Almost all people with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) get anemia, or low red blood cell levels, as a result of MDS. “Anemia is almost universal in MDS,” wrote Dr. David Steensma of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in an e-mail to the MDS Beacon.
In MDS, the bone marrow produces reduced amounts of mature blood cells of all types, including red blood cells, so people with MDS are especially at risk for anemia.
Red blood cells are often the first to be…
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is nearly five times more common than previously estimated, according to research from the John Theurer Cancer Center in Hackensack, New Jersey. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, also found that MDS patients have significantly more serious complications, shorter survival, and incur higher medical payments than the general Medicare population.
“Patients with MDS are at increased risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, and infections, compared to their age matched peers. Thus the total financial…
This guide, which will be published as a series of articles over the next couple of weeks, is intended to help clarify the clinical trial process and to answer common questions so that you can decide whether a clinical trial is the right option for you. The guide will explain the different types of clinical trials, address risks and benefits associated with participating in clinical trials, explain the details of participating in clinical trials, and provide resources for finding a…
Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa, or DPO) relieves the symptoms of anemia for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients and improves patients’ quality of life, according to a recent study published in the journal Leukemia & Lymphoma.
For the majority of low- or intermediate-1 risk MDS patients, anemia, or low red blood cell count, is the most common cause of symptoms that significantly alters their quality of life. Although regular red blood cell transfusions can relieve symptoms and keep the body adequately supplied with…