← Return to Living with MDS (Myelodyplastic Syndromes)

Discussion

Living with MDS (Myelodyplastic Syndromes)

Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: 7 hours ago | Replies (186)
Comment receiving replies
@jacklyn

Well I got my results back from my blood test and the hydroxyurea brought my white cells down my platelets are good and my red cell count is low I guess 88 but the results from my bone marrow biopsy came back that it had progressed fyy to I’m CmmL to AML. So my oncologist is meeting with the tumor board next week to discuss my treatment. She thinks I need to do chemo. The itching isn’t bad now since I have been taking loratadine. She talked about a drug called atarax if I still get itchy. I don’t know what yo think. I know AML is aggressive and whether the chemo will work. I feel much better on the hydroxy so I wonder why she just doesn’t leave me on that. Intake 2 500mg Monday yo Friday and 1 500mg Saturday and Sunday.

Jump to this post

Replies to "Well I got my results back from my blood test and the hydroxyurea brought my white..."
Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | 1 day ago

Hi @jacklyn, Well shucks, those weren’t the results you were hoping for with the blood work. It seems your CMML has progressed to AML. Whether or not your doctor will keep you on hydroxy will depend on what type of AML you have.

Hydroxy is generally not a first line treatment of AML. And since it didn’t appear to help keep your CMML from progressing to AML, they may need to move you forward to another type of treatment.

Itching with my AML, used to drive me to distraction…so I’m glad you’re getting relief with the Loratadine! Atarax is another type of antihistamine which can help with the itching. It can provide a little sedative effect which also reduces anxiety. But it can make you a little drowsy, so if the Loratadine is working then stick with that for now.

I know this news can leave you a little unsettled as to what to expect. If your doctor recommends chemo, just keep in mind you’ve already been on a form of chemotherapy with the hydroxyurea. The term can be intimidating and the bejeebers out of people. But chemo can be a life saver! When you find out more, we’ll work through this together, ok?

Did your doctor order any further testing such as a bone marrow biopsy? Do you remember if your blood results mentioned the term, blasts?

VIEW AND REPLY