The Vidaza is Working!

Two positive results are giving us great feedback from Todd's first round of Vidaza. First, he had bloodwork done this  week, showing his platelets had bounced back from an all-time low of 16,000 the week after the chemo treatment to a record high of 79,000 three weeks after treatment. 

Second, we got the bone marrow biopsy results back today showing an unbelievable result of a 0% blast cell count!    Cytogenetic testing results were not back yet but it is obvious that these results are showing us that the Vidaza is working. 

While this is great news it doesn't mean he is cured or anything like that. It changes his risk assessment and treatment options. At this time, the

Bone marrow transplant is still the only "curative" treatment. However, the Vidaza is halting the progression of his MDS for now. 

So we do we go from here?  Well for starters we meet with the new local oncologist on Tuesday, June 10, 2014. Then he will begin a second round of Vidaza that next Monday, June 16, 2014. 

Why another round? Well usually 3-4 rounds are the "prescribed and preferred"  method of treatment with Vidaza. Todd is still making "bad" or ineffective blood cells, but the Vidaza targets them. So, we aren't sure what will happen once the Vidaza rounds of chemotherapy are completed. Some patients have been fortunate enough to go into a short-term remission, while others have experienced resumed progression. Vidaza is usually used in two main instances: first, for patients without a bone marrow match or who are too old or too unwell to undergo a transplant. For others, it is used pre-transplant to get patients into optimal health conditions, by reducing the blast counts, so they respond better to transplantation. 

So, will Todd still need a transplant? Most likely. I understand that there may be a chance he could go into a short or maybe even a long-term remission. However, chances are it will begin to progress again at some point. 

The advantages of putting off transplantation include a good quality of life if he is not too symptomatic. It also buys time for new cures to be researched and implemented. We were told from the start by several doctors that the research in this area is moving rapidly. Many hope for a safer alternative cure than bone marrow transplantation. 

The main disadvantages of putting off transplantation is the possibility that his MDS could progress quickly to Acute Myeloid Leukemia without any warning. This in itself holds many scary outcomes, including proliferation to other parts of the body. 

Another would be that there won't be a newer, safer cure by the time he needs it. Meanwhile, he is getting older and the MDS could progress making him symptomatic or if progression would go to AML, it would require additional chemotherapy to put it into remission before transplantation can be attempted. Even if his blast count went to say 15% which isn't technically AML yet, he would still have to lower his blast count to begin the transplant. 

So, for now we are cautiously optimistic that the multiple rounds of Vidaza will continue to affect his MDS positively.  Remission would be ideal! Todd is still young enough that we are wiling to wait for a newer, safer cure if we can. If it becomes absolutely necessary he will do the transplant, but as a last resort. 

This is all conditional upon the results of his most recent cytogenetic report which we should receive in about another week. 

We are taking things a day at a time trying not to get ahead of things. We are listening to his doctors and weighing their advice and treatments regimines. We are rejoicing and thanking God for this good news. 

Thanks again for your support!