Dexamethasone & MDS
 

Hello,

My father was diagnosed with MDS in May 2014. He received Vidaza for 6-months as a response to dramatically low blood platelets and mildly low RBCs and WBCs. His platelets reached a low of 3,000.

By the second round of Vidaza, his platelets rose dramatically stair stepping their way to 335,000 during the 4th month of treatment. His platelets slowly declined in months 5-7. They are at 26,000 today in month #8.

In response, he has been prescribed a steroid called dexamethasone. Does anyone have any insight regarding how this drug is used used to treat MDS?

Thank you,
Steve

Hi Steve,

I am sorry to hear about your dad's decline in counts.

I just watched a presentation from the MDS Foundation about the latest clinical trials being done for MDS, some involving drugs and combination therapies that I had never heard of before. I *think* this was one of the combinations studied...

Here is a link to the video. The MDS presenter is about 38 minutes into the video:

http://psevents.net/002/00675/2014BC...2014BCBRIEF_EN

Steve, what is the status of a stem cell transplant for your father? If it is in the cards, going in at optimum health is very important.

SCT
 

Unfortunately, SCT isn't an option because he is 73 years old. His doctor is confused by the disease an is sending him to an MDS center.

Steve, if his health is otherwise good, they are doing SCT for 73 year-olds.

I was 73 when I had a SCT, 74 now. I don't feel old. The transplant doctor said they do SCT on 80 YOs. Some doctors use age as another way of saying you are in bad shape and might not make it.

Ray

Heading to MDS Center of Excellence
 

Finally, after 8 months of battling with this disease, I'm happy to report we are heading to an MDS center on Monday. Platelets are under 20k and he's feeling weak. We are going to Washington University Hospital in St. Louis. They are evaluating him and talking about a potential SCT.