YARDVILLE, NJ — For the last six years, MDS World Awareness Day has been observed this month, on October 25th.
The annual event is designed to raise awareness of myelodysplastic syndromes. The rare group of blood cancers occurs when the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow become abnormal.
A disruption in the creation of new blood cells causes MDS, which often results in anemia. For some patients, MDS progresses into a rapidly growing cancer of bone marrow cells, acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Each year, up to 20,000 new cases of MDS are reported in the United States. The MDS Foundation estimates that 170,000 people in the U.S. are currently living with MDS. Worldwide, there are about 87,000 new cases of MDS each year.
Symptoms of MDS include:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Unusual paleness
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
- Red spots beneath the skin
- Frequent infections
For most cases of MDS, there is no known cause. In some instances, such as with specific veterans, MDS might be caused by exposure to cancer treatments or toxic chemicals. For example, the VA considers MDS presumptive for some veterans who were at Camp Lejeune and came into contact with contaminated water. Whether Agent Orange, a defoliant used during the Vietnam War, is a cause of the blood disorder is a matter of controversy, and advocacy groups have been pushing for years for that connection to be accepted by the VA.
Most MDS patients, 75%, are age 60 or older, although the condition can occur in younger adults and children.
MDS has no cure, although some treatment options can help manage the symptoms, slow the progression, and reduce complications. These include blood transfusions, medications to increase the number of blood cells in the body and to stimulate blood cells to mature are also used and bone marrow transplants.
The average survival rate for lower-risk patients who don’t receive a bone marriage transplant is up to six years, while the survival rate is only about five months for high-risk patients, according to the foundation.
Many patient support groups gather together on MDS World Awareness Day to demonstrate their support for one another and others battling this disease. Charity walks, concerts, and other events focus on fundraising for MDS research.
The MDS Foundation is a global non-profit advocacy organization that for 27 years has supported patients, families, and healthcare providers in the fields of MDS and its related diseases.
