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Hi Chirley
I was on Revlimid for 18 months, it was easy to take, very few side effects.
Some constipation in my case with all the drugs I've used.
My platelets and WBC (ANC) dropped toward the end and we had to stop the
Revlimid.
I've tried Vidaza over the past 5 months but without much success.
It is much harder to take and is more like a conventional chemo. The
blood counts drop to a minumum approx 10-17 days after each treatment
cycle, then hopefully recover before the next cycle. Injection sites are somewhat painful for about a week if subq injections are used.
I've started a low dose Dacogen treatment program as of one week ago.
Revlimid is very easy since it is a pill. The costs are high unless you have
good insurance. It runs about $8,000/month as the retail price. On Medicare part D it is very expensive.
Funny thing is that Vidaza or Dacogen are more expensive per month but
Medicare part B pays most of their cost.
Hope this helps a little.
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Kirby71, RAEB2 dx 2/04, Thalidomide 30 mo, Revlimid 18 mo, No resp Vidaza
6/09 2nd Thalid use, Promacta, Lowdose Dacogen added 10/09 at 40% blasts. 5/11 BMB-blasts 8%.
2/11 2nd Revl restart=good resp, Platelets drop 6/11, 3rd Thalid,+Nplate+Dacogen. 7/12 Cnts stable for 10 mo.
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