Need Urgent help

[ritu]

My mother aged 64 was diagnosed with MDS RAEB-2 and had 4 rounds of Vidaza with no success. Her recent biopsy shows 37% blast turned to AML. Doctors are now suggesting 7+3 days of standard chemo to bring the blast count down and if successful go for transplant with 50% match. I need advise if it is advisable to go for Chemo at this age, will she be able to tolerate it and also is 50% and 100% match has the same success rate. I am really tensed and worried. Please someone help.

[Neil Cuadra]

Originally Posted by ritu

My mother aged 64 was diagnosed with MDS RAEB-2 and had 4 rounds of Vidaza with no success. Her recent biopsy shows 37% blast turned to AML. Doctors are now suggesting 7+3 days of standard chemo to bring the blast count down and if successful go for transplant with 50% match. I need advise if it is advisable to go for Chemo at this age, will she be able to tolerate it and also is 50% and 100% match has the same success rate. I am really tensed and worried. Please someone help.

ritu,

Since your mother was able to cope with 4 rounds of Vidaza, she could very well be strong enough for the chemo they recommend. The question is really one for her: does she want to keep fighting with the best medical options available, even if it's going to be difficult and they can't guaranteed success? The doctors probably won't think her prospects are good without treatment for the AML, but she'd have to be on-board because the chemo will be a hardship, and so will a transplant.

[Emily59]

Is she being seen at one of these MDS Centers for Excellence in India? If not, perhaps she can be seen for a 2nd opinion?

Tata Medical Center
Kolkata, India
Col (Dr.) Deepak Kumar Mishra, MD

Tata Memorial Hospital
Mumbai, India
Purvish Parikh, MD

[ritu]

Hi

Thanks for your advise, I need to know if their are people who were not successful with Vidaza have found any success with standard line Chemo before going for a transplant. She had an fungal infection in Chest and admitted to hospital for the last one week, but has improved and due to be at home in next couple of days. What all options we can try apart from Vidaza.

Ritu