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How long can we be on azacitidine (Vidaza)?
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Oct 20 10:22am | Replies (38)Comment receiving replies
Thank you for inquiring about our case update. We have gone through 10 weeks of Iron infusions with 5 weeks of B-12 shots. All went well with that. Red cell count up a bit. Unfortunately, white cells remained the same, low. We found an excellent hematologist, who is working with us. We see her next week to discuss Vidaza. So, we are very interested in whatever information we can get from this site. About the Vidaza, it seems once you're on it, it continues for a long time. That does not make sense to us. We will be asking if the Iron transfusion can be continued as needed. Do you have any information about this procedure? We need lots more info on Vidaza. Are there any other drugs that might bring up levels? So far, we have no blasts. Thank you for all your help.
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It’s important to have a list of questions for your hematologist next week regarding Vidaza, the Vit B shots and iron infusions. She’ll explain the purpose of the Vidaza and the expectations. You may not require it yet but if you do you’ll have the answers you need to make an informed decision. ☺️
But to help you make sense of why this may be a long term medication, MDS isn’t a once and done diagnosis. There are different stages to the disease. But basically, there have been changes in the bone marrow, which is the heart of the blood manufacturing site in the body. It’s no longer able to make enough healthy blood cells.
With genetic changes taking place in some of the cells, those cells elude the body’s natural ability to fight off the cancer cells. Unless these rogue, defective cells are destroyed, they continue to proliferate and flourish, eventually pushing out healthy blood cells.
Vidaza’s goal is to help your bone marrow make healthy blood cells by destroying, or killing, blood cells that are not normal. Again, this isn’t a once and done. Some people are on Vidaza or a combination of meds life long, long term or with breaks, depending on the response to treatment.
A little refresher on MDS https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myelodysplastic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20366977
Here’s another Vidaza discussion on Vidaza in Connect:
~I’m about to begin treatments with Vidaza. What should I know?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/im-about-to-begin-treatments-with-vidaza-what-should-i-know/
(More can be found by typing in Vidaza in the search bar on top).
No sign of blasts in the peripheral blood tests is good! Has there been a bone marrow biopsy recently?
Will me know what you find out at your appointment, please!