Re-starting Dacogen

[Linda]

Hi all,
It has been 9 weeks since 2nd Dacogen cycle. Bob's doc was hesitant to put him through any more cycles due to low neuts and platlets. We saw Dr. Powell at Wake Forest Baptist Cancer center last week. He said the best coarse is to re-start and take the treatments even with low counts.

Of coarse he said as you all have that the counts should start to improve after the 3rd or 4th cycle. He wants a BMB after 4 cycles and then re-asses.

I think Bob's Doc is not used to the new drugs. He was doing what he would do for any other chemo.

Bob re-started today. He is also starting an anti-biotic while his counts are low. Hopefully that will help him stay out of the hospital. We shall see.

He has to take Neupogen daily, as well. His neuts dropped from 2.5 last friday to 0.5 today, because he had no Neupogen on weekend.

Hope you are all well. You are all still in our prayers.

[kertkkey2007]

I didn't understand why the Dr. didn't want to start the Dacogen because of his White counts and Platelets being low. My husband Kert starts his 3 week series of Dacogen when his WBC and Platelets gets low. WBC. is usually 1.1 and Plt. 50 to 70 when he starts his infusions of Dacogen. He will take his first week and wait 28 days in between his 2nd. and 3rd week. Usually by the 3rd. week his counts are ALL normal and has been staying pretty good for 3 or 4 months with out anything. Good Luck with this round of Dacogen.

[Linda]

Dr. Marshall didn't want Bob to wind up in the hospital again. Everyone on this med does not have the same results. Just as everyone with MDS doesn't have the same problems.

[Marixyz]

Hi - my dad has had vidaza in the past and is now beginning Dacogen. Is it true Dacogen is a better drug for him?

Thank you for your help. The MDS treatment was disrupted as they found lymphoma and treated that disease for the last several months as it is more dangerous than the MDS. Now they have got the lymphoma in remission and are working on the MDS. This is just all too horrible.