Help B Fight Lymphoma

Hi, my name is Amy Sainsbury and I am fundraising for my sweet boy who was recently diagnosed with Stage 3a B-Cell Lymphoma.

 

Almost seven years ago, a little dog peeked his head around the corner of the porch during my family’s weekend trip to the mountains in Tennessee. He nervously walked over to me and right away I could tell he had so many questions for us. He was a short-legged, long-bodied, silly-looking pup. We figured he was just stopping by and must be a neighbor’s dog. Unfortunately, he was so skinny and dirty, clearly not being cared for well if that were the case. He took his very first opportunity to run inside the cabin and burrow under some blankets. During the day, we put him back outside, hoping he would remember how to get home. We all thought it was so strange how desperate he was to stay with us. He did not want to get left behind again. Later that day, my family and I posted on the community lost pet site and took him to every shelter and vet’s office in town in hopes of finding his family or at least a microchip. However, by the time our trip came to an end, still no one had claimed him. He was the first one to jump into the car when we packed up our luggages and began the drive back to Florida.

 

Little did I know, that pup would become my absolute best friend and my once in a lifetime boy. He stuck with me through highschool and was there every step of the way when we made the move for college. So far, B has gotten me through three years of college, road tripped across the country, hiked countless insane trails, and made so many memories along the way. My favorite memory will always be seeing how happy and free he was running through the dunes of White Sands National Park. B has a heart of gold and is loved by so many.

 

On January 19th, we found out the devastating news of his diagnosis, but by January 21st, B had already received his first chemotherapy treatment. We are so grateful for the amazing doctors and nurses who helped us get B on chemo so fast. Due to his diagnosis of B-Cell Lymphoma, he will be following the CHOP protocol of chemotherapy. B will undergo weekly therapies for four weeks with a week break, repeated for four cycles. We will take it one day at a time, but his treatment could be extended to the CHOP-MA protocol depending on how he does. This would entail continuous routine visits for chemotherapy treatments after his initial four cycles are complete to give him the chance of an extended life until his body becomes resistant to the chemotherapy medicines. With chemotherapy alone, there is only a 0 to 2% cure rate, despite Lymphoma being considered treatable. However, there is a program offering bone marrow transplants, which increases the cure rate to about 35% for dogs with B-Cell Lymphoma. For the procedure to be most effective, dogs should complete chemotherapy and be in remission before the transplant.

 

For now, we are just starting with the CHOP protocol and will take it one step at a time, as B’s condition can change at any moment. If he continues to do so well, we will start preparing for the next steps. He is so bravely fighting cancer, and we will continue to support him every day. He deserves the world, and I could never repay him for the countless memories we have made.

 

Thank you so much to everyone keeping my sweet boy in their thoughts and offering support. We are so grateful for anyone who can donate or share his story.

Important UPDATE #2!!! We have been in contact with North Carolina State University and spoke with their leading doctors about the Stem Cell Transplant procedure available for dogs with lymphoma.  We know that with chemotherapy alone, lymphoma is a terminal disease, with only a 0 to 2% chance of long-term survival. However, with an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant (using B's own stem cells), B would have a 30 to 50% chance of a cure! Plus, if combined with the Adoptive T-Cell Infusion Therapy, the cure rate would further increase! With this information, we are hopeful for B's future.
The timeline overview would be as follows: B must first go into and stay in a molecular remission with chemotherapy. Then, B would get an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant at NC State University with the goal of eradicating the remaining cancer cells hiding in his body. After this, B can get an Adoptive T-Cell Infusion to further train his immune system to fight the cancerous cells if they try to repopulate. 
We want to raise awareness that these procedures and treatments do exist, while furthering canine cancer research. We know that if more people requested these treatments for their dogs, the cost would go down significantly, making it more affordable. 
We have been quoted that the chemotherapy itself is $6000, the stem cell transplant with NC State is $21,000-$27,000, and the T-Cell culturing/infusion is another $10,000. This does not even include emergency visits and/or unexpected complications that we may face. Unfortunately, these are expensive procedures. If you can help donate or share B's GoFundMe page, it would make a world of a difference for both B and canine cancer research! Thank you!