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Low Platelet And Low Wbc: What You Need To Know
About the Blood and Bone Marrow
