What is myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)?
Myelodysplastic syndromes, or MDS for short, is a group of conditions that impact the way your bone marrow produces blood cells.
Types of MDS:
1. Refractory cytopenia with unilineage dysplasia (RCUD): This type affects only one type of blood cell. For example, it might be just your red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets that aren't working properly.
2. Refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts (RARS): This type specifically affects your red blood cells, leading to a type of anemia where iron gets stuck in your cells instead of being used to make hemoglobin, which helps carry oxygen in your blood.
3. Refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD): In this type, two or three types of blood cells are not working properly.
4. Refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB): In this type, you'll have too many immature cells (blasts) in your bone marrow, and at least one type of blood cell isn't doing its job. This is a more serious form of MDS. Myelodysplastic syndromes, or MDS for short, is a group of conditions that impact the way your bone marrow produces blood cells.
Types of MDS:
1. Refractory cytopenia with unilineage dysplasia (RCUD): This type affects only one type of blood cell. For example, it might be just your red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets that aren't working properly.
2. Refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts (RARS): This type specifically affects your red blood cells, leading to a type of anemia where iron gets stuck in your cells instead of being used to make hemoglobin, which helps carry oxygen in your blood.
3. Refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD): In this type, two or three types of blood cells are not working properly.
4. Refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB): In this type, you'll have too many immature cells (blasts) in your bone marrow, and at least one type of blood cell isn't doing its job. This is a more serious form of MDS. Myelodysplastic syndromes, or MDS for short, is a group of conditions that impact the way your bone marrow produces blood cells.
5. Myelodysplastic syndrome, unclassifiable (MDS-U): This is a type of MDS that doesn't fit neatly into the other categories.
6. Myelodysplastic syndrome associated with an isolated del(5q) chromosome abnormality: This type is specifically associated with a certain genetic abnormality and generally has a more favorable prognosis compared to some other types of MDS.
Several factors can increase the risk of developing MDS:
1. Age: MDS is more common in older adults. The risk increases as you get older.
2. Previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy: People who have received these treatments for other cancers have a higher risk of developing MDS later on. When MDS happens after chemotherapy or radiation, it's known as 'treatment-related' or 'secondary' MDS.
3. Environmental exposure: Exposure to certain chemicals, including tobacco smoke, pesticides, and industrial chemicals like benzene, may increase the risk of MDS.
4. Genetic factors: Certain genetic syndromes, like Fanconi anemia or Down syndrome, can increase the risk of MDS. However, in most cases, MDS is not inherited.
It is estimated that about 10,000 to 15,000 people are diagnosed each year in the United States, but the actual number might be higher because MDS can be hard to diagnose. MDS mainly affects older adults. The median age at diagnosis is around 70 years, and it's rare in people under the age of 50. However, anyone can get MDS, regardless of their age.
In terms of prevalence, it's estimated that there are between 60,000 and 170,000 people living with MDS in the United States. Again, the actual number may be higher because of under-diagnosis or misdiagnosis. MDS seems to affect men more than women, and white people more than people of other races.
6. Myelodysplastic syndrome associated with an isolated del(5q) chromosome abnormality: This type is specifically associated with a certain genetic abnormality and generally has a more favorable prognosis compared to some other types of MDS.
Several factors can increase the risk of developing MDS:
1. Age: MDS is more common in older adults. The risk increases as you get older.
2. Previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy: People who have received these treatments for other cancers have a higher risk of developing MDS later on. When MDS happens after chemotherapy or radiation, it's known as 'treatment-related' or 'secondary' MDS.
3. Environmental exposure: Exposure to certain chemicals, including tobacco smoke, pesticides, and industrial chemicals like benzene, may increase the risk of MDS.
4. Genetic factors: Certain genetic syndromes, like Fanconi anemia or Down syndrome, can increase the risk of MDS. However, in most cases, MDS is not inherited.
It is estimated that about 10,000 to 15,000 people are diagnosed each year in the United States, but the actual number might be higher because MDS can be hard to diagnose. MDS mainly affects older adults. The median age at diagnosis is around 70 years, and it's rare in people under the age of 50. However, anyone can get MDS, regardless of their age.
In terms of prevalence, it's estimated that there are between 60,000 and 170,000 people living with MDS in the United States. Again, the actual number may be higher because of under-diagnosis or misdiagnosis. MDS seems to affect men more than women, and white people more than people of other races.
