Young onset

[Guest guest]

How was he diagnosed? Does he have symptoms? The gold standard used to be

Watch and Wait, not with all the sophisticated testing they are getting better

at

forecasting the progress of this unpredictable disease, and deciding what to

do about. Don't panic, we have people on the list who have had this a long,

long time and are fine. But do stay on top of it, it's a mysterious little

devil.

[Guest guest]

> How was he diagnosed? Does he have symptoms? The gold standard

used to be

> Watch and Wait, not with all the sophisticated testing they are

getting better at

> forecasting the progress of this unpredictable disease, and

deciding what to

> do about. Don't panic, we have people on the list who have had

this a long,

> long time and are fine. But do stay on top of it, it's a

mysterious little

> devil.

>

> Thanks for the response. He was diagnosed in a routine check

up. He has no symptoms that he is aware of. He is awaiting the

FISH test result, but I am wondering if that information will be

more alarming then helpful.

>

[Guest guest]

This has always been my headache with the advanced tests - certainly I have

been recommending NOT to take them after you have finished a course of

treatment, why know just how solid your remission is? Just makes you nuts. I

chose not

to do it. The tests have some merit in treatment naive patients, in that they

may lead to earlier treatment, if deemed necessary. But I agree with your

caution. If something turns out positive or showing poor prognosis, don't rush

to

the needle. Get lots of opinions. I have a friend, 85, who's doing fine. When

she went MDA they wanted to give her this and that. I'm sure they would have

killed. Remember that every treatment is bad for the body. So take your

results, but think hard about what to do -