Slide Shows

This slide show provides an overview of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and describes the causes, risk factors, symptoms, and different types of MDS. It also explains the role of bone marrow to produce blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) and what happens to normal bone marrow in MDS.

This slide show provides an overview of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and MDS-related anemia, including the causes, common symptoms, and diagnosis. It also describes the different types of MDS, risk scores, and explains that the disease can range in its severity.

This slide show explains erythropoiesis, which is the term for the production of red blood cells. Red blood cells, called erythrocytes, carry oxygen around your body. This slide show explains the erythrocyte life cycle and describes how a low red blood cell count causes anemia. Anemia typically results from bleeding, red blood cell destruction, or decreased red blood cell production by the bone marrow, as seen in disorders such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The slide show describes treatments for a low red blood cell count, including medications, blood transfusions, and stem cell transplant.

This slide show describes the tests that doctors use to diagnose myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), including blood cell counts, blood cell examination, and bone marrow tests. It also describes the symptoms associated with low blood cell counts, MDS overlap syndromes, classification of MDS subtypes, and scoring systems used to estimate the severity of MDS.

Knowing what mutations you have can help you and your doctor understand how you are likely to be affected by your MDS, including how you will respond to certain treatments. Scroll through to learn about genetic changes in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and the many different driver mutations that are associated with MDS. Some mutated genes are associated with lower-risk disease, while others may indicate greater risk. Your mutation profile can change over time so it is important to repeat the testing at different stages of your treatment. The more you know about your genetic makeup in MDS, the more you will understand the outlook and in some cases, the treatment that is most likely to be effective.

This slide show explains the current treatment approaches for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Treatment options are grouped into 3 main types: observation, supportive care, and disease-modifying treatment. The slide show also describes the goals of treatment for low-risk versus high-risk MDS, as well as clinical trials.

This slide show explains the current management and treatment approaches for MDS-related anemia. It provides an overview of blood transfusions, medicines to increase red blood cell production, chemotherapy, future treatments, and bone marrow (stem cell) transplant. Treatment for MDS-related anemia depends on several factors including what type of MDS you have, your general health, your age, your risk score, and what you want for the future.

Mutation-driven therapy is treatment based on the mutations, or changes, in your genes. Knowing what mutations you have helps your doctor predict how your body will respond to MDS treatment. In fact, it can help them choose a treatment that targets your specific mutations. Scroll through to learn how mutation-driven therapy works, the genetic mutations commonly found in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and the importance of genetic testing for these mutations. If you are diagnosed with MDS, it is important to ask about testing. Knowledge about your MDS-related genetics can lead to more successful treatment.

This slide show provides an overview of blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Doctors also call BMT a stem cell transplant or hematopoietic stem cell transplant. This slide show explains how BMT works, who is eligible, and what to expect before, during, and after the procedure.

This slide show explains what clinical trials are, how they are conducted, and why they are important for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Clinical trials are research studies in which people volunteer to help test new treatments, procedures, or ways to diagnose diseases, including MDS. Clinical trials are important to better understand the biology of MDS and find more treatments. Click through to learn about the phases of clinical trials, safeguards, eligibility criteria, informed consent, the potential benefits and risks of participation, and how to find MDS clinical trials. Be sure to ask your doctor about joining a clinical trial. You can ask anytime before or during treatment.

This slide show provides an overview of the importance of including everyone in clinical trials for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Researchers are working hard on new ways to screen for, diagnose, and treat MDS for everyone. However, only 6 in every 100 people with all types of cancer volunteer for a clinical trial. Some research suggests that people of different ethnicities may tend to develop different types of MDS. This can affect diagnosis and treatment for people from each group. Therefore to know what is most effective, MDS clinical trials need diverse participants and it is important for all groups to take part in clinical trials. Click through to learn about how clinical trials can offer everyone with MDS the chance to try treatments that are not yet available to the public. Be sure to ask your doctor about how taking part in an MDS clinical trial can help you and help researchers learn about safety and effectiveness of new MDS treatments and improve care for everyone.