It apparently looked like just another day for millions of
Americans who start their day with “Good Morning America” while guzzling their
coffee and getting ready for work, but for many of us, be them patients, caregivers,
or scientists who are constantly fighting against this dreaded disease Cancer,
it was a special day when we saw famous anchor Robin Roberts resuming her regular
work on ABC, on Feb 20th, the Wednesday, after a 6 months battle against
myelodysplastic syndromes. It was her second battle against cancer. Earlier in
2007, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had fought it successfully. Yes,
Robin is not only a survivor; she is a winner too, twice.
Ms. Roberts had just made a television comeback unlike
any other, as a host of the program for the first time since she was forced to
leave it in August 2012 to fight a life-threatening illness. The return, promoted two weeks ahead of
time by ABC, was celebrated by fans, tens of thousands of whom sent well-wishes
on social networking sites. Many of them watch the program specifically for Ms.
Roberts, who is, according to industry research, the most-liked host on any
American morning news program by a wide margin. Both Mr. and Mrs. Obama sent
her a video recorded welcome wish and Michelle Obama promising her a meeting
soon. But the most important part was Robin was beaming with pride and gratitude as she returned to the
broadcast, defying the expectations of some in the television industry who had
predicted she would be unwilling or unable to anchor again.
Many of you may have seen such brave people around who
have survived their cancers too, and Robin being in media, just symbolizes that
hope, strength, and will power one need to come in terms with such things if
they happen on our lives. While it is time to celebrate the life of Robin and
consider her as a role model of cancer patients/families, let us understand
what this disease called “Myelodysplastic
syndromes” is all about, that forced her out of her work for almost
6 months…
Myelodysplastic
syndromes are diseases of the blood and bone marrow.
Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of diseases in
which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells. Normally, the
bone marrow makes blood stem cells (immature cells)
that become mature blood cells over time. A blood stem cell may become a myeloid stem
cell or a lymphoid stem
cell. A lymphoid stem cell becomes a white blood
cell. A myeloid stem cell becomes one of three types of mature blood
cells:
To understand the process of Blood cell development, let
us look at the flow-sheet diagram below. A blood stem cell goes through several
steps to become a red blood cell, platelet, or white blood cell.
In myelodysplastic syndromes, the blood stem cells do
not mature into healthy red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. The
immature blood cells, called blasts,
do not function normally and either die in the bone marrow or soon after they
enter the blood. This leaves less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood
cells, and platelets to form in the bone marrow. When there are fewer blood
cells, infection, anemia,
or easy bleeding may occur.
Types of myelodysplastic syndromes:
Myelodysplastic syndromes have too few of one or more types
of healthy blood cells in the bone marrow or blood. Myelodysplastic syndromes are
comprised of following diseases:
§ Refractory
anemia with ringed sideroblasts.
§ Refractory
anemia with excess blasts.
§ Refractory
anemia with excess blasts in transformation.
§ Myelodysplastic
syndrome associated with an isolated del(5q) chromosome abnormality.
§ Unclassifiable
myelodysplastic syndrome.
Age and past treatment with chemotherapy or radiation
therapy affect the risk of a myelodysplastic syndrome.
Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease
is called a risk factor.
Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get a disease; not having risk
factors doesn’t mean that you will not get a disease. Talk with your doctor if
you think you may be at risk.
Risk factors for myelodysplastic syndromes
include the following:
§ Being
older than 60 years.
§ Past
treatment with chemotherapy or radiation
therapy.
§ Being
exposed to certain chemicals,
including tobacco smoke, pesticides,
and solvents such
asbenzene.
§ Being
exposed to heavy metals, such as mercury or
lead.
Possible signs of a myelodysplastic syndrome
include feeling tired and shortness of breath.
Myelodysplastic syndromes
often do not cause early symptoms and
are sometimes found during a routine blood test.
Other conditions may
cause the same symptoms. Check with your doctor if you have any of the
following problems:
Weakness or feeling tired.
Having skin that is paler than usual.
Easy bruising or bleeding.
Petechiae (flat,
pinpoint spots under the skin caused by bleeding).
Fever or
frequent infections.
Tests that examine the blood and bone marrow
are used to detect (find) and diagnose myelodysplastic syndromes.
The following tests and procedures may be used:
Physical exam and history:
An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for
signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history
of the patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be
taken.
Complete
blood count (CBC) with differential: A procedure in which a
sample of blood is drawn and checked for the following:
The number of red blood cells and platelets.
The number and type of white blood cells.
The amount of hemoglobin (the protein that
carries oxygen) in the red blood cells.
The portion of the blood sample made up of red blood
cells.
Peripheral
blood smear: A procedure in which a sample of blood is checked for
changes in the number, type, shape, and size of blood cells and for too much iron in
the red blood cells.
Cytogenetic
analysis: A test in which cells in a sample of blood or bone marrow
are viewed under amicroscope to
look for certain changes in the chromosomes.
Bone marrow
aspiration and biopsy:
The removal of bone marrow, blood, and a small piece of bone by inserting a
hollow needle into the hipbone or breastbone.
A pathologist views
the bone marrow, blood, and bone under a microscope to look for abnormal cells.
Diagnosis is made by observing certain changes in the blood cells and bone marrow.
Refractory anemia: There are too few red blood cells in
the blood and the patient has anemia. The number of white blood cells and
platelets is normal.
Refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts: There are
too few red blood cells in the blood and the patient has anemia. The red blood
cells have too much iron. The number of white blood cells and platelets is
normal.
Refractory anemia with excess blasts: There are too few
red blood cells in the blood and the patient has anemia. Five percent to 19% of
the cells in the bone marrow are blasts and there are a normal number of blasts
found in the blood. There also may be changes to the white blood cells and
platelets. Refractory anemia with excess blasts may progress to acute myeloid
leukemia. See the PDQ Adult Acute
Myeloid Leukemia Treatment summary for more information.
Refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation:
There are too few red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in the
blood and the patient has anemia. Twenty percent to 30% of the cells in the
bone marrow are blasts and more than 5% of the cells in the blood are blasts.
Refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation is sometimes called
acute myeloid leukemia.
Refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia: There
are too few of at least two types of blood cells. Less than 5% of the cells in
the bone marrow are blasts and less than 1% of the cells in the blood are
blasts. If red blood cells are affected, they may have extra iron. Refractory
cytopenia may progress to acute
leukemia.
Myelodysplastic syndrome associated with an isolated
del(5q) chromosome abnormality: There are too few red blood cells in the blood
and the patient has anemia. Less than 5% of the cells in the bone marrow and
blood are blasts. There is a specific change in the chromosome.
Unclassifiable myelodysplastic syndrome: There are too
few of one type of blood cell in the blood. The number of blasts in the bone
marrow and blood is normal, and the disease is not one of the other myelodysplastic
syndromes.
Certain factors affect prognosis and treatment options.
The prognosis (chances of having a better treatment outcome) depends
on the following:
Whether the myelodysplastic syndrome occurred after
chemotherapy or radiation therapy for another disease.
The number of blast cells in the bone marrow.
Whether one or more types of blood cells are affected.
Certain changes in the chromosomes.
Treatment options depend on the following:
Whether the myelodysplastic syndrome occurred after
chemotherapy or radiation therapy for another disease.
Whether the myelodysplastic syndrome has progressed after
being treated.
The age and general health of the patient.
Courtesy: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq.
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