is to cover any planned Chemotherapy Treatment (not including follow up bloodwork and additional ultrasounds) which could concievably go up or down, depending on how well he responds to the treatment.
Thank you for taking the time to read his story, I will be grateful for whatever donations and shares are made in his contribution.
Just a quick update of Tuxedo's Estimate for his Chemotherapy Treatment. I've also updated his Instagram! Feel free to check it out
9:30am on March 9th, I was studying for my Math test when I had recieved a call from his vet. She asked If I was available to talk since the results came back for Tuxedo. I listened as she began to explain how much it's killing her to break the news to me, her co-worker, and her favorite patient, that Tuxedo has Lymphoma. I paused, until I was able to speak. I finally asked, "Is Lymphoma cancerous"? She sighed and said, "Yes, and it's a very agressive form of Cancer". I couldn't contain my composure, I had to put her on mute while I broke down crying. My whole world shattered at that very moment. She was explained that she was consulting with an Oncologist at a specialty center about further testing and evaluation and recommended to bring him in later that day.I brought him back in for bloodwork, but the Oncologist had called his vet and recommended her to do some X-rays, an Ultrasound and an additional 2 aspirate slides to determine what stage his cancer is in and which cells his Lyphoma has. I work part time at a Vet Hospital as a receptionist and go to College as well. I don't have a lot of money and even with an employee discount, his bill racked up easily to $1,200. I knew I had to use whatever savings I had and the money I received back from my Tax refund to help my lovebug out. Later that day his vet came up and sat down next to me. She began to cry and couldn't look me in the eyes when she said he's at a multi-centric stage and his cancer has spread more than she thought, apparently he has it EVERYWHERE. His X-rays and Ultrasound shows tiny lymph nodes developing throughout his abdominal and chest cavity. She told me that it's agressively getting worse as each day that passes and I won't have much time for remission if I don't have him seen at the Specialty Center asap to discuss treatment options.
Less than 2 weeks ago I was just celebrating his 4th birthday, and his sibling's 2nd birthday. Now he has Cancer and he's facing a life threatening disease. I adopted him from the San Martin Animal Shelter in CA, 2.5 years ago when he was already a 1 year and a half old. It's not fair that his life is already being cut short so suddenly and drastically. On March 11th, I was able to have him seen for a Consultation at Sage Centers in Campbell, CA.
Dr. Tu and Dr. Kiselow reviewed his X-rays, Bloodwork, and Ultrasound and determined that his cancer has progressed to Stage 4 Lymphoma. His kidney values are elevated and are already showing signs of early Kidney Failure without treatment being involved. They discussed that he's at Substage (A): Meaning physically, my lovebug is strong enough to endure Chemotherapy Treatment and might have a fighting chance of possible remission if treatment is started immediately. Only issue is, the cost for a weekly, 25 week Chemotherapy Treatment will be roughly $6,000 (that's if he goes in to remission and doesn't have a re-lapse). Without treatment, Tuxedo is only expected to live between 6-8 weeks at most.
Since I don't have the finances to start his Chemotherapy, they offered a temporary fix to buy me some time. For an additional $400, they gave him a L-asparaginase Chemotherapy Drug that will supress his cancer from spreading temporarily for about a week in order to buy me some more time with him. Until the aspirate slides come back determing which Lymphoma cells he has that gives us a more visual of how much longer he's expected to live, I am left helpless and reaching out to the community for assistance. If he has the T-Cell Lymphoma, he would be spared about another 6-10 months with treatment with possible chance of remission. T-Cell Lymphoma does not respond as well to Chemotherapy compared to B-Cell Lymphoma. If the slides come back that Tuxedo has B-Cell Lymphoma, he could live up to another year or possibly longer.
I want to give Tuxedo the best, comfortable, and painless free life as much as possible. He's only 4 years old and deserves to enjoy a couple more trips to the beach, long walks, hikes, holidays, and even a chance to drive up and see some snow. Life is too short, and I want to spend whatever time I have left with him, even if it only means a couple more months, or even a possible year.
All donations are welcomed, and will be going towards starting Tuxedo on Chemotherapy Treatment located at Sage Centers in Campbell, CA. To all my friends, family and the community, any amount helps. If you can't make a donation, please spread his page to raise awareness and to give him a possible fighting chance against this disease. The figure listed in the goal is to cover any planned Chemotherapy Treatment (not including follow up bloodwork and additional ultrasounds) which could concievably go up or down, depending on how well he responds to the treatment. Thank you for taking the time to read his story, I will be grateful for whatever donations and shares are made in his contribution.
Just a quick update of Tuxedo's Estimate for his Chemotherapy Treatment. I've also updated his Instagram! Feel free to check it out