[jerryo]

Hello

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE MAY BE IN THE SAME GENERAL BOAT.

I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH MDS (SUB GROUP RAEB 1) ABOUT A MONTH AGO. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO LEARN ALL I CAN ABOUT THE DISEASE. WE ATTENDED A ONE-DAY CONFERENCE AT UCLA IN SOUTHER CALIFORNIA SPONSORED BY MDS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION. IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND IT WAS WELL WORTH THE TRIP.

I HAVE SINCE HAD A SECOND OPINION AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY AND THEY CONCURRED WITH MY LOCAL ONCOLOGIST ON ALL FRONTS. VERY REASSURING. NOW I HAVE TWO ONCOLOGISTS IN MY CORNER.

HERE ARE A FEW STATS TO PONDER: AGE 73; WHITE CELLS, 2300; RED CELLS 10.4; PLATELETS 71K, BLASTS 8%; CYTOGENETICS, GOOD.

I START MY AZACITDINE (VIDAZA) TREATMENTS ON MONDAY. THIS WILL BE GIVEN IV FOR SEVEN DAYS AND THEN WAIT 28 DAYS BEFORE THE NEXT CYCLE. I WILL HAVE ANOTHER BONE MARROW BIOPSY AT THE END OF THE FORTH CYCLE TO EVALUATE THE PROGRESS.

I AM REALLY THANKFUL FOR THE MDS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION AND ALL THE INFORMATIONAL DATA THEY HAVE AVAILABLE FOR US PATIENTS. IT GOT ME STARTED ON MY QUEST FOR INFORMATION AND IT JUST KEEPS ON GIVING. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME USING THIS FORMAT TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION AND IDEAS.

I SHARE SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS REGARDING QUALITY OF LIFE AND BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL AND ENJOY LIVING WHILE RECEIVING AZACITDINE. I WILL LET YOU KNOW HOW WELL I TOLERATE THE TREATMENTS.