Is there a new shot/treatment for MDS???

[junglegirlsue]

The doctor called today and said their is a new shot to help her MDS. Probably make new red blood cells. He said it costs $10000 @month. He wanted to know if she had supplement D. She doesn't :(. I wondered if anyone had heard of something like this. Does anyone know what this might be? I can't believe Medicare won't pay for it.

[Ruth Cuadra]

Junglegirlsue,

The doctor is probably referring to drugs called erythropoiesis stimulating agents or ESAs (brand names: Epogen, Procrit, Aranesp), which are not new but are used to increase red blood counts. There has been a lot of discussion (http://forums.marrowforums.org/showthread.php?t=210) about Medicare's coverage for these drugs. It can be very expensive for a patient to pay for them when insurance coverage is denied.

Regards,
Ruth Cuadra

[Birgitta-A]

Hi Junglegirlsue,
You have to ask the doctor about the name of the new drug :confused:. As far as I know no new drug has been approved for MDS recently.

I understand that you and your mother live in Dallas, Texas. You know that the best cancer hospital in the world is situated in Texas – MD Anderson Cancer Center :). If your mother isn´t too tired due to her disease she could perhaps participate in a trial at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

There are many trials for MDS but I think that the combination of Vidaza (azacitidine) and MGCD0103 could be very effective. Here is a link to that trial:
http://utm-ext01a.mdacc.tmc.edu/dept/prot/clinicaltrialswp.nsf/index/2005-0659

Remember to avoid AMG 531 where 22 of 44 patients with MDS got increased symptoms :(!
Kind regards
Birgitta-A