What is MDS?

Posted under environment by Juno Pinkerson

Many people are familiar with cancers such as MDS and leukemia but few understand what causes these illness or how they are treated. It is important to understand the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) before asking further questions on the subject.

The MDS syndrome is composed of a number of hematological conditions that result when the body lacks a certain amount of red and white blood cells. Problems with the bone marrow stem cell cause an abnormal blood cell production in the bloodstream, which often leads to MDS. Previously known as pre-leukemia, this type of cancer almost always develops into cancer of the blood or leukemia.

What Causes MDS?

Patients suffering from MDS syndrome are those who experience erratic production and reproduction of blood cells. This means that the patient’s blood makes itself known by producing adverse defects in the cells responsible for blood formation. This dilemma with the blood cells can continue to worsen, leading to the gradual deterioration of the bone marrow.

Aside from genetic factors, environmental ones are also being looked into with regards to the cause of abnormalities in otherwise healthy cells in a human body (in turn producing cancer-causing ones).

Benzene is a toxic chemical that is consider to have cancer causing effects on the body. This chemical is used in the production of a variety of products such as gasoline, sodas and cigarettes. People who develop MDS are often not aware that they have been exposed to Benzene until it is too late.

Caution Signs for MDS

Studies have shown that about 1/3 of the patients who have MDS syndrome experience worsened health after their first diagnosis, resulting to the development of AML or acute myelogenous leukemia. Symptoms of MDS include:

*Skin that is pale

*Bruising and bleeding

*Extreme fatigue

*Infections the recur

If you are experiencing symptoms of MDS and have a history of being exposed to benzene, it is important to contact an experienced benzene attorney to receive a free evaluation of your case.

Find more information about MDS and how it can be related to benzene exposure at the Benzene Leukemia Lawblog

categories: What is MDS,MDS,Cause of MDS,Symptoms of MDS,Benzene exposure,Myelodysplastic syndrome,leukemia,pre-leukemia,AML,acute myelogenous leukemia,health,cancer,benzene