Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Myelodysplastic Syndrome is a problem where blood cells are not produced quickly enough. Blood cells are made in bone marrow, so with MDS the blood cells that are produced are damaged. Because they are damaged, then they do not live as long as nornmal cells. This is the syndrome.
What are some of the causes of MDS?
There are three main categories of causes for MDS
- Chemotherapy drugs. There is a whole list of them. We’ll provide a link for more info.
- Some inherited conditions
- Exposure to Chemicals primarily benzene
For more information on the Chemotherapy drugs and inherited conditions related to MDS check http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/myelodysplastic-syndrome-causes-symptoms-treatment
See if you qualify for a Benzene case:
What are Some of the Symptoms of MDS?
Remember that MDS affects the blood cells. Blood cells transport oxygen and nutrients all around the body. MDS is also a precurser to some blood cancers. These symptoms are similar to them as well.
- Shortness of breath
- Anemia (shoes with pale skin)
- Fatigue easily
- Infections
- small, pinpoint sized red spots caused my micro-bleeding
How is MDS related to Leukemia?
30% or people who have MDS will develop Acute Myloid Leukemia. Both of these diseases are blood diseases
How is MDS treated?
MDS is treated on a sliding scale. It may start with treatment with antibiotics and blood transfusions for people with early stages. If the disease worsens then chemotherapy may be used.
Finally a Stem-Cell transplant is used to attemtp to give the patient new cells to work with to rebuild the blood producing portions of the body.
See if you qualify for a Benzene case:
Life Expectancy and Prognosis
This section is only designed to give you a general idea on Myelodysplastic Syndrome survival rates. And, as with any generalization like this everyone’s case is different.
The studies typically show that MDs survival rates are measured in years. There are some studies showing that people with high risk MDS may have a shorter survival times.
An additional prognosis that comes with MDS is whether it progresses to AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia). As mentioned above, approximately 30% or people have this happen. Whether it happens or not is affected statistically by the severity of the MDS. The more severe the MDS, then the more likely that it will progress to AML.
