Treating Myelodysplastic Syndromes
The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are different in the way they affect
people. Therefore, each person’s MDS treatment plan will be created specifically
for that person, according to the MDS type, the person’s age and overall
health, and other individual factors.1
Treatment options for MDS are limited, and as you learned in the Managing
Myelodysplastic Syndromes section, treatment mainly focuses on supportive
care to help manage MDS symptoms and improve quality of life.
Bone marrow transplantation is an effective way to treat MDS, but it is a
very physically demanding treatment and not always appropriate for MDS patients
over 40 years old.2 Other treatments, including
chemotherapy, blood cell growth factors, and immunosuppressive drugs, are in
use, but have not proven widely effective.1
Although treatment options for MDS are limited, new and more effective drugs
are on the horizon. Visit the following pages in this section to learn more
about treating MDS:
References
- Greenberg PL, Young NS, Gattermann N. Myelodysplastic Syndromes. Hematology 2002:136-61.
- Kouides PA, Bennett JM. Understanding Myelodysplastic Syndromes: A Patient
Handbook. MDS Foundation 2005, http://www.mds-foundation.org/patientinfo.htm.
