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Latest
Hi All,
Thought I'd just write with the latest about my father and ask a few questions if I may.
He's had 4 cycles of Vidaza now (5 days on, 2 days off, 2 days more), one per month. His first 2 cycles were pretty rough in terms of side effects. The 4th was noticeably the best and he pretty much cruised through it.
His counts generally drop in the days after a cycle to around the 7.9 - 8.1 range and he has had a transfusion after each cycle (usually 3-5 days after a cycle finishes). My dad's counts post a cycle are pretty much the same now as they were at the start, but his counts 3 or 4 days after a transfusion seem to be climbing... and have gone from 9 to 11.
He saw his consultant on Friday just gone. I am a little sceptical about my dad's consultant who is a general haematologist and not an haemo-oncologist or MDS specialist. His consultant essentially told my dad that the Vidaza didn't seem to be working and he'd expect higher blood counts after a cycle if it was. He said he's prepared to give my dad another 2 cycles on Vidaza before deciding it's not working and taking him off the drug. Apparently the drug is expensive and they don't like to keep spending money after 6 months because they assume it won't work!
Does anyone have any thoughts or advice on the scenario I've described above? What would you do if it were you or your father?
Is there anything to try if Vidaza doesn't work? I've seen some stuff on the net saying the chances of Dacogen working if Vidaza doesn't are about 3-4%.
Also I should mention I am trying to get my father for a 2nd opinion to a guy who seems to be regarded as the best in the UK... a Professor Mufti at Kings College Hospital in London. He's being very stubborn and resistant to a 2nd opinion but I hope to convince him soon.
Thanks for reading.
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