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Greg,
I greatly appreciate the information and thoughts going back and forth. I am new to this disease so your information and Lisa's comments greatly help. I can see Greg why you have the BMT on the back burner with your job situation, but at lease you do have your ace in the hole when needed! My one sibling and 2 daughters are not a match so they are currently looking. I hear it may take 6 months to determine if there is match. And, yes in the meantime, I appear to be doing fine.
In June 2008 it was determined my platelets were low and we were monitoring that. Other than bruising, I have had no difficulty. In my opinion I have always bruised easily. I never, ever get sick. Go figure that with the lower WBC count. I think what I have just does a darn good job. My Hemoglobin is not that low, but I do feel a bit fatigued and some minor shortness of breath. But. . . . up until May I was running 5K or 3 miles at least 3x a week. I am still golfing, going out shortly, and I walk all 18 holes. So it isn't bothering me much! With being fit, young for this disease, and my first specialist saying you are a perfect candidate for a BMT, since that is the only cure, my thoughts only went in that direction. However, I have also done a lot of reading, and now speaking with others and the BMT has started to show a great deal of risk, both during and afterwards. The last specialist, Dr. Karen Yee was also suggesting there are great advances in the medications so if that point for me is down the road in time, there may be more options, other than the BMT.
When I first started reading, it appeared as though people that were older were having the treatments and those few that were younger having the BMT. That made sense due to the gruelling process of the BMT, unless someone was at a point of no choice. I greatly appreciate the information and prospective that you have given me regarding other options, and how the use of treatments may not interfer with the BMT if needed.
Greg, I will get back to you tonight with the Canadian ranges for the blood counts. Sorry, got to go.
Thanks for all your input. If others have anything to add I would appreciate it as well.
Greatfully,
Janice
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Female, age 52 - Diagnosed May, 2011 Hypoplastic MDS. Cytogenetics showing 2 abnormalities on chromosome 15. Blasts<5%, IPSS of 1. All blood counts low, but no treatment; watch and wait. Registered for MUD; on Feb. 23/12 two donor matches found but returned since not needed yet!
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