Hi @barbeeh51 I just wanted to make sure that you say my reply from several days ago. You’d mentioned your
…”husband of 80 was just diagnosed with MDA. He would not know that he had it if it were not for the low WBC and RBC numbers and low iron”. And that the doctors at this time are in a wait and see approach. Here was my reply. I think you’ll find it helpful:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1592202/
Much can be learned from just the current labs your husband had run. He can certainly request the more detailed informative tests and even add a bone marrow biopsy. But his doctor, at this time, may not feel they are necessary. As Colleen mentioned there are different subtypes of MDS and CLL. Because some of these blood conditions may take years to progress, often there is just an active surveillance approach. (Wait and see). Treating preemptively, hasn’t been shown to be any more effective than waiting until necessary for some conditions. And treatments may come with their own set of side effects so doctors tend to wait until the risk vs reward balances.

Does that make sense?