[mausmish]

Carole,

My story was very similar to yours, diagnosed at age 56 and not wanting to pursue treatments that could reduce my quality of life for the little time I had remaining. I changed my mind and first decided to try Vidaza. I was lucky - a very quick, positive effect with no ill side effects. My counts returned to normal, and I looked and felt great. Months later, I started reconsidering the bone marrow transplant and visited several hospitals for consultations. All agreed that the Vidaza might work for years or might stop working anytime. The only chance at a cure was transplant. It was an agonizing decision but I decided to go for it. I had an unrelated matched donor. That was four years ago, and I am doing well with no evidence of disease at my last checkup in December. My husband and I chronicled our past 4 years in our blog, http://www.mausmarrow.com.

Only you can make the decision that's right for you. I wish you all the best.

Karen