Friday, August 7, 2009

MDS: Second Thoughts On "Nova" & Decitabine

Some clarification about yesterday's rant on decitabine, provided largely by my daughter, the scientific type, who came for dinner last night. And by her always-rational mother.

After some discussion about epigenetics, genetics, genes and chromosomes—little of which I really understood—some on-line research and a reviewing of the "How Does Vidaza Work?" video on Vidaza.com, the daughter confirmed that Vidaza is indeed working in fundamentally the same way as is decitabine.

They both function by chemically altering the way in which a gene is functioning. Or, not properly functioning, in this case.

This makes me feel better on one level: I don't feel like I'm missing out on some miracle drug.

Online research also revealed that the medical community freely uses the word "remission," just as it was used in the TV program.

Not that that makes me feel like I'm in remission. I rather think of current state as "controlled," longevity unknown.

Still, if the docs and researchers want to call it remission, well, fine.

But, none of this information makes me feel better about the way in which "Nova" presented the section on MDS: glibly with an emphasis on near-miraculous results.

Well, hell. We all want to believe in miracles, yes? I mean, some of us are still basking in the results from two Super Bowls ago.

Misguided and/or false hopes are a whole 'nother thing, however.

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