[Russ P.]

Thought I was holding fairly steady on Vidaza, then was off of it while I consulted with Dr. Raza in MA. When I went back to Vidaza for 3 rds my BM blasts went up to 18% and I was put on Dacogen. After 4 rds my BM blasts were 35% and my hemo/onc indicated there was nothing more he could do but lined up a visit to U of Chicago where they thought the Vidaza + PDX-101 was my best shot. Not expecting a cure just a little more time before I see Jesus.

[Russ P.]

Stephanie, Just said a prayer for you and your loved ones.

[Russ P.]

Aranesp seems to work for some people but be cautious. Your EPO should be checked 1st and if normal it may not help. That was my case and I suspect the Aranesp may have pushed me into AML.

[Russ P.]

Patti,
Apparently your MIL is still hanging in there. I pray the suffering will not be great in these last days. Blessings to you.
Russ

[Russ P.]

KLS, Good to hear your dad has made some improvement. I finished 2 rds at U. of C. and will have a BMB March 27th before the 3rd round.
Sandy,will be praying for you and Mike also.
God bless all of you.

[Russ P.]

Sandhya, Revlimid may not be a good choice because of his low platelets which Revlimid will reduce further. Also Revlimid is used for a certain chromosone defect, -5q deletion. If azacitidine (Vidaza) is not available consider decitibine (Dacogen). Hope this is of some help.

[Russ P.]

Saritha, Revlimid may not be a good choice because of his low platelets which Revlimid will reduce further. Also Revlimid works better with a chromosone defect, -5q deletion. If azacitidine (Vidaza) is not available consider decitibine (Dacogen). Hope this is of some help.

[Russ P.]

Janey,
You didn’t mention your Dad’s diagnosis or treatment. My experience is that nausea is the biggest detriment to appetite and yet eating may help the nausea. Prednisone could help boost the appetite but I can’t recommend that without knowing his diagnosis and medical history.
God bless you.

[Russ P.]

Dear Aleksandra, My thoughts and prayers go out to you. It seems that infections are what takes the lives of most AML patients. I pray that your memories and dreams of your mother will be vivid so you will know that she is in a better place and you will see her again someday. Hold that little girl close and may she help fill the void left by your mom.

[Russ P.]

Aleksandra,
God is so good and he loves us. He still performs miracles for His Honor ad Glory.
That being said there are reasons He will allow suffering. We must put our lives in His hands and
pray for His will. My prayer for you and your mom is that God’s Grace and comfort will sustain you in your trials,

[Russ P.]

Jim, I’ll be at the University of Chicago hospital. My Dr. there is Dr. Elizabeth Rich but I will see several others on the team.
Dr. Venugopal is at the Rush University Hospital.
Thanks to all for your well wishes.

[Russ P.]

I forgot to mention that I had a tx of PRBC’s after the treatment started.

[Russ P.]

This is an update on my treatment for AML:
My results after one round of Vidaza + PDX-101, (HDAC, a histone deacetylase inhibitor)
Are as follows:
Before treatment: 1/29/07 WBC 2.8; HGB 9.3; PLT 119; ABS blasts 1.35
After treatment: 2/12/07 WBC 1.3; HGB 11.0; PLT 65; ABS blasts 0.25
It’s too early to tell but my ABS blasts have come down. Here’s some info I copied on VIDAZA and HDAC inhibitors:
“Vidaza is believed to exert its antineoplastic effects by causing hypomethylation of DNA and direct cytotoxicity on abnormal hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow. The concentration of azacitidine required for maximum inhibition of DNA methylation in vitro does not cause major suppression of DNA synthesis. Hypomethylation may restore normal function to genes that are critical for differentiation and proliferation. The cytotoxic effects of azacitidine cause the death of rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells that are no longer responsive to normal growth control mechanisms. Non-proliferating cells are relatively insensitive to Vidaza.
About Epigenetics
Azacitidine is the first of a new class of anti-cancer compounds called epigenetic therapies. DNA methylation and histone deacetylation are two of the more studied epigenetic regulators of gene expression. Epigenetics refers to changes in the regulation of gene expression. Epigenetic changes can silence gene expression and, unlike DNA mutations, may be reversed by targeting the enzymes involved. The silencing of key cell cycle control genes and tumor suppressor genes through these two mechanisms of epigenetic regulation has been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo in hematological malignancies and in solid tumors. These key growth control genes can be re-expressed in cancer cells when DNA hypermethylation is reversed by Vidaza and/or inappropriate histone deacetylation is inhibited by MGCD0103. The epigenetic approach to cancer therapy is that rather than using molecules that kill both normal and tumor cells, the silenced genes are reactivated through targeted epigenetic therapy, re-establishing the cancer cell’s natural mechanisms to control abnormal growth.” I will be out of town for the next rd of treatment, 2/26 – 3/3

[Russ P.]

KWJ,
Prayers and condolences to you and your family.
This life is just a journey to a better place. We can only love one another as God loves us.

[Russ P.]

Barb & Karen, My heartfelt prayers go out to you both. Cherish the good memories you’ve had and look forward to seeing your loved ones again someday. The New Testatment is very clear on what we have to look forward to.

[Author]

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