Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) are a group of disorders that strongly affects the bone marrow and the blood cells in the body. For someone who develops MDS, the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets often produce in an erratic manner and symptoms of myelodysplastic syndromes varies. Although the illness usually inflicts older people, typically those over the age of 50, it has been known to affect younger individuals as well and can oftentimes be a life-altering disease.
It is rare that myelodysplastic syndromes are inherited, as research has found, and in most cases the disease develops with no known cause. Nevertheless, risk factors including exposure to benzene and several others have been the cause of MDS development and its progression.
What Are Common Symptoms of Myelodysplastic Syndrome?
MDS symptoms can change, as mentioned before, and it depends on the patient and the stage the illness was in at time of diagnosis. However, some symptoms are so common it is hard to make a positive diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome that most patients go through.
When a person is suffering from myelodysplastic syndromes they can often have anemia, which is a reduction of the number of circulating blood cells produced in the bloodstream. As a result, a person can experience a shortness of breath and fatigue. Neutropenia, which means the white blood cell count is low, is another myelodysplastic syndrome symptom. Someone can develop more infections if their white blood cell count is low. Some other common symptoms of myelodysplastic syndrome are:
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Chest pain
- Pale skin
Receiving a Myelodysplastic Syndrome Diagnosis
If an individual is experiencing any of the above myelodysplastic syndrome symptoms it’s best to see a health care physician immediately. When someone receives a MDS diagnosis, although it’s emotionally hard, is best done sooner so immediate treatment can be given.
When doctors recognize the symptoms of myelodysplastic syndrome in a patient they will commonly take a complete blood count and blood smear to see if there are any unusual occurrences with the blood cells and platelets. If the blood count of the cell is lower than usual, they will take a sample of bone marrow, called a biopsy. During this process, special testing is also done known as cytogenetics, which takes a close look at the patient’s chromosomes located within the bone marrow cells. Finding an abnormal number of chromosomes can help doctors properly diagnose myelodysplastic syndrome.
Classifying Myelodysplastic Syndrome
According to research there are two main ways of classifying myelodysplastic syndrome. The French American British (also called FAB) process works by separating the disease into five subgroups. The World Health Organization (WHO) created a classification method with the two key subgroups. These subgroups are divided by:
- Chronic and nonprogressive anemia
- Progressive and symptomatic blood cell deficiencies
Do you or someone you know have myelodysplastic syndrome symptoms?
If the answer is yes, you should speak with one of our experienced, trained attorneys who will look at your case and make sure you receive the legal advice and guidance you need.
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