Connect
How long can we be on Vidaza ?
,m 68 years old, being with MDS for the past 3 years, 2 and haft years on Vidaza, seems working fine , but for the past month my Hemo goes down , ( I only got problems with my Hemoglobin levels no other problems , and barely symptoms ) to the point I needed a Blood Transfusion last month, Vidaza 5 days every 5 weeks , and Haranex injection every week , I saw the Transplant specialist and seems like I want a good candidate, I,m in Miami, Silvester Comprehensive Cancer Center , great doctor , fantastic nurses ,but still wonder how long with hat be, Doctor say for a lifetime , but how long is that period ? Wish you all the best of luck
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Blood Cancers & Disorders Support Group.
Connect
Hello @dchavian, welcome to Connect. I invite you to look at the following discussion in addition to your discussion, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mds/. @jaylevel1 talks about being on vidaza as well and a few other members talk about MDS. As far as the length of which you can be on vidaza, unfortunately, such a specific question would be best answered by your medical provider. Is that a question you have asked your provider? You mentioned you don't have many symptoms currently, which is great. Other than your question in regards to how long you can be on Vidaza, do you have any other questions or concerns you'd like to ask members on Connect?
Thank you Justin , yes I have asked my Doctor and he says I,m doing fine and there is not other choice ,but stay in the treatment, my questions was oriented to see about other patients with the same situation , it will get worse now I,m on Vidaza for 2 years? how far from other complications am I , according to there patients situation? anyway I will check in all the other discussions you mentioned ,
thanks again , is so good to be on this site .
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@dchavian, I would like to invite @shammer to this discussion as well as they also recently joined and talked about being prescribed vidaza and may be able to share their experience as well.
Our doctor said he has had patients do well on Vidaza for many years.
my wife has been diagnosed with mds and has two rounds of Vidazia. What is the average wait time for Vidazia to show any effects on her hemoglobin?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionWelcome to Connect, @camacho. I’m sure with your wife’s recent diagnosis of MDS (myelodyplastic syndrome) you have a lot of questions running through your head.
MDS is a condition that affects the production of blood cells in the bone marrow. It can progress into a more serious condition where the bone marrow starts producing too many immature white blood cells called blasts. That’s when it’s time for chemotherapy, as in your wife’s case.
She’s been given Vidaza (azacitidine) which is a type of chemotherapy that turns on certain genes that help kill cancer cells. As a result, cancer cells no longer grow out of control. It can take several cycles to get the condition under control.
You’re asking about the average time to show an effect on your wife’s hemoglobin. There’s more to the blood results than just the change in your wife’s red blood count. Her doctor will also want to see a drop in white blood cells as well. All of her counts will fluctuate with the cycles of chemo…they’ll all drop 7-10 days after the end of her cycle and rebuild by the beginning of the next.
Have there been any changes to her blood numbers? What are you hoping to see with her hemoglobin? How’s she feeling with the chemo?
I am also taking Vidaza (along with Venetoclax), but for a different reason. In my case it is to treat an AML relapse.
I don't have any information to share about how long one can take Vidaza, but I would welcome information about how to extend the time that I can take these two drugs.