[kgtuck]

Neil, I am real pleased with the group of doctors that cared/care for me in
Asheville, NC and actually how fast I got a diagnosis and treatment which began immediately. But, currently my physician is only treating a couple of patients with MDS with very different subtypes. But, my husband having a master's degree in biology--he is my advocate and is constantly studying the research out there. He has attended online forums with specialists, I think one was held in New York.

I did get a second opinion at Wake Forest University, but they encouraged me to go for a mini (mini because of my age) bone marrow transplant,my blasts no. was 10! but I chose not to do so. I chose the treatment right now because I am doing so well;
and my husband tells me that he has read that new drugs similar to Dacogen and being developed.

One issue for me right now, is, can I extend the off-treatment period a little longer. The specialist in new york addressed that issue in one of his forums.
I actually had to delay 1 week in my treatment schedule because of snow and my blood counts rose higher! But, my doctor prefers not to extend the period right now!

P.S. Blood counts when I was diagnosed: hgb 7; platelets 10,000; white count 1. Currently my hgb is 13.8; platelets 325,000; and white counts varies between 2 - 3.8--which is the only cell line that varies at all! A non-smoker with no chromosome abnormalites. No family history of any types of cancer. My only history that might account for my illness (I grew up on military bases and lived at Camp LeJeune Marine Base when I was 14 years old) in 1961. Water contamination was discovered in the 1980s. Apparently, the housing development where I lived (in a brand new house) was built on property previously occupied by dry cleaning factories. Many, many former residents of that base were exposed from about 1957 - early 1980s. I would like to correspond with others whom may have lived at that site at that time with unplainable cancers.

kgtuck

Thank you for listening and making this site available!