6/17/08 update of my MDS history since my last posting of 12/4/06.
A BMB on 12/27/06 revealed that blasts were down to 2 percent from 23 percent on 6/19/06. A BMB on 1/2/08 indicated that blasts remained at 2 percent. Vidaza and Thalidomide Combination Therapy continued from 7/17/06 until 4/2/07 when the Vidaza was discontinued. The Thalidomide was discontinued on 1/21/08 with Vidaza restarted on 3/17/08. Aranesp shots have been received monthly since 4/28/08.
Counts continue to fluctuate with results as follows from the start of treatment to date:
7/17/06 WBC .9 RBC 3.16 Hgb 10.6 Hct 33.3 Plt 117 ANC (too low to register)
6/9/08 WBC .6 RBC 2.28 Hgb 9.5 Hct 28.1 Plt 242 ANC (too low to register)
My Hematologist, Dr. Slobodan M. Stanisic, continues to periodically confer with Dr. Raza, at my request, as mentioned in "Larry Gard's Background" included in the "Tell Your Story" section of Marrowforums.
For those new to Marrowforums, my favorite websites are:
www.aamds.org (an excellent source for booklets describing MDS and related matters)
www.mds-foundation.org (website includes a list of MDS Centers of Excellence)
www.mdstreatment.org (Dr. Raza's website at St. Vincent's Comprehensive Cancer Center (SVCCC), New York City. Dr. Raza moved from UMass Medical Center to SVCCC on 8/30/07. SVCCC is listed as a MDS Center of Excellence)
I remain optimistic and am thankful for the excellent care I am receiving along with the medications that are available for this insidious, interesting and mysterious disease!
Any insight you may have will be appreciated.
Larry Gard, male, age 78, Cincinnati, OH