Vidaza--7 days reduced to 5?

[cheri]

Hello all
I have been informed, after my 4th month in treatment, that my Vidaza dosage schedule may be reduced from 7 days to 5 days, because my local hospital will be closing their infusion rooms on weekends. Clearly, I am upset that the treatment to save my LIFE is influenced over their budget issues....my Dr's office is also closed, as are other area hospitals....

Does anyone have an facts to substantiate that this reduced dosage will reduce my prospects for positive results? Or any other suggestions, such as a letter writing campaign to the hospital itself?

The widespread issue of limited staff/care at hospitals on the weekends is such a conflict of interests in helping people get well!

[Neil Cuadra]

Cheri,

Here is another forum thread discussing 5-day treatment because of the weekend.

It's awful that a change in treatment would result from budget issues like this, but the medical question (the ideal number of days) has not been settled. See the Vidaza 5 days vs 7 days forum thread.

Many patients get a 5-day treatment schedule, as mentioned in these forum threads:

Temodar and MDS and Vidaza (2007)

Vidaza for my 85 yr old mother with MDS? (2008)

Vidaza working great so far (2010)

Vidaza and my MDS/AML Treatment Mystry (2010)

[cheri]

Thanks Neil!
Like everything else that seems to be out of my control, I'll just roll with it and see how it all plays out... It may turn out to be more effective and less traumatic for my blood counts in the long run!
Everything happens for a reason...

[Chirley]

Hi Cheri,

My treatment centre doesn't do any drug treatments on weekends, only blood products. So my doctor ordered 5 days on week 1 and then Monday and Tuesday on week 2.

I can't say if it effected my outcome or not but I'm no longer on Vidaza due to lack of response and increasing blasts.

Good luck.

Chirley

[Susan L]

Hi again - I am on the five day cycle of Vidaza. Not sure what difference it makes - maybe it will be less traumatic to the blood lines for ya. Talk to ya later.

[Greg H]

Hey Cheri,

I'm not doing Vidaza at this point, but I can report that the non-metro clinic I rely on is also closed on weekends. Their standard approach to Vidaza is five days, take the weekend off, and complete the set of seven on Monday and Tuesday.

Take Care!

Greg

[mausmish]

Hi Cheri, I did 11 5-day cycles of Vidaza prior to my bmt with great success. I could have gone to a different facility for 7 but felt the 5-day was working well and causing no probes with side effects or counts so why change what works.