Hopeful Response from Vidaza

[Dennis]

The prescribing information for Vidaza says something like the patient can continue receiving it as long as he/she benefits from it. I don’t think they expect it to give remission in the usual sense of the word. My oncologist called it “control”, likening it to insulin’s controlling diabetes.

These are all new drugs, and they’re sometimes learning as they go.

D

[Neil]

Hi Dennis,
Absolutely correct.
It may make a patient TX independent if they respond, but it is not a cure.
Question is how long will it last? Not enuf data to know —yet.
Think in the long term fiddeling with DNA and/or other genetic manipulation will eventually be the cure.

[Terri]

Bob is almost two years on Vidaza and it is just maintenance. The first time we did it for six months. Counts were good, no tx so dr took him off he did well for 7 months then the blast started coming back. so he started again, things started looking well and after a while we tried a different schedule on 1 off 5 but after a few times things started changing again so he went back to the every 4 weeks, 1 on , 3 off.
So far it seems to be the drug that is working for him. Only 2 tx since dec of 03. He did have the subdural bleed from low plts and stress .
but The vidaza really does not change his counts that much they stay pretty steady when he is on the vidaza schedule.

[katiebear]

My dad completed his third round of Vidaza, and his numbers are still down. He starts the fourth next week and then goes for the bmb Sept. 6. Does this mean the Vidaza might not be working for him? It seems as though everybody else had a positive result prior to the fourth round. I know everybody reacts differently, especially with this disease, but the waiting is very hard. I know you guys have no answer, I guess I’m just frustrated.

Katie

[sdrake]

Katie,

My dad responded right away. Dad’s oncologist here in Nebraska as well as the specialist we saw at the Mayo Clinic seemed surprised by his quick response. They said they didn’t expect to know if it was working until after 4-6 rounds. I sure don’t have the answer, but I don’t think it is unusual for it to take a few rounds before the benefits are seen. As you know, everyone responds sooo differently with this disease. I have watched my dad’s counts go up and down and every time they are on the down side I worry about what it means. The worry doesn’t get me any where, but I do it any way. I hope your dad shows a positive response to Vidaza soon.

Take care,
Shari

[eve]

maureen

my dad started the procrit shots about 7 months after he started the vidaza – he took procrit before he started vidaza and it really did nothing to help him – also please understand that although my dad is no longer tx dependent he is still a very ill man with all kinds of different ailments rearing their ugly heads very often – last month he had kidney stones – this month he has a fungus infection of the esophagus – there is always something going on – but we take one day at a time and pray for the best – that is all we can do

eve

eve

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