Chemo For Camo -My Dog’s Cancer & Chemo Fundraiser
Donation protected
November 2021 Diagnosis
Three weeks is better than nothing!
Unfortunately, we noticed a lymph node in Camo's neck enlarged this last week. I brought Camo to the vet the next to learn that his lymphoma did come back. Our options were one to keep him on prednisone, a drug that will allow him to live around 2 more months. Two, to use just Doxorubicin, a chemotherapy drug that might allow him a few more months longer. Or third, to start the CHOP chemotherapy protocol. This is a 6 month protocol, similar to LOPP which he was just previously on. We know how well Camo was doing on chemotherapy. He acts like such a normal dog, the drugs do not make him feel sick, and, there has not been a sign of cancer when we were on chemotherapy this summer. Minus the weekly vet visits and daily medicine intake, this is relatively low maintenance for me as well. The downside, is continuing this treatment with the cost.
Why I chose CHOP: this is an entirely different approach at treating lymphoma. Dogs respond different to the different protocols. I know Camo will do well during the next 6 months and we will wait to see if the cancer comes back after he is done with the protocol. He will be continuing to get treatment at CARE Charlotte and is no longer actively in the study at University of Pennsylvania, however his results will be monitored and the veterinarians there are rooting him on! CHOP was not chosen as the first protocol because our options were randomly selected during the clinical study process at UPENN.
The news that his cancer came back so quickly is super upsetting but I know he will be a strong and healthy dog for the next 6 months at least. Chemotherapy for dogs is a great option and so many people cannot continue with it and their loved ones because of the cost. This is why I am reaching out to friends, families, and many organizations to give Camo another shot at this protocol. All we can do is try and hope this is the answer. This treatment is estimated to cost $5,500- $6,000 over the next 6 months. We are actively reaching out to other organizations (All 4 Pets NY, Animal Cancer Therapy Subsidization Society, The Brodie Fund, Codys Club, Harleys Hope Foundation, Riedel Cody Fund RCF, Fight K9 Cancer - Stymie Canine Cancer Foundation, Annies Fund, Magic Bullet Fund, Paws 4 A Cure, Brown Dog Foundation, Frankies Friends National Fund, Frankies Friends JLACF Fund, Bow Wow Buddies) for scholarships.
Please share this with you friends and family and those who have been watching our journey this past year. Camo's got a fighting chance to beat this and it all starts with us!
June 2021 Diagnosis
Thank you for taking the time to check out our Go Fund Me!
About two weeks ago, my six year old german shepherd named Camo started showing signs he wasn’t feeling well through drinking a ton of water, urinating more than often, and simply just not being himself.
We brought him to the vet where they did a blood and urine sample looking for signs of kidney problems, UTI’s, or liver issues. The results that came back in his blood were high levels of calcium. After a day of monitoring him, he became very sick very quickly. He was put on fluids at the vet, his lymph nodes were swollen, and his cells were sent off to be examined for cancer.
Camo was diagnosed with T cell lymphoma on June 10th at a stage 3 out of 5. The average life expectancy for a patient with untreated lymphoma is about two months from the time of diagnosis. However, we are going to be treating Camo. The two primary options are; prednisolone/prednisone monotherapy, which is a fancy term for giving prednisone (a steroid) alone or by having Camo receive chemotherapy. Prednisone can help with his appetite and increase his life expectancy by a few months whereas chemotherapy has been known to increase a dog's life for over a year.
Good News!
After doing some research we were able to locate a clinical study being conducted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine led by Dr. Jennifer Lenz. This study examines two different chemo protocols (CHOP and LOPP) and how well dogs react to them over their span of life. Camo was lucky enough to be admitted to the study and received his first dose of chemotherapy on Friday the 11th. Throughout the next 20 weeks Camo will be receiving LOPP chemotherapy and continuously monitored by the research group.
Is Chemotherapy a Cruel Option for Camo?
The word chemotherapy conjures images of people losing their hair and suffering chronic nausea. It is unfortunate that many pets do not receive chemotherapy based upon these unpleasant images that do not truly represent the current state of treatment response in pets. Chemotherapy simply means therapy using medication (as opposed to using surgery or radiation). Decades of research has gone into patient comfort, minimizing side effects and maximizing response so it is important to keep an open mind. The median survival time for most dogs on chemotherapy is approximately one year with 25 percent of dogs surviving two years!!! <- That is what we are going for!
