Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Able to escape immune surveillance, MDS is a deceptive disease - Gilead Sciences
image by: MDS Foundation, Inc.
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What Is Myelodysplastic Syndrome? Is MDS a Form of Cancer?
Possibly the only thing more frightening than being diagnosed with cancer is learning you have a form of the disease you’ve never heard of. That’s exactly what Robin Roberts, host of “Good Morning America” felt in 2012, at the age of 51, when she was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer. “It is something called MDS—myelodysplastic syndromes,” she announced to her viewers, admitting that she didn’t know what exactly it was at the time. “If you’re going… what? I was doing the same thing.”
MDS is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells, and instead abnormal cells take over the bone marrow or blood. In healthy people, the bone marrow contains…
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I'm Alice, and these are the five facts that changed my life
Imagine this: you’ve been diagnosed with a serious illness and you’ve suddenly become unusual, ‘interesting’, at a push. Naturally, it’s all your friends and family can talk about, and you go along with it, but every so often, all you want to do is talk about “normal stuff”, something I’ve told friends to do in the recent past.
Current challenges and unmet medical needs in myelodysplastic syndromes
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a heterogeneous group of myeloid neoplasms that are characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, variable cytopenias, and a risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia. Most patients with MDS are affected by anemia and anemia-related symptoms, which negatively impact their quality of life. While many patients with MDS have lower-risk disease and are managed by existing treatments, there currently is no clear standard of care for many patients.
Robin Roberts Suffering From Rare Blood Disorder
"Today, I want to let you know that I've been diagnosed with MDS or myelodysplastic syndrome. It's a disease of the blood and bone marrow and was once known as preleukemia," Ms. Roberts said in a statement. Ms. Roberts was treated for breast cancer five years ago. She said Monday she is hopeful she can also beat MDS.
A Numb3rs Game: Day 1
It’s not over yet, not by a long shot, but all I know is that I’m tired, most of all, of my days being measured in numbers, in statistics, including a 75% chance of none of this being worth it. But I’m ready to crack on with it anyway. Despite my odds, I want those 61.9 extra years that the average British woman has promised me. I want my life back now, please.
What Is Myelodysplastic Syndrome? Is MDS a Form of Cancer?
Possibly the only thing more frightening than being diagnosed with cancer is learning you have a form of the disease you’ve never heard of.
MDS Foundation
MDS Foundation supports and educates patients, their communities, and healthcare providers, and contributes to innovative research in the fields of MDS and its related continuum of diseases to better diagnose, control and ultimately cure these diseases.
MDS in Focus
Uncover important facts about MDS. Able to escape immune surveillance, MDS is a deceptive disease.
Alice Byron
Talking as much normal lifestyle as possible whilst learning to live with MDS.
Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation
A highly-respected patient-focused organization, AAMDSIF's mission is to serve its community in every cycle of these diseases. That includes providing the vital information and resources needed to adjust to the initial life-altering phase of diagnosis and get through the potentially life-threatening treatment phase that follows. We then help patients and families manage the life-long stage of having a chronic disease.
Patient Worthy
Scientists aren’t quite what causes most myelodysplastic syndromes. It’s believed that some people have a genetic predisposition to develop MDS when exposed to some external trigger. Some of these triggers include radiation, chemotherapy, and exposure to certain chemicals, like benzene.
Fred Hutch
Myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, encompasses a group of diseases in which the bone marrow doesn’t produce healthy blood cells as it should. About one-third of MDS patients will develop acute myeloid leukemia, or AML.
GARD
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of blood disorders characterized by abnormal development of blood cells within the bone marrow. People with MDS have abnormally low blood cell levels (low blood counts). Signs and symptoms may include dizziness, fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, bruising and bleeding, frequent infections, and headaches. In some people with MDS, the condition progresses to bone marrow failure or develops into acute leukemia.
NORD
MDS may progress to life-threatening failure of the bone marrow or develop into acute leukemia. The exact cause of MDS is unknown but genetics and certain chemotherapeutic drugs or toxic exposures in the environment may play a part.
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