MDS or myelodysplastic syndromes are a grouping of cancer afflictions that target the white & red blood cells as well as the bone marrow. MDS can develop into leukemia if not diagnosed or controlled early enough. There are types of MDS that are easy to manage and mild, while others can be life-threatening.
Experts in the field are trying their best in finding a cure for MDS; however there are a variety of treatments patients can choose from. There are also a lot of things people can do to help raise awareness and funds for MDS and other fatal types of cancer.
Treatment Options for MDS Patients
A host of treatment options are now available for patients suffering from MDS. These factors should be taken into consideration in deciding what treatment option would be best for a patient: overall illness risk level, type of MDS, age and status of health. The most common treatments are:
* Bone marrow or cord blood transplants
* Chemotherapy
* Drug therapies
* Supportive care
Testing is always being done for new MDS treatments, which is the reason why most patients agree to be a part of the clinical trials as part of their MDS treatment. A patient can have a standard treatment such as chemotherapy combined with alternative treatment options.
Support Care for MDS Patients
Supportive care is an option that is gaining popularity for those who seek MDS treatment. The purpose of this type of treatment is to ultimately get a firm hold of the disease and any issues related to it. There are cases when supportive care is the only treatment a patient requires, combined with regular checkups with physicians to decrease any risks of the disease developing into something more serious in the future.
Supportive care can also be combined with other forms of treatment; this combination works best for those with a more severe type of MDS, or those with an advanced age. Other patients look at the benefits of getting the supportive care from time to time, augmenting the benefits of the other forms of treatment.
Blood Transfusion
A lot of MDS patients require blood transfusion to lessen their symptoms' adverse effects, and to keep the disease in line. Platelet transfusions decrease the risk of drastic bleeding problems, while red blood cell transfusions assist in reducing the symptoms that include shortness of breath and exhaustion.
When a patient undergoes blood transfusions, additional treatments should also be given to manage the iron build up in the patient's body. Excessive amounts of iron in the body may cause damage to some organs, which is why a combination of treatments would be the best thing to do. It would not do to treat an existing condition (the MDS) only to have a new problem develop (organ damage) as a result of the treatment
Treatment - Growth Factors
The medications that enable the body to develop healthier blood cells are called growth factors. MDS patients are often given growth factors to lessen their need for red blood cell transfusions. There are some cases, however, when the patient's bone marrow does not respond effectively.
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