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You know this is of interest to me because my Dad had MDS and passed away 6/2001, just a few months after his diagnosis, my Mom was diagnosed in July of 2005, they had been divorced for 30 years, so I wonder, horrible coincidence or exposure? if so were we all exposed?

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Margaret, I am so sorry for the loss of your husband. May God Bless and keep you both in his care. You are in my prayers. Teri

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Bless you and your Dad, you are all in my prayers.

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Robin, I am so sorry for your loss, I pray that in time you will find comfort in your loving memories.

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I am so sorry about your wife, you are both in my prayers.

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Stephanie, Rest assured you and the drive are in my prayers.
I’m wondering how many years did you and your step Mom share a home, also does anyone have info pertaining to time frames from exposure to benzene, etc. and becoming ill?

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Esme, Thank you for your kind words. My father worked for many years on the shipping & receiving docks of a large warehouse, plenty of exhaust fumes there……
My mother had a good Dr. visit today, her lymphnodes are enlarged, but they see no cancer so they will follow up with another cat scan in three months, there was a time I would have thought this was BAD news, now truly it is good news, we are grateful for the good days and good news. Thanks to all for your kindness. Teri

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Thanks to all for your kindness and insight. Marie, I am so sorry for the loss of your husband and son. Your story has touched my heart, as difficult as it was to lose my Dad, I have children at home and knew I had to get through it and show them we would be ok. It was so hard to see how my Grandmother grieved my Dad’s death, it truly broke her heart. I will surely keep all of you in my prayers. Teri

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Sandy, Thank you for your kind words. Does Marie still visit this forum? What an unbelievable loss, a husband and a son. I can’t imagine. Teri

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I’m afraid I can’t offer insight on this issue but I will certainly remember your Father in my prayers. Teri

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Neil, Thank you for responding, your information is helpful. My parents never had radiation/chemo and were divorced for 30 years before my Dad became ill, so I certainly have felt some concern that there could have been an enviornmental exposure…..it seems somehow overwhelming and yet pointless at the same time to even consider the ramifications. I guess what I was hoping for and that you have indeed provided is hope that my Mom may have a better outcome than my Dad did. In view of how quickly and unexpectedly we lost my Dad it was devastating to learn of my Mothers’ diagnosis. Again thank you.
Sincerely,
Teri

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Hi again, just wondering if there is anyone on this forum that has had two members of their immediate family having MDS? You know this being our second time around you would think I would know more about what to expect with my Mom, its just that my Dad got sick so fast and died so quickly. At the same time my Mom has so many other illnesses it is hard to believe that she would survive many bouts with infection. My Dad had serious infections and bleeding are those symptoms common? Any insight would be welcome. Teri

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Just thought I would update on my Mom, she continues her Procrit and her counts have improved, we are thankful. However she has many other medical problems, Diabeties, conjestive heart failure, her most recent exam revealed a spot on her lungs and quite a bit of fluid, she will see a specialist next week, hopefuly she will get postive news.

I must say that while she is receiving some of her tx localy, Dr. Larson from the Unv. of Chicago has taken her on as a paitent, this is an amazing Doctor, he is incredibly knowledgable and available, on several occasions when my mother has called his office he has answered the phone and while he has many paitents her remembers her, the details of her case and is in contant communication with her other Doctors. He has been a Godsend and my Mom has great confidence that if anyone can help her, Dr. Larson will.
I am also wondering is there is anyone else on these boards that have had more than one famoly member/parent diagnosed with MDS? Sorry to be so long winded. God Bless

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I am so sorry for your loss, you have my sympathy and prayers.

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Sarah, I don’t know how he was classified, He was hospitalized in Dec. 2000, I think they may have thought he had an infection or pneumia (sp), that was when they became concerned about his blood counts, they did the continue to monitor take iron thing, with no improvement. Did the bone marrow/biopsy in maybe March or Feb and he was diagnosed at that time. I never really got the classification, but he was immediately sent to Rush Hospital in Chicago for clinical studies, He got a bad infection and spent Easter 2001 in Rush Hospital, he was accepted for trials at Rush in early May, had one treatment and died June 8th.
We had our appointment with my Dads’ Dr. today, he reviewed my Mom’s Bone Marrow/biopsy from 2 years ago with the latest one, agrees that things have worseened and now they are able to diagnose her condition as MDS. He agrees that iron and procrit are the way to go at this point, he said he would classify her as Low if she responds to the iron and Intermediate 1 if she does not. These classifcations are new to me
but I take it this is positive. The Dr. was also very reassuring that my Mom’s situation may well be a very different story than my Fathers’. That gave my mother great comfort, for that am grateful. I am also grateful for the kindness I have received here, I think I’ll stick close to these boards, I have a great deal to learn. Teri

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