Hi everyone. My best friend in the world, Sirius, has been diagnosed with cancer. Lymphoma. She just turned 8, on June 4th. This was all a complete shock. A chance vet visit and swollen lymph nodes on her neck were discovered as was another on her abdomen. A fine needle aspirate was done and eight long days later we got the results we didn’t want to get.

We saw an Onocolgist yesterday. Dr. Kathy Mitchener at Bluff City Vets. She was amazing. They did blood/flow/aspirate tests. We won’t get the flow back until Thursday. But Dr. Mitchener said Sirius looked great. Chemotherapy is planned to start this Monday July 1st (Sirius’ first chemo has now been moved to July 8th). Dogs handle chemo much better than humans. And Dr. Mitchener said if she thought it was not beneficial to do or that it would affect Sirius’ quality of life she would definitely let us know. To the contrary, Sirius is in a position at this point (happy, eating well, basically she seems completely normal) to respond to the chemo very well.

Lymphoma in dogs is not curable but can be put into remission and their lives extended. For years, often. But it will require chemotherapy. Without chemo it’s usually just a few months before they go. 

I’m asking for donations for her treatments. There are 17 planned. With the total costs of treatments being $10000. And another $3400 for take home medications. Plus whatever tests/consultations occur during. I don’t have a price on that. As many of you know I’m a self employed contractor and work has been slow, to say the least, this last year. I could use all the help I can to get her through these treatments. She’s my world. So please, donate if you can and PLEASE share this as much as possible.

Sirius was named after the brightest star in our universe and that’s what she’s always been to me.

Thank you.

Michael Humphreys

*UPDATE* (June 27, 2024)

We got Sirius’ Flow Cytometry results back yesterday afternoon. 

This is from the email the Onocolgist sent:

“Sirius flow cytometry results: 

 Sirius flow cytometry results are consistent with a CD21 positive B cell lymphoma. This is what we were hoping for and is the type of lymphoma that carries the longest potential response to chemotherapy.” 

 As you can see, Sirius is in a good position for chemotherapy to have a good response. We just have to do the chemo.

 So please, if you can, donate and share. Any amount helps towards her chemo treatments. If you’re unable to donate, please SHARE the link. And much love and thanks to everyone who has donated and shared so far.

*UPDATE* (July 1, 2024)

Sirius’ cytology results have come back and she tested positive for Lymphoma cells on her spleen. The onocologist said it doesn’t change much in terms of prognosis or treatment options. They have changed her first day of chemotherapy again and now it’s set for Tuesday July 9th. It’s getting a bit frustrating. Not to mention there will be fireworks all week and she’s terrified of them. Thank you to everyone who’s donated and shared so far.

 "Friendship is another word for love." - Unknown