Hardship
The cost of Camo’s chemotherapy, blood work, and test have cost me $2,000 so far and the total is estimated to be over $7,000 by the end of his treatment. A lot of people chose not to treat their dogs with chemotherapy because of the cost. I actually know two other dogs who have died this year due to this. This was not really an option for me at all. Although I am still a graduate student, paying off undergraduate student debt, car payments, housing, and all the other joys of being an adult, I realize that there are options. Unfortunately, my finances are limited and the cost of chemotherapy will eventually become too much. This is why I am starting now to find resources and reach out for your help to continue Camo’s chemotherapy with hopes he can live a happy and healthy life for much longer than we expect.
In Addition to Your Support…
We are becoming more and more aware of animal cancer grants and scholarships. I have been applying to these foundations and programs to assist in the cost. If any additional funds are made over the cost of treatment they will be going to Camo’s bi- monthly blood sample and lymph node aspirate done after chemo until he passes.
What we are learning right now...
How did Camo get cancer?
Most of the time, we do not know how dogs or people get cancer. There are many types of cancer and many possible causes of all those cancers (chemicals in our environment, especially cigarette smoke, sun exposure, assorted viruses and infections). There are important genetic factors as well.
How does Lymphoma Cause Death?
Lymphoma is a rapidly growing malignancy that is able to arise and/or travel to anywhere where there is lymph tissue. Of course, there is lymph tissue in virtually every organ in the body. Eventually, the cancer will infiltrate an organ to such an extent that that organ fails (often this is the bone marrow or the liver). The patient loses appetite, vomits or gets diarrhea, weakens and dies. At some point the tumor becomes resistant to therapy and no further remissions can be obtained.
Where will Camo’s Chemotherapy be Treated?
The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.
Why a Clinical Study?
Being a student researcher myself, I understand the importance of research in academia. Camo’s participation in this study will not only benefit him but can help advance veterinary medical knowledge. His participation and information learned can and will help future care of dogs with T cell lymphoma.
How Long Can He Survive?
With B cell lymphoma and chemotherapy treatment dogs life expectancy is on average 10-12 months. With T cell lymphoma and chemotherapy treatment is decreased to around 6-8 months. With just prednisone life expectancy can range from 3-6 months. With no treatment, it is much shorter. There is research showing the LOPP protocol has allowed dogs with T cell lymphoma to live over a year! Camo is only 6 years old and he lives a very happy life, we have hope he will live a long healthy remission.
Help Camo live a long and happy life by allowing us to continue chemotherapy and providing him the best treatment offered. Also your donation helps the students and doctors at UPenn conduct research that will one day help another dog in Camo’s position. Thank you for learning about Camo's journey and your financial support in our situation!
Three weeks is better than nothing!
Unfortunately, we noticed a lymph node in Camo's neck enlarged this last week. I brought Camo to the vet the next to learn that his lymphoma did come back. Our options were one to keep him on prednisone, a drug that will allow him to live around 2 more months. Two, to use just Doxorubicin, a chemotherapy drug that might allow him a few more months longer. Or third, to start the CHOP chemotherapy protocol. This is a 6 month protocol, similar to LOPP which he was just previously on. We know how well Camo was doing on chemotherapy. He acts like such a normal dog, the drugs do not make him feel sick, and, there has not been a sign of cancer when we were on chemotherapy this summer. Minus the weekly vet visits and daily medicine intake, this is relatively low maintenance for me as well. The downside, is continuing this treatment with the cost.
Why I chose CHOP: this is an entirely different approach at treating lymphoma. Dogs respond different to the different protocols. I know Camo will do well during the next 6 months and we will wait to see if the cancer comes back after he is done with the protocol. He will be continuing to get treatment at CARE Charlotte and is no longer actively in the study at University of Pennsylvania, however his results will be monitored and the veterinarians there are rooting him on! CHOP was not chosen as the first protocol because our options were randomly selected during the clinical study process at UPENN.
The news that his cancer came back so quickly is super upsetting but I know he will be a strong and healthy dog for the next 6 months at least. Chemotherapy for dogs is a great option and so many people cannot continue with it and their loved ones because of the cost. This is why I am reaching out to friends, families, and many organizations to give Camo another shot at this protocol. All we can do is try and hope this is the answer. This treatment is estimated to cost $5,500- $6,000 over the next 6 months. We are actively reaching out to other organizations (All 4 Pets NY, Animal Cancer Therapy Subsidization Society, The Brodie Fund, Codys Club, Harleys Hope Foundation, Riedel Cody Fund RCF, Fight K9 Cancer - Stymie Canine Cancer Foundation, Annies Fund, Magic Bullet Fund, Paws 4 A Cure, Brown Dog Foundation, Frankies Friends National Fund, Frankies Friends JLACF Fund, Bow Wow Buddies) for scholarships.
Please share this with you friends and family and those who have been watching our journey this past year. Camo's got a fighting chance to beat this and it all starts with us!
June 2021 Diagnosis
Thank you for taking the time to check out our Go Fund Me!
