"MDS" Myleodysplastic Syndrome?

Question

Anyone out there experienced this or have friend or family member who has? My 86 year old father is suffering from it. His Dr. is very vague regarding what I can expect. Chemotherapy was done without any positive results and his Oncologist has now turned him over to his Primary Care Physician. He told him he has approx. 8-12 months left. I am his sole caregiver and need as much input as I can find as far as what I'm facing regarding his symptoms and so forth. Hope someone out there might have some insight or input. Thanks

Answer 1

my wife had MDS,she went through 10 bone marrow transplants,and the last one took thank god,when your white blood cells drop you can almost catch a cold just talking to someone that is sick.my wife couldn't be around babys an older people,doctors orders.said she was more out to catch something from them quicker than anybody else.good luck i will send yall a prayer.

Answer 2

I have heard of the syndrome as it sometimes happens with young people who have undergone high dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. It was actually referred to as 'pre-leukemia' in the young man that I know with the syndrome. He had a rare aggressive sarcoma that he was treated for and was no evidence of disease when he developed MDS. He was treated for 'pre-leukemia' (same treatment as leukemia) and underwent a second stem cell transplant. He responded and is well at the moment and just started college.

With older people like your father . . he may outlive the syndrome. I am not sure why they told him he only had 8-12 months left . . unless he has decided not to pursue anymore treatment?

You can get more information about the syndrome from the National Cancer Institute:

NCI: Myelodysplastic Syndromes Treatment

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/t...

You might also want to join an online MDS support group and ask questions of patients going through this syndrome:

ACOR: List for Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) & Aplastic Anemia

http://listserv.acor.org/archives/mds-aa...

The American Society of Clinical Oncology also has an excellent section on the syndrome:

ASCO: Myelodysplastic Syndromes

http://www.cancer.net/patient/Cancer+Typ...

Best to you and your Dad.