Myelodysplastic syndrome

MDS can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

• Bruising or bleeding easily
• Fever
• Frequent infections
• Loss of appetite
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Tiredness
• Weight loss

Survival rates for people diagnosed with MDS vary depending on the subtype and the severity of the disease. To help determine a prognosis, doctors use a scoring system called the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS–R). This system takes three factors into account:

• How many abnormal gene changes are in your bone marrow
• The levels in your blood of red blood cells, platelets and neutrophils, a type of white blood cell
• The percentage of immature white blood cells, also called blasts, in your bone marrow

With this system, your doctor can better determine how severe your MDS is and the likelihood that it will turn into acute myeloid leukemia (AML). About 30 percent of patients with MDS will develop AML. 

Patients receiving treatment for less severe forms of MDS can live five years or longer. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 25 percent of adults with AML live three years or longer and some are cured.

You can lower your risk of cancer by taking the following steps to build a healthy lifestyle and improve your overall basic health:

• Avoid using tobacco products. Tobacco has been tied to multiple cancers, and it is responsible for 90 percent of lung cancer deaths.
• Stay physically active. Your physical activity is related to risk for colon and breast cancer. Excess weight gained from inactivity increases the risk of multiple cancers.
• Limit alcohol consumption. It is important to be mindful of how much alcohol you drink. Alcohol intake, even in moderate amounts, can increase the risk for colon, breast, esophageal and oropharyngeal cancer.
• Learn about screenings. Your primary care doctor can recommend appropriate cancer screenings based on your age, personal risk and family history.

• For your first visit, you will be directed to the to the Hematology Clinic on the first floor of the Ben Roach Cancer Care Facility. Open Google Maps.
• You can register at the front desk or registration area, where a Markey team member will help guide you through your appointment.
• Several parking options are available to patients of Markey Cancer Center.
• Please remember to bring your patient packet with the completed forms. These items will help your doctor learn more about your case and determine the best plan for your care.
• To meet our patient needs, UK HealthCare accepts many forms of insurance.  

Clinical trials are research studies aimed at evaluating medical, surgical or behavioral interventions to determine if a new treatment is safe and effective. At Markey, we are advancing cancer care and research to prevent, detect and treat cancer one patient at a time. As a patient at Markey, you have a team of people looking at your individual case, applying the most recent cancer knowledge to give you the best chance of survival.

Markey has more open clinical trials than any other cancer center in the region, giving you access to some of the most advanced options available. Learn more about ongoing clinical trials for MDS.

For more information on the diagnosis, treatment and more of MDS, visit our information pages below.

• MDS homepage
• Prevention
• Diagnosis
• Chemotherapy
• Questions to ask
• Support