Poss. cancerous mass removal

Hi, my name is Karen and my dog is Molly. Molly is 17 years old! She's been doing well except on the latest vet check-up a small mass by the right side of her ribs was aspirated and found to have some potentially cancerous cells. The vet described it as probably a mast cell tumor. She needs to have the mass removed to check it for cancer. Even if it is cancer, if it's caught early enough and removed completely there's a good chance that would be all that's needed. The mass is not attached to anything like a rib, it seems to be free from attachment. Once removed they can see if it's stage 1, 2, or 3. Stage one would be the easy cure I just described. The procedure to remove the mass and have the histopathology done to determine the stage would cost $2,360.

Upon getting the news, I had them do the blood work and urinalysis to clear her for surgery. Those costs are not included in the above figure. She is being treated by a wonderful vet at VCA West Mesa here in Albuquerque, NM. They have helped her to do so well all these years; I'm very thankful for that. Her surgery is scheduled for March 9th.

Molly is a scruffy Border Terrier-type dog who loves the snow. She was a rescue, brought home in December 2006, so I sometimes call her Christmas puppy. She loves to scruffle up her bed area, using her snout and her whole self to move it and mold it into a nest as scruffy as she is. She loves her walks, and she's a brave protector. She and the dog next door have a cinder block wall between them but they love to talk to each other from their respective sides.

I'm blessed to have such a wonderful dog, she gives me more than I can ever repay.

Thank you so much for your contributions!

Take care,

Karen