The aim of treatment is to get the number and type of blood cells in your bloodstream back to normal and manage your symptoms. The type of treatment you get will depend on the type of MDS you have, your risk of developing AML, and whether you have any other health conditions. The risk of this happening depends on what kind of MDS you have, and the number of normal and abnormal blood cells you have.Īsk your doctor about your risk of developing AML. It can take a few months or up to several years before transformation takes place. Some people with MDS go on to develop acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), which is cancer of the white blood cells. They may find out they have MDS after having blood tests for something else. Some people with MDS don't have any symptoms. If you have any of these symptoms, you should speak to your GP about them. bruising and easy bleeding, such as nosebleeds (because of the low number of platelets).frequent infections (because of the low number of white blood cells).weakness, tiredness and occasional breathlessness (because of the low number of red blood cells).For most people, symptoms are mild at first and slowly get worse. The symptoms you have will depend on the type of MDS. MDS UK Patient Support Group: What is MDS?.This refers to how likely it is that your MDS might develop into AML.įind more information on the types and risk groups of MDS: There are other types of MDS, and your doctor may also talk to you about the 'risk group' of your MDS. MDS with excess blasts (replacing refractory anaemia with excess blasts).MDS with multilineage dysplasia (replacing refractory cytopenia).MDS with single lineage dysplasia (replacing refractory anaemia).In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) changed the terms to: refractory anaemia with excess blasts – where you don't have enough red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets, and have a higher risk of developing AML.refractory cytopenia – where you don't have enough red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets.refractory anaemia – where you don't have enough red blood cells.Until 2016, the types of MDS were called: MDS can affect just one type of blood cell or many, depending on the type of MDS you have. The condition can develop slowly (indolent) or quickly (aggressive), and in some people it can develop into a type of leukaemia called acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). They squeeze out the healthy ones, making the number of cells that manage to get into the bloodstream lower and lower.

Instead, it makes abnormal cells that aren't fully developed (immature).Īs the condition progress, your bone marrow gets gradually taken over by the immature blood cells, which don't work properly. white blood cells to help fight infectionīut in MDS, your bone marrow doesn't make enough of these healthy blood cells.red blood cells to carry oxygen around your body.Normally, the spongy tissue found inside bones (bone marrow) produces: MDS can affect people of any age, but is most common in adults over the age of 70. Some types can stay mild for years and others are more serious. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a type of rare blood cancer where you don't have enough healthy blood cells.

Mylio dysplasia