Your bones support and structure your body.
BUT! Did you know that they also perform other functions in your body that you may not be conscious of?
One of these critical functions is happening in the bone marrow. The bone marrow, a spongy layer inside the bones, produces many types of blood cells that have their distinguishing characteristics to keep the body alive and functioning.
They are:
- Red Blood Cells – have the job of transporting and circulating oxygen in our bodies.
- Different kinds of White Blood Cells – are important components of your immune system that help fight foreign entities that enter the body.
- Platelets – a group of cells which can aid your blood to clot when you have a cut on your skin.
Though it may seem that the bone marrow is completely encased and protected by the toughness of the bones, it is also prone to a disease called Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).
Want to learn more about MDS? Here are five more things you need to know:
1. Diagnosing patients may take three important tests.
Your doctor will do a complete physical examination and inquire about your medical history and symptoms to determine whether you have MDS.
There will also be:
- Blood tests – used to determine how many of each kind of cell are present in your blood (complete blood count), how the cells appear (peripheral blood smear), and whether they have any abnormalities (blood chemistry).
- A needle takes tiny samples of your marrow during a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. A pathologist analyzes the samples under a microscope for abnormal cells and counts them. This results in a conclusive diagnosis.
- Cytogenetic analysis involves examining your bone marrow for chromosomal abnormalities that might help forecast how your disease will proceed and which treatments will be most successful.
2. The illness can affect people of any age, although it is significantly more frequent in older persons.
This is especially prevalent among those over the age of 60. According to one estimate, MDS affects 22 to 45 persons per 100,000 over the age of 70. In the United States, over 20,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. The number of new issues identified each year is rising, probably due to increased awareness of the illness and an increase in the proportion of aged persons in the general population.
3. MDS Approach Considerations to predict prognosis and guide treatment options.
A complete blood count with differential, peripheral blood smear, and bone marrow investigations with cytogenetic studies are all part of the workup for individuals with suspected myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
In specific individuals, particularly those who are younger, further molecular and genetic testing for hereditary hematologic malignancy risk may be undertaken and genetic testing for acquired mutations in genes linked to MDS. These studies’ findings are utilized to stage the condition. Because MDS has a wide range of clinical symptoms and outcomes, staging is required to predict prognosis and guide treatment options.
4. You cannot completely avoid myelodysplastic syndromes.
However, there are certain things you may do to reduce your risk. These are:
- Avoid Smoking – Considering that smoking has been related to an elevated risk of MDS, quitting can help reduce that risk. People who don’t smoke are also less likely than smokers to get a variety of other cancers and heart disease, stroke, and other illnesses.
- Avoiding cancer-causing industrial pollutants like benzene may reduce your chances of having MDS.
5. You can treat MDS with the right approach.
Your doctor will choose a treatment for your myelodysplastic syndrome based on the kind and severity of your condition. You and your doctor might simply wait and see what happens. If your symptoms are moderate and your blood levels are stable, your doctor may just want to see you for regular check-ups.
Other times, your doctor may recommend a “low-intensity therapy,” which might include:
- Chemotherapy medications. Leukemia is also known to be treated in this way.
- Immunosuppressive medication. This therapy aims to prevent your immune system from attacking your bone marrow. This may eventually aid in the restoration of your blood count.
- Blood Transfusions. These are all common, safe, and may benefit some persons who have low blood counts.
- Iron chelation. If you get a lot of transfusions, your blood might become overly iron-rich. This treatment can help you get rid of some of that mineral.
- Growth elements. These hormones “motivate” your bone marrow to produce more blood cells.
Finally, if you have worse symptoms, a “high-intensity therapy” may be required, including
- Stem Cell Transplant. This is the only therapy for myelodysplastic syndrome that genuinely works. To eliminate cells in your bone marrow, your doctor will prescribe a regimen of chemotherapy or radiation treatments. After that, you’ll receive stem cells from a donor. Stem cells can be derived from either bone marrow or blood. These cells then begin producing new blood cells in your body.
- Combo Chemotherapy. This is when you may receive various chemotherapy treatments and is referred to as “high intensity.”
Takeaway
MDS may become a high-risked disease if not taken care of properly, so you should undergo treatment immediately once diagnosed. MDS treatment varies, but it usually requires supportive therapy, such as blood transfusions, bone marrow stimulation, cytotoxic chemotherapy, or hypomethylating drugs. To find new cures or treatments, you can take advantage of mds clinical trials.
When you have MDS, it’s natural to feel gloomy, apprehensive, or concerned. Some people are more negatively affected than others. Friends and family, religious groups, support groups, professional counselors, and others can all benefit from the aid and support of others.