Myelodysplastic syndromes or (MDS) is used to refer to a group of cancerous stem cells that are dysplastic and lead to ineffective production of blood cell. When not taken care of, this condition might lead to severe leukemia. The risk of developing MDS increases as someone grows older; this is because this condition is common in older people than it is in young people. The causes of this disease are not known but exposure to radiation or chemotherapy is one of the known causes, and usually if MDS is developed through this method it is more severe. MDS cannot be passed through genes which is a common cause for most of the cancers. Hemotology board review book explains MDS, its history and how it develops. Notably, before 1976 the term MDS did not exist because doctors had not come up with a way to classify this disease. It is the classification of MDS that helps in the development of the treatment of MDS.

The diagnosis of MDS is not a simple process because the cancer is complex in nature. Hemotology board review book is a resource for information on the complexity of this disease especially if reader is a medical professional or needs to find out more about MDS. People caring for people with MDS might also find this resource. The diagnosis of MDS assists in starting early treatment of MDS, and just like other cancers early treatment of MDS helps in preventing its severity. To be able to find out whether patient has MDS the doctor will check the medical history of the patient, and do several blood tests. These tests are not only done to find out the presence of MDS but also which type of MDS. The type of MDS present determines the treatment of MDS that will be provided. This would be an appropriate time for you to look at cancer educational videos that help in explaining the tests and the treatment of MDS that you might have to go through.

The main goal of the treatment of MDS is to increase the blood count of the patient. While looking for the treatment of MDS the doctor will have to consider the age of the patient, the symptoms the subtypes and the IPSS (International Prognostic Scoring System). Hemotology board review book helps you to understand the symptoms that you have. There are several approaches that you might decide to apply in the treatment of MDS depending on the type and severity of the disease. For patients who the symptoms are not extreme the doctor might suggest that they wait and watch to see the development. The most common treatment of MDS that is not severe is supportive care. Where the patient gets medication that will fight infections, boost their blood counts and improve the iron in their blood. This requires excellent support from home and the people caring for the patient should have home medical products. Severe MDS might require chemotherapy, immunosuppressive therapy or bone marrow transplant. Hemotology board review book looks into detail the different approaches for treatment of MDS.