What are myelodysplastic syndromes?
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are types of blood cancers where the bone marrow does not have enough healthy blood cells. Instead, the bone marrow makes underdeveloped blood cells that have an abnormal size, shape and appearance, called dysplastic cells. The imbalance of dysplastic and healthy cells in the bone marrow can range from mild to severe. Myelodysplastic syndromes most often happens in older adults.
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In Canada, it is estimated that up to 5,900 new cases of MDS are diagnosed each year.
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What happens next?
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Talking to family and friends
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Telling your children
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Speaking with your employer
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Preparing for appointments
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Understanding lab results
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Asking for a second opinion
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Coping with fear, anxiety and stress
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Taking care of your body
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Managing fatigue and cognitive challenges
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Understanding insurance and organizing finances
Experiences of others with myelodysplastic syndromes
Resources on myelodysplastic syndromes
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Learn about MDS, how it is diagnosed, overview of treatment and understand what happens next
Understanding and managing myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
A comprehensive guide to better understand MDS.
Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant
Get an overview of what your blood and bone marrow do; understand the different types of stem cell transplants; learn who is eligible for a stem cell transplant; find out how to prepare for a stem cell transplant; learn about recovery.
Blood Transfusion
Understand blood transfusion and the different types; address your safety concerns; learn about possible complications.
Understanding clinical trials
Get an overview of clinical trials, understand them, how they are planned, evaluate benefits and risks of participating, address concerns and what to ask.
Types of blood cancer treatments
You or your loved one has been diagnosed with a type of blood cancer. Cancer treatment can be complex, with different types of treatment options available for some blood cancers. What are they and how do they work? This fact sheet will help you Learn about the different treatment options available, Understand each type of treatment and how it can help, Prepa…
Shared Decision Making: Discussion tool for people with a blood cancer
You or your loved one has been diagnosed with a type of blood cancer. You will be making important decisions with your healthcare team.
Understanding Myelodysplastic syndromes
This animated video gives you an understanding of Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
What's New in MDS
Learn about the new and encouraging developments in understanding and treating myelodysplastic syndromes. We will why people develop myelodysplastic syndromes, and the evolving role genetic testing is playing in understanding this.
Microscope on Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)
Watch this 1-hour recorded webcast by Dr. Heather Leitch as she discusses myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a group of cancers of the blood and bone marrow.
Dr. Leitch is a hematologist at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, Canada and Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia. Her clinical and research interests includ…
Bone Marrow and Spleen
Get a better understanding of how the role of the bone marrow and spleen play in a blood cancer.
Lymphocytes and Lymphatic System
Learn the role of the lymphocytes and lymphatic system in a blood cancer.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS): A Conversation with Dr. Rena Buckstein
Dr. Rena Buckstein from Odette Cancer Centre in Toronto shares the basics of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) diagnosis, treatment, and side effects.
Tom's Myelodysplastic Syndrome Experience
What started as a normal trip to the cottage ended up leading Tom to take a trip to the hospital- where he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome. Tom shares his blood cancer experience and how learning about his diagnosis, staying positive, and staying active are what helped him through the difficult times of treatment.
Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Conversation with Gail Whiteford
Gail Whiteford returned from a 2014 hiking trip in Japan and Australia, visited her doctor for her annual physical, and was shocked to, soon after, be diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). In this episode, Gail shares her treatment experience and some of the important lessons she has learned, maybe the most important one being, "I learned it is not …
There are two main types of MDS.
There are two main types of MDS: primary (de novo) and secondary MDS. The treatment for MDS varies according to the type and stage of the disease with the goal of slowing or stopping the MDS from becoming acute myeloid leukemia (AML). After treatment, many people get relief from the symptoms of MDS. You may find that knowing more about the disease and its treatment can help you cope.
Subtypes
Doctors classify myelodysplastic syndromes into subtypes by using various tests. The subtype plays a large part in deciding the type of treatment.
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) - More information available
Refractory anemia (RA)/myelodysplasia
Refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS)/acquired sideroblastic anemia or myelodysplasia
Refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB)/smoldering leukemia/oligoblastic myelogenous leukemia
Refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEB-T)