Dear DianeD,
Go with the chemo , that is what Dacogen is! My husband has not had any other treatment except the Dacogen. He has received red blood cells, and platelets. Here is a list of what his counts have been and what he has received. We go to Duke University in Durham, N.C. His ontocologist specializes in this field, from what I understand he is one of the best, I have asked him about some of the other treatments, because the Dacogen is new, it has not been released long for treatment, from what I can see. His name is Dr. Carlos DeCastro.
Husband diagnosed 10-2-08.
Code:
date hemog. red blood platelets white blood treatment
10-2 10.3 3.18 56 2.8 nothing
10-6 10.4 3.16 71 2.5 nothing
10-27 8.1 2.12 36 1.4 rec'd red blood cells
10-31 8.3 2.60 27 1.5 rec's red blood cells
11-10 8.6 2.77 41 1.7 rec's dacogen chemo
11-11 rec'd dacogen chemo
11-12 rec'd dacogen chemo & 2 units blood cells
11-13 rec'd dacogen chemo
11-14 rec'd dacogen
11-17 9.5 3.14 29 1.2 nothing
11-24 8.1 2.60 5 .9 rec'd blood & platelets
12-1 8.0 2.64 2 .7 rec'd blood & platelets
12-10 7.4 2.42 22 .9 rec'd blood & platelets
12-15 9.0 2.96 46 1.9 rec'd chemo dacogen
12-16 rec'd dacogen chemo
12-17 rec'd dacogen chemo
12-18 rec'd dacogen chemo
12-19 rec'd dacogen chemo
12-22 9.6 3.03 86 2.8
12-31 10.6 3.19 84 2.9
My husband starts the dacogen chemo again on the 12th of January. His counts going up were very unusal as past patients have not shown an increase until after the 3rd round of dacogen.
I have asked my husbands doctor about the other things that I have read in the forums and he was against using them, at this time, he says that the chemo needs to do its work and see what the results will be.
I have read very few reviews on the chemo (dacogen) my husband is taking, not sure why other drs. are not using it, as it seems like we are starting to get great results after the second round.
During this time my husband has been very weak, lost weight, lots of bone pain. We were not expecting anything to get better till after the 3rd treatment, and already he is feeling 75 % better.
Wish u all the luck in the world.
anne