How long can you live with myelodysplastic syndrome?
Survival statistics for MDS
IPSS-R risk group | Median survival |
---|---|
Very low | 8.8 years |
Low | 5.3 years |
Intermediate | 3 years |
High | 1.6 years |
Does MDS cause death?
Death from MDS is often caused by bleeding and/or infection from low blood cell counts or after the disease becomes acute myeloid leukemia (AML). About a third of patients with MDS develop AML. It is important to remember that statistics on MDS are an estimate.
Is myelodysplastic syndrome a form of cancer?
Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of cancers in which immature blood cells in the bone marrow do not mature or become healthy blood cells. The different types of myelodysplastic syndromes are diagnosed based on certain changes in the blood cells and bone marrow.
Does myelodysplastic syndrome run in families?
Most often, MDS is not inherited, meaning passed from parent to child within a family. However, some genetic changes may increase a person’s risk of developing MDS.
Is MDS curable?
There’s no cure for myelodysplastic syndromes, but some medications can help slow the progression of the disease. If you have no symptoms, treatment might not be needed right away. Instead, your doctor might recommend regular exams and lab tests to monitor your condition and to see if the disease progresses.
What are the end symptoms of MDS?
Myelodysplastic Syndromes – MDS – Symptoms and Signs
- Fatigue.
- Weakness.
- Easy bruising or bleeding.
- Fever.
- Bone pain.
- Shortness of breath.
- Frequent infections.
Why did I get MDS?
Most myelodysplastic syndromes have no known cause. Others are caused by exposure to cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, or to toxic chemicals, such as benzene.
Is myelodysplastic syndrome a death sentence?
For some patients, an MDS diagnosis is a death sentence carried out in just a few months. For others, the condition lingers for 10 years or more before another illness, or the burden of transfusions or transformation to AML, causes them to succumb.