About two weeks ago, my six year old german shepherd named Camo started showing signs he wasn’t feeling well through drinking a ton of water, urinating more than often, and simply just not being himself.
We brought him to the vet where they did a blood and urine sample looking for signs of kidney problems, UTI’s, or liver issues. The results that came back in his blood were high levels of calcium. After a day of monitoring him, he became very sick very quickly. He was put on fluids at the vet, his lymph nodes were swollen, and his cells were sent off to be examined for cancer.
Camo was diagnosed with T cell lymphoma on June 10th at a stage 3 out of 5. The average life expectancy for a patient with untreated lymphoma is about two months from the time of diagnosis. However, we are going to be treating Camo. The two primary options are; prednisolone/prednisone monotherapy, which is a fancy term for giving prednisone (a steroid) alone or by having Camo receive chemotherapy. Prednisone can help with his appetite and increase his life expectancy by a few months whereas chemotherapy has been known to increase a dog's life for over a year.
Good News!
After doing some research we were able to locate a clinical study being conducted at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine led by Dr. Jennifer Lenz. This study examines two different chemo protocols (CHOP and LOPP) and how well dogs react to them over their span of life. Camo was lucky enough to be admitted to the study and received his first dose of chemotherapy on Friday the 11th. Throughout the next 20 weeks Camo will be receiving LOPP chemotherapy and continuously monitored by the research group.
Is Chemotherapy a Cruel Option for Camo?
The word chemotherapy conjures images of people losing their hair and suffering chronic nausea. It is unfortunate that many pets do not receive chemotherapy based upon these unpleasant images that do not truly represent the current state of treatment response in pets. Chemotherapy simply means therapy using medication (as opposed to using surgery or radiation). Decades of research has gone into patient comfort, minimizing side effects and maximizing response so it is important to keep an open mind. The median survival time for most dogs on chemotherapy is approximately one year with 25 percent of dogs surviving two years!!! <- That is what we are going for!
Hardship
The cost of Camo’s chemotherapy, blood work, and test have cost me $2,000 so far and the total is estimated to be over $7,000 by the end of his treatment. A lot of people chose not to treat their dogs with chemotherapy because of the cost. I actually know two other dogs who have died this year due to this. This was not really an option for me at all. Although I am still a graduate student, paying off undergraduate student debt, car payments, housing, and all the other joys of being an adult, I realize that there are options. Unfortunately, my finances are limited and the cost of chemotherapy will eventually become too much. This is why I am starting now to find resources and reach out for your help to continue Camo’s chemotherapy with hopes he can live a happy and healthy life for much longer than we expect.
In Addition to Your Support…
We are becoming more and more aware of animal cancer grants and scholarships. I have been applying to these foundations and programs to assist in the cost. If any additional funds are made over the cost of treatment they will be going to Camo’s bi- monthly blood sample and lymph node aspirate done after chemo until he passes.
What we are learning right now...
How did Camo get cancer?
Most of the time, we do not know how dogs or people get cancer. There are many types of cancer and many possible causes of all those cancers (chemicals in our environment, especially cigarette smoke, sun exposure, assorted viruses and infections). There are important genetic factors as well.
How does Lymphoma Cause Death?
Lymphoma is a rapidly growing malignancy that is able to arise and/or travel to anywhere where there is lymph tissue. Of course, there is lymph tissue in virtually every organ in the body. Eventually, the cancer will infiltrate an organ to such an extent that that organ fails (often this is the bone marrow or the liver). The patient loses appetite, vomits or gets diarrhea, weakens and dies. At some point the tumor becomes resistant to therapy and no further remissions can be obtained.
Where will Camo’s Chemotherapy be Treated?
The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA.
Why a Clinical Study?
Being a student researcher myself, I understand the importance of research in academia. Camo’s participation in this study will not only benefit him but can help advance veterinary medical knowledge. His participation and information learned can and will help future care of dogs with T cell lymphoma.
How Long Can He Survive?
With B cell lymphoma and chemotherapy treatment dogs life expectancy is on average 10-12 months. With T cell lymphoma and chemotherapy treatment is decreased to around 6-8 months. With just prednisone life expectancy can range from 3-6 months. With no treatment, it is much shorter. There is research showing the LOPP protocol has allowed dogs with T cell lymphoma to live over a year! Camo is only 6 years old and he lives a very happy life, we have hope he will live a long healthy remission.
Help Camo live a long and happy life by allowing us to continue chemotherapy and providing him the best treatment offered. Also your donation helps the students and doctors at UPenn conduct research that will one day help another dog in Camo’s position. Thank you for learning about Camo's journey and your financial support in our situation!
Organizer
Deanna DeMattio
Organizer
New Milford, CT