Introduction to MDS

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a complex cancer that occurs when the bone marrow malfunctions, destroying healthy blood cells and replacing them with abnormal ones. MDS can be caused by trauma to the body, exposure to toxins, or by a genetic mutation that causes the bone marrow to produce abnormal cells.

In MDS, the bone marrow begins producing immature white blood cells or red blood cells. Instead of being fully developed, these new blood cells are like unfinished building projects: they look like the intended product but there’s something missing. The newly formed cells aren’t able to function correctly until they’re further matured in the body, a process that can take weeks or even months.

MDS is diagnosed based on abnormalities found in the white cell count and chromosome analysis. Blood tests also screen for abnormalities in other areas of the blood.

Causes of MDS

MDS can be caused by a number of factors, including lifestyle choices and genetics. The most common causes of MDS are the following:

-Smoking: In recent years, it has been discovered that smoking is a major contributing factor in multiple myeloma. Smoking cigarettes, pipes, cigars or hookahs all cause damage to the body’s cells and DNA. This damage can lead to mutations in DNA which will affect cells as they grow and develop into plasma cells, which are part of the immune system.

-Excessive sun exposure: Excessive or prolonged exposure to UV rays from the sun can lead to damage in DNA, even after someone has spent time in the shade. Ultraviolet light damages the vitamin B12 and folic acid levels in our bodies and this damage can eventually cause trouble with DNA replication and cell division.

-Excessive alcohol consumption: Drinking alcohol excessively can cause a variety of health problems including cirrhosis, liver failure and pancreatitis. Alcoholic drinks have no nutritional value for the body and are broken down into acetaldehyde (a toxic byproduct) before being metabolized into acetate (another non-essential byproduct). This process uses up NAD+ molecules that are essential for DNA repair.

Signs and symptoms of MDS

MDS, or myelodysplastic syndrome, is a group of disorders that affect your bone marrow and blood cells. As the title suggests, there are many signs and symptoms of MDS. It’s important to know what they are, as the condition can be treated if caught early. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of MDS include:

-Nausea

-Vomiting

-Excessive urination

-Extreme fatigue

-Shortness of breath

-Abdominal pain

-Bone or joint pain

-Bleeding gums

If you begin to experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor right away.

Types of MDS

Two types of MDS are distinguished by the types of blood cell that are under-produced:

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

People with AML do not have enough healthy white blood cells, red blood cells or platelets. AML is a life-threatening disorder.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

People with ALL do not have enough healthy white blood cells or platelets. ALL is a life-threatening disorder.

MDS can also be classified based on how fast the disease progresses and how quickly it responds to treatment:

Indolent MDS progresses slowly and usually responds to treatment. These types of MDS often do not require any treatment at all. Aggressive MDS progresses quickly and does not respond well to treatment. These types of MDS may require treatment right away.

Conclusion

In the beginning of my diagnosis, I found that I was constantly being told to take it easy. I was told to avoid stress, to not pick up heavy things and to relax as much as possible. This seemed like good advice, but it was difficult to implement when there were constant obstacles in my way.

It wasn’t until I became more educated about my disease that I realized that this advice is inadequate and dangerous. Myelodysplastic syndrome is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow, and there are many things that can exacerbate the symptoms of this disease and cause complications or death. Furthermore, the causes of these complications are varied—some are related to myelodysplastic syndrome directly (like infection or bleeding) while some are indirect consequences of trying to avoid activities that could lead to a complication (like stress).

As a result, you may want to find a doctor who can help you develop a custom treatment plan that takes into account your lifestyle as well as your disease—as long as it doesn’t put you at serious risk.

This will be different for everyone, but an important starting point is being honest with yourself about what your limits are and what you’re comfortable doing with them.