This fundraiser is for myself and my forever boy, Benji.
Hi I’m Kat and Benji is my first dog that I’ve raised since he was a puppy. He’s known as Boyfriend Ben because he’s so sweet and has been there for me through all of life’s ups and downs.
Benji’s story:
Cancer. A word no pet parent (or any parent for that matter) wants to hear. It’s dreaded word that makes your heart sink into a bottomless pit. It has been 2 years that Benji (my labracollidor) has been diagnosed with apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma.
He has had surgery in April 2023 to remove his right anal gland and went through 4 rounds of IV chemotherapy. He went into remission until March 2024 and has been fighting ever since. The cancer has spread into his lymph nodes and left anal gland. He switched from his oral drug and is back on IV chemotherapy since March 2025. However, as he is now 9 years old and other factors, it would not be wise to have him undergo surgery this time around, so we are hoping to keep the spread at bay as long as we can.
My story:
What’s that dreadful C word again? Oh that’s right, “cancer”
Yup, I was also diagnosed with cancer in February 2025. I have a type of lung cancer called typical carcinoid tumor of the lung.
For the latter half of my adult life, I thought I had asthma but never was officially diagnosed… I have always had issues with respiratory infections and bronchitis since I was a kid. So on 2/5/25, I coughed really hard and I felt a pain on my right side (rib cage). The pain continuously got worse- coughing, sneezing, laughing, and some movements hurt badly. Finally I went to an urgent care to see if I pulled a muscle or something. They did an X-ray and the NP immediately told me to go to the nearest ED and get a CT scan because she saw a mass on my right lung.
I did and it all went downhill so fast from there. I got admitted due to that mass. I spent 2 weeks at different hospitals.
I did so many different scans and I had 2 broncoscopy procedures done. The second bronch showed that the mass/tumor grew into my right bronchial airways. Hence why I had “asthmatic symptoms” for a long time.
I’ve met different specialists and did extra tests since Feb. Thankfully, my type of cancer does not require chemotherapy nor radiation and it is not spreading. However, I am having surgery to remove most if not all of my right lung soon at the end of this month, June 2025.
We both are fighting together and trying to enjoy our lives to our fullest, but I won’t lie that it has been a huge burden to find out about my own cancer diagnosis/medical costs on top of Benji’s. I’ve been managing his costs for the past 2 years on my own, but I am asking for help going forward as we both need support in this journey.
Any donations are greatly appreciated. As of right now, his chemotherapy treatments are about $800 each time and he has gotten 3 as of May 2025.
My own medical bills have climbed to about $4000 since February.
If you can’t donate, please share our story. I cannot thank you enough for helping us!
Love always, Kat and Benji.
