Connect
← Return to How long can we be on azacitidine (Vidaza)?
Discussion
How long can we be on azacitidine (Vidaza)?
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: May 3 3:49pm | Replies (44)Comment receiving replies
My husband will be on his 15th cycle on Vidaza . He is 82.5 years old . He was told of MDS after 2 bone marrow biopsies 1 year apart .
At first they put him on Reblozyl (to raise his hemoglobin levels) but it failed to work after about 6 months . Then they put him on Vidaza . 5 days of shots and 3 weeks of rest per cycle .
So far so good .
His hemoglobin went from 5.8 to 11.3 .
He had 3 transfusions at the start of his MDS journey and no more transfusions needed after those .
I just want to encourage everybody that Vidaza works for him and I make sure he gets a good protein diet everyday .
Plus drinking plenty of water helps .
May God bless all of you . Keep up your faith !
Replies to "My husband will be on his 15th cycle on Vidaza . He is 82.5 years old..."
Okay sometimes a little humor is okay. Your husband and maybe some readers are old enough to remember Bill Crosby’s humor before TV and before his problems torpedoed him. Long ago in the early 60s (1963 in his debut album “Bill Cosby Is A Very Funny Fellow” he recorded his comedy routine about Noah talking to God and expressing incredulity at what God was asking him to do (build a large boat and load up 2 of all God’s creatures on it), At one point, Noah (Cosby) expresses frustration to God, to which God responds with a question “How long can you tread water?” (About minute 6 in this YouTube voice recording reprise from a later album (?) https://youtu.be/CgsFCyD4nEw
So that’s essentially my answer today. I have coached several patients who took this cocktail as long as it worked. Then I have coached a few through their hospice experience. The length of time varies according to mutations, tolerance, fitness and how quickly the cancer cells can figure out how to avoid the cocktail. It can be years and years. I have one patient now who is fracking up month after month happily. It can be a shorter time. Keep on going, Time is a precious commodity for all of us who battle this sneaky disease.
All the best to you and your husband.
Connect
Welcome to Connect, @vng. It’s wonderful that your husband is doing so well on Vidaza for MDS, especially with the news he hasn’t required any transfusions since he’s been in treatment! I’m sure with his hemoglobin level back up past 11 he has some pep to his step again! Fatigue with lower numbers is debilitating!
Thank you for sharing this positive experience with the group. You may never know who needed to see this today for a boost of encouragement! ☺️
Thanks also for the tips on diet and keeping hydrated. Those are definitely keys to staying healthy. Do you and your husband get out walking or exercising daily as well?