16-year old Cason fights cancer and needs your help

• Cason Davis

Cason Davis, the 16-year-old son of Dusty and Ashley Davis, was recently diagnosed with cancer (Burkitt lymphoma). He is being treated at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help offset the expenses associated with fighting a horrible disease such as travel, lodging, food and more.

If VENMO is easier, you can VENMO a donation to @Ashley- Davis-1597.

A special account has been set up at Shelby Savings Bank. Simply ask to donate to the Benefit of Cason Davis Account at the drive-thru or walk in teller booths.

Let’s stay SHELBY COUNTY STRONG and help this young man and his family overcome a disease that claims too many lives.

What is Burkitt’s lymphoma? Burkitt’s lymphoma is an aggressive form of lymphoma that affects the B-lymphocytes. It accounts for approximately 0.3-1.3% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Burkitt’s lymphoma is relatively rare in Western countries, but is quite common in Central Africa. It is named after Dennis Burkitt who first described this kind of tumour in children whilst working as a surgeon in the tropical regions of Africa in 1958. There are three types: endemic, sporadic and immunodeficiency-associated.

What causes Burkitt’s lymphoma?

Burkitt’s lymphoma, particularly the endemic form that is common in Africa, is associated with the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) in nearly 100% of cases. In the sporadic forms that occur in Western countries, EBV is present in approximately 30% of cases and in 40% of immunodeficiency- associated cases. The immunodeficiency- associated form occurs in people who are HIV positive, have AIDS, or are taking immunosuppressive drugs after having an organ transplant. Burkitt’s lymphoma is usually associated with a mutation involving chromosome 8, affecting a transcription factor known as ‘c-MYC’ which controls many aspects of cell growth. This mutation usually arises by way of a swapping of genes (translocation) between a part of chromosome 8 and a part of one of either chromosome 14, 2 or 22.

How is Burkitt lymphoma treated? Untreated Burkitt’s lymphoma has a very aggressive course; however with modern combination chemotherapy regimens, the response rate is very high.

The best and most lasting responses are produced by regimens. Additional intrathecal chemotherapy is also given to prevent or treat Burkitt’s lymphoma in the central nervous system. A monoclonal antibody may also be given in combination with chemotherapy in selected situations. Preventing treatment related complications such as tumour lysis syndrome is also very important when treating Burkitt’s lymphoma.

When appropriate, people will be offered a stem cell transplant – either using their own stem cells (autologous) or those from a donor (allogeneic). New treatments for Burkitt’s lymphoma are being researched all the time and people may be invited to take part in a clinical trial to assess a new treatment option.