Need advice for my Rat with tumor

Question
Hi Sandra, I have a female rat named Cinderela. I got her from a petstore,while in line I hear the saleswoman talking about a baby rat that was on the counter in a box and how a man was coming to pick her up for his snake. Well of course I pleaded with them to let me have her so 2 years later she's my baby, best rat I have owned. ( I will never and have never returned to that pet store). Anyway she has a huge about the size of a small apple tumor located right above her front paws or her breast area. I haven't had it removed because the only vets in my area that will do the surgery charges no less then $600 dollars. She has done great but now the tumor is starting to get in the way of her walking.  I don't want to put her to sleep when she is so full of life. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I live in Roanoke, Va  and like I said there is no vet willing to do surgery for less then $600.  She is 2 years old. When it is time to put her down I do have a great exotic vet which does it the right humane way for a decent price so that's not a problem. They just won't do the surgery for a decent price.

Answer
I am so sorry your little one has this (one reason I stopped keeping females) and to be honest, they ALWAYS come back in another place in most cases even if you paid a million dollars for the surgery.  However, she has it and you want to know when its time to let her go....and that would be once she stops caring about life and gives up.  No more eating, withering away from weight loss  (the tumor will eventually cause significant weight loss)

As for vets, although you have one in your area, the only one I know of in VA that is a board certified avian-exotic vet is Dr.Stahl of Stahl Exotic Animal Veterinary Services located in   Fairfax VA.