MDS or myelodysplastic syndrome can have an extremely negative impact on the blood of the person. As one of the precursors to leukemia, which is a cancer of the bloodstream, MDS has direct implications on the red and white blood cells, as well as on the bone marrow. There are types of MDS that are easy to manage while others are difficult and may lead to leukemia and other health complications.
MDS in the blood affects an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 people in the United States yearly. People coommonly affected by the disease have a median age of 65 although, in rare cases, children and younger adults are diagnosed with this fatal illness. Statistics also show that MDS is more common in men than in women, although, both sexes can be affected by the diseases.
MDS Blood Causes?
The body stops producing a normal amount of healthy red white blood cells, white blood cells or platelets when the bloodstream develops MDS. In conjunction with the sporadic production of blood cells, the bone marrow usually also makes unformed cells, known as blasts. Blasts usually will develop into red or white blood cells or platelets. These blasts, with MDS, occur in an abnormal manner which causes the cells to develop and function inproperly.
The cause of the changes in blood cell production and bone marrow conditions is, at this point, unknown although scientists and researchers continue to wok to discover what causes MDS and the cancers associated with it. Doctors have been able to link this abnormality, in some cases, to the patient's extended exposure to toxic chemicals such as benzene or to their exposure to pesticides and radiation. These cases are referred to as secondary MDS or treatment-related MDS since they are caused by environmental factors.
MDS Symptoms
Depending on the severity of the disease and the impact of MDS on the blood, the symptoms may vary from person to person. Some people can even experience no symptoms when they are initially diagnosed, making their diagnosis all the more painful. Doctors may find the disease by running a routine blood test to determine whether the patient has a blood cell count that is higher or lower than normal. Weakness, exhaustion, pale skin and shortness of breath are symptoms of the anemia that results when a person's red blood cell count is low. Anemia is the most common form of MDS, according to reports, and can have a significant impact on the blood.
When a patient has a low white blood cell count they may experience frequent infections and fevers. Common symptoms of a low white blood cell count are uncontrollable bleeding and easy bruising.
Have you experienced some or all of these symptoms and believe you could be at risk of MDS of the blood due to your exposure to benzene? Contact a benzene attorney if you or someone you love has been exposed to any of these risk factors and you believe that you could have aplastic anemia.
