Saturday, January 30, 2010

MDS Becomes AML - Let's Hear it for the Whites!

Daily Mitch Report – Saturday, January 30, 2010
Good news today…the white count is up to 1! And Mitch reports he is generally feeling a bit better. His digestive system is more comfortable and he thinks the basketball in his stomach may be slightly smaller. The diarrhea is quieting, and a brilliant nurse attached a bubbler to add some moisture to his oxygen so even his nose feels better. Dr. Sharma just came by and she is very pleased as well. Of course, as he didn’t have any transfusions yesterday, the red blood cell count and hemoglobin are lower, so plenty of blood is flowing today along with the antibiotics, antifungals, neupogen, albumin, etc., etc.

So stay tuned and we hope to announce more progress tomorrow.

Penny, Mitch and Laina
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2 comments:

  1. Barry B.January 30, 2010 at 11:16 PM

    I am so sorry you are going through this. No one should have to. I wish I could do something to help you.

    The only thing I can offer is a suggestion to check out MD Anderson's MDS pages and trials (see 'Leukemia Insights') They have made it an important goal to cure MDS and AML.

    www.mdanderson.org/publications/leukemia-insights/pdf-issues/index.html

    www.patientpower.info/listensponsordetails.asp?showid=MDA051209&sponsor=M.%20D.%20Anderson%20Cancer%20Center

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  2. UnknownJanuary 31, 2010 at 3:31 PM

    Hi, Mitch!

    I stumbled upon your blog yesterday and have read it with much interest. I am a 60-year old female, residing in Oklahoma, who was diagnosed (10/12/09) with MDS (Level 4, RAEB II in transformation, high IPSS; 17 blasts - bone marrow and 23 blasts - bone marrow aspirate....I get labeled as MDS and MDS/AML, it depends on which doctor you speak to or report that you read). I'm transfusion dependent, had neutropenic fevers of 102-103 degrees for several months, Sweet's Syndrome, as well as leukemic infiltration on my hand, pneumonias, I could go on and on. What got my attention, though, was the survival rate (from time of diagnosis) of 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 months for my IPSS score. Although our paths have strayed somewhat, I started induction chemotherapy Jan. 4 (7+3, with the 3-day push being Idarubicin and the continuous drip being Ara-C)....during this time, however, the results from my BMB (bone marrow biopsy) taken on the day of my admission came back with 4-5% blasts in the bone marrow and 6% in the bone marrow aspirate (Yeah for 2 cycles of the Vidaza 7-day, 2-shot in the stomach regimen). Lucky me, I got my induction reduced by 3 days! My primary oncologist is in OKC (Oklahoma City) and co-ordinates my treatment with my doctors at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. I'll entertain you with my particular course of disease at sometime in the future, should you be interested. During my most recent hospital stay, I was notified that 3 perfect match (100% of 10) stem cell donors were found for me.....WOW! I will be going to M.D. Anderson on February 11 and will meet with both the Leukemia Team and the Transplant Team. I believe from that point, the transplant will be scheduled about 1 month down the road.

    I will eagerly await your most recent accounts of your journey and wish you the very best! Should you want to compare notes, etc., please feel free to contact me at: bjcowden@cox.net.

    Wishing you the best,
    BJ Cowden

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