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A type of disease in which the bone marrow makes too many red blood cells, platelets, or certain white blood cells. Myeloproliferative neoplasms usually get worse over time as the number of extra cells build up in the blood and/or bone marrow. This may cause bleeding problems, anemia, infection, fatigue, or other signs and symptoms. Certain myeloproliferative neoplasms may become acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Myeloproliferative neoplasms include chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), polycythemia vera, primary myelofibrosis, essential thrombocythemia, chronic neutrophilic leukemia, and chronic eosinophilic leukemia. Also called chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm. (source: National Cancer Institute)
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Myelodisplastic Syndrome involves a group of disorders that are often called preleukemia. It is not generally known what puts someone at higher risk for MDS. Exposure to benzene, radiation and chemotherapy drugs are sometimes associated with MDS.
CML is a type of cancer that starts in the blood forming cells of the bone marrow and invades the blood. Leukemia cells tend to build up over time but many people don’t have symptoms for at least a few years. During that time, the cells can invade other parts of the body, including the spleen. CML can also change into the fast growing acute leukemia. Most cases occur in adults, and it rarely occurs in children.
CLL is one of the most common forms of leukemia in adults. One kind of CLL [early stage low and intermediate risk (described later)] grows very slowly and rarely needs to be treated. People with this type of CLL survive an average of 15 years or more. The other kind of CLL (high risk) grows faster and is more serious. People with this kind of CLL live an average of about 8 years.
AML is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults. The American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates are about 13,780 new cases in the US, mostly in adults. About 10,200 deaths will be from AML for the year 2012. The average age of a patient is about 67 and it affects more men than women. Although AML is a relatively rare disease, accounting for about 1.2% of cancer deaths in the US, its incidence is expected to increase as the population ages. AML progresses rapidly and is typically fatal within weeks or months if left untreated.
ALL is the most common type of cancer in children occurring between the ages of 2 and 5 years and adults over the age of 65. It is the most successfully treated childhood leukemia. In ALL, the DNA in the diseased cells is damaged and the cells cannot mature beyond the early stage in their life cycle. These immature (blast) cells reproduce very rapidly and take over the bone marrow so it cannot produce healthy blood cells and platelets. These low counts of disease fighting white cells can lead to infection, and bruising or bleeding from the low levels of platelets. Immediate treatment is required because of the rapid progression and accumulation of the malignant cells, which then spill over into the bloodstream and spread to other organs of the body.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
List of frequently asked questions from patients and families. National Cancer Institute Information about aftercare, including link to a booklet "Life After Cancer Treatment." Be The Match (National Marrow Donor Program) "Role of the transplant caregiver" describes what a caregiver should expect in his/her role, how the role changes over time, and what the caregiver can do to advocate for the patient. A Guide for Caregivers Published by staff at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Finding financial assistance Links to organizations that have a financial assistance program for patients and families. Cancer Support Community Ten tips for cancer caregivers that will help them take care of themselves while caring for someone with cancer. Myelodisplastic Syndrome involves a group of disorders that are often called preleukemia. It is not generally known what puts someone at higher risk for MDS. Exposure to benzene, radiation and chemotherapy drugs are sometimes associated with MDS.
The most common symptom is anemia, an abnormally low number of white blood cells (neutropenia), and thrombocytopenia or a combination. Patients with MDS often develop severe anemia and need frequent blood transfusions. In most cases, the disease worsens and the patient develops low blood counts (cytopenias) due to progressive bone marrow failure. In about one third of patients with MDS, the disease transforms into acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), usually within months to a few years. The myelodysplastic syndromes are all disorders of the stem cell in the bone marrow. In MDS, blood production (hematopoiesis) is disorderly and ineffective. The number and quality of blood-forming cells decline irreversibly, further impairing blood production Each year between 15,000 and 20,000 new cases of MDS are diagnosed in the US. Patients tend to be around the age of 70 at the time of diagnosis, although people of any age can develop the disease. MDS is classified as either primary (also called de novo) — disease that has no known cause — or secondary (also called treatment-related) MDS. Treatment-related MDS is caused by previous treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which is given for a previously diagnosed cancer. The number of new cases of MDS is rising, both because people are getting older and are now living longer after treatment for their first cancer. Symptoms
Diagnosis In order to diagnose MDS your doctor will ask you questions about your past health and symptoms. Your doctor will do a physical exam. MDS is suspected in elderly patients with refractory anemia, leukopenia or thrombocytopenia. Testing such as a complete blood count and bone marrow examination are completed. Treatment The treatment will try to eliminate or help the symptoms. Azacitidine is a medicine that relieves symptoms, decreases the rate of transformation to leukemia and the need for transfusions, and it probably also improves survival. About 16% of patients had a complete or partial response. Other therapy can include red blood cell (RBC) transfusions, platelet transfusions for bleeding, and antibiotics for bacterial infections. Another similar drug Deoxyazacitidine is sometimes effective. About 20-40% of patients had a partial response to the medicine. Some patients require erythropoietin, a medicine, to support their red blood cell production. When there is a severe decrease in white cells Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GSF) can be used, which is a growth factor produced by a number of different tissues to stimulate the bone marrow to produce granulocytes and stem cells.Thrombopoietin, a medicine that regulates production of platelets by the bone marrow can be used for severe thrombocytopenia. Allogeneic stem cells transplants are useful. |
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