[RickGuam]

Hi Paul,

I too have not been diagnosed. I've had all the blood tests that I could have basically. I've been seeing a hematologist/oncologist for 11 months.... I've had a bone marrow biopsy. I've seen 2 other hematologist/oncologists coming from Los Angeles and they are all puzzled. Although they are not specialists with MDS, they are curious to see what the specialists at Stanford say when I visit them in the summer of 2009. My wbc and red blood cell counts have been consistently low for about 5 years but it was not taken seriously until about 11 months ago. The local hematologist recommends that I go off island( i live on Guam .... far far far away from the mainland USA ). He has recommended that I go to Stanford and go for more tests, etc... My blood counts have been consistently low for months now. I may leave island after January sometime to seek more answers.

I do hope I can learn more as I read more about people and their experiences on this forum.

I will share as much as I can as things change.

Although I've not been diagnosed, I was told to inform my siblings that there could be a possibility that they could be candidates for a BMT. So I will be informing them soon.

I wonder everyday what may be the cause of having MDS at my age - 44. I've not been exposed to benzene. Doctors are puzzled.

I've also been told that I may not be a candidate for a BMT so soon because my bone marrow ratios are not so severe. I don't quite understand that, but I am learning bits and pieces as time goes by.

I've still got a lot to learn.

Thanks for all your advice..... May God Bless You All!

Happy New Year!

Rick