One of my sons, Jeff, is a third year resident in internal medicine here in Grand Rapids. Recently he attended a “Grand Round” which is a meeting of local doctors featuring a presentation by another doctor. The presenting doctor was a doctor from Mayo Clinic who specializes in myeloproliferative (MDS type) diseases.
This doctor indicated that there has been some promising research re the treatment of MDS w Revimid (aka Revlimid), which is a new and improved version of thalidomide. According to this doctor there was a 67 % response rate. Response rate was defined as a raised Hgb of at least 2.0 or going from transfusion to non transfusion dependent. Supposedly, this may be generally available later this year.
I do not know any other info such as how long the response typically lasts etc., and I haven’t tried to research the matter further. I’m simply presenting this as something that might be out there and worthwhile considering.
John