Hi,
My 86 year old Dad has just been diagnosed with MDS. The 'immature' cells are low (5%), his haemoglobin levels are ok (he had a graph which showed that they did drop really low around the time when he first started complaining about breathlessness) and his platelets are also low (but not worryingly so).
The Dr said he could consider Epo injections but due to the side effects (esp strokes and blood clots) it's up to my Dad to make the decision as to whether he wants to have the treatment or not. He is not ill at the moment, just weak, tired and breathless (he also takes pills for high blood pressure). He would love to have more energy so he could get out in the garden again but it just seems very risky with all the possible side effects - and as he would have to do about 6 weeks before there would be any benefit.
I know you can't say one way or the other but if you had any experience of how elderly people tend to cope with the injections and we also wondered why a blood transfusion wasn't offered, as that would be much less risky.
I appreciate any advice you can offer.
Many thanks,
Jan
