Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of diseases in which the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells. Myelodysplastic syndromes are not bone cancer, rather they are a cancer of the bone marrow. There are several types of myelodysplastic disease. For people with myelodysplastic syndrome, the bone marrow does not produce fully mature blood cells, which causes them to not function properly. These immature blood cells enter the bloodstream and crowd out the healthier blood cells. When there are fewer functioning blood cells, a person is more prone to developing anemia, infections, and other diseases.

Factors that may increase the risk of developing myelodysplastic syndromes development

Past treatment with chemotherapy or radiotherapy
Exposure to heavy metals such as mercury or lead
Exposure to chemicals such as tobacco smoke, benzene, pesticides and solvents

Symptoms of myelodysplastic syndromes

Weakness or fatigue
Shortness of breath
Fever
Easy bleeding or bruising
Frequent infections
Pale skin

Diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndromes

Physicians at KHCC use a variety of diagnostic procedures and techniques to ensure the most accurate diagnosis, including:

Complete blood count (CBC) test and other blood tests
Bone marrow aspiration or biopsy to examine the bone marrow for abnormalities
Cytogenetic analysis to detect changes in the chromosomes of blood or bone marrow cells

Treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes at KHCC

There are different types of treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes depending on the type of syndrome as well as the condition and general health of the patient. Myelodysplastic syndrome is a chronic disease for which there is no cure, so the general aim of treatment is to relieve the symptoms and control the disease to improve the patient’s quality of life. Treatment can include chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and stem cell transplants.