Myelodysplastic

[concerned2225510]

My mother is 87 years old and 7 months ago she was diagnosed with MDS.  Currently she has had 2 blood transfusions in the last 5 weeks.  She is being treated with Aranesp and Neupogen.  Her white cells were measured this week at 7.7, red cells at 3.41, hemoglobin at 8.9 and platelets at 69.  She is tired and sleeps 18+ hours a day.  I have offered other drugs to her doctor, but he always says "it's not applicable to her due to her general health condition.  My mother's vitals are great.  Looking for suggestions, drugs, insight that may better serve my mom.
Sincerely,
Concerned

[FloridaMouse]

My father-in-law died of MDS.   They sent him to Houston for treatment (we are in Florida).  MDS is nasty disease.  My father-in-law did both Procrit and transfusions but they didn't seem to help much.  Have they said anything about sending your Mom to a teaching/research hospital?

Mouse

[Trinity4]

This is a hepatitis C forum.  Many experience low white, red and platelet counts due to treatment drugs but it very different from myelodysplastic and I don't think anyone can advise you on this.  Some people on hepc treatment require Neupogen, Procrit and others have had blood transfusion for anemia due to the effects of the treatment drugs, not the disease.