What are Myelodysplastic or myeloproliferative diseases?

Myelodysplastic or myeloproliferative diseases (MDS/MPDs) are a group of uncommon cancers that affect the bone marrow. They occur when the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood cells. This can lead to anemia, fatigue, weakness, and other symptoms.

MDS/MPDs are divided into two main categories:

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are characterized by a decrease in the number of one or more types of blood cells. This can lead to anemia, neutropenia, or thrombocytopenia.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are characterized by an overproduction of one or more types of blood cells. This can lead to polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, or chronic myeloid leukemia.

MDS/MPDs are rare cancers, but they can be serious. The prognosis for MDS/MPDs depends on the type of disease, the stage of the disease, and the patient's overall health.

There are a number of treatments for MDS/MPDs, including:

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells.

Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells.

Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy drugs attack specific proteins that are involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells.

Stem cell transplant: A stem cell transplant is a procedure in which healthy stem cells are transplanted into the patient's body to replace the diseased stem cells.

Supportive care: Supportive care measures can help to relieve the symptoms of MDS/MPDs and improve the patient's quality of life.

The outlook for people with MDS/MPDs depends on the type of disease, the stage of the disease, and the patient's overall health. With treatment, many people with MDS/MPDs can live long and productive lives.