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So here’s what’s up with my lovely husband Dan. He has MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome), which is a form of pre-leukemia cancer. for details take a look at this link…
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/myelodysplastic-syndrome/about/what-is-mds.htmlDan first noticed some energy and health issues in early-mid January, he had a chronic cough and his energy level kept dropping as well as as bouts of shortness of breath. Near the end of January fever and nausea started to be infrequent. On Friday January 31st Dan went in for labs with his GP... and results showed very low levels of white blood cells (infection fighters), red blood cells (oxygen carriers) and platelets (clotting ability) he had seriously low levels that needed immediate attention... A bone marrow biopsy was performed to (rule out leukemia so they said) on Monday February 3rd and was referred to Dr Singh with Minnesota Oncology. He was given a couple of pints of blood to boost blood quality while waiting for results... He received a couple more pints that week and we scheduled an appointment with Dr Singh for Monday the 10th. Labs were back and diagnosis was MDS. Due to his intense cough a chest X-ray was ordered immediately... and upon viewing very cloudy lungs... and cat scan was performed on Tuesday.
At that time Dr Singh advised us that treatment will start the next week with an aggressive Monday through Friday chemotherapy, and then will be looking to do a stem cell transplant to arrest the progression of the disease after we see how the chemo is affecting his blood cells.
Wednesday morning, while he was going through his transfusion at Fairview Southdale, they got results back from his CAT scan and it showed a seriously cloudy lungs, Which indicated pneumonia. They checked him into the hospital immediately and began tests. He had a bronchoscopy this morning to assist in determining the issue. The cough is incredibly intense and they are not sure what that is caused from but hopefully we will know more soon.
They need to resolve these issues before we can go on the treatment for the MDA. The oncologist talked to us this morning and said that when we do start treatment it will be intense seven days in a row of chemotherapy… Off and on until the results are what they want. Could go up to 3-4 months and could be inpatient or some outpatient if his lungs/cough improve. After those numbers are in line we would start to plan to have a stem cell transplant. The good news at the end of this is if it all works it is curable!!! Yeah that’s the answer we want.
Currently he is at M Health Fairview Southdale room 808. He is not up for visitors yet, and he is in protective isolation because of his low white blood cell count. It is a special unit that has fresh air blown into the rooms pressurized so no infectious air comes in. Plants or flowers are not allowed… But text messages are... 651 231-8499. He has a hard time speaking due to the cough! If you text and you may not be in his directory… Please identify yourself so he can put you in!!!
