Random questions

[camiboxer]

I have a some questions regarding a few issues.
My dad has 1% blasts in his bone marrow, none in his peripheral blood.
Does peripheral mean the circulating blood?
If all of our blood originates from the bone marrow how can you have blasts in one but not the other?
If you have a percentage to begin with (in his case 1%) does that mean eventually his blast % will increase and with an increase a bigger possibility that it will get into his peripheral blood?
Are there meds to prevent the blasts %’s from increasing or NOT getting to his peripheral blood?
Are there meds to get rid of the blasts?
I understand what MDS is but I don’t know/understand all of the intricate details.

[Neil]

1% blasts in the marrow is within normal limits.
Peripheral blood is circulating blood.
You can have blasts in the marrow and not in peri. blood. The higher the marrow blasts the more likely they will get to the peri. blood unless the docs take steps to reduce/stop blasts in the marrow from increasing.
The presence of blasts in the marrow does not mean the blasts will always reach the blood. Believe anyhing under 5% blasts in the marrow is normal. Might be some small variations with some patients/classes. My blasts were in the 1% range for at least 5 years. Sometime over the last 4 years they increased to 4%. My counts have not declined by any appreciable degree. Am supporting my reds with Aranesp. IF blasts are above slightly above normal and counts are holding a patient may tolerate higher than normal blasts—a rather big IF.
There are some less toxic chemos that may reduce/maintain blast count in some patients.
There is a lot to learn about MDS. It takes time to absorb it all and as time progresses some of the info you learned years ago will become obsolete. New and different procedures/techniques have been developed over time, particularly the last 1 1/2 – 2 years

[patti]

Susi,

In addition to what Neil said, my MIL has had greater than 30% blasts in her bone marrow since diagnosis. We were told a “sure fire” transform to AML situation. But mom still has no blasts in her peripheral blood and we “assume” after two years her marrow percentage is probably higher than the >30 she started out with. So, an increase doesn’t always mean leukemia. We are using strictly diet and supplements to treat her. There are chemos that can be given to lower the blast count but it doesn’t sound like your dad is there yet.

Patti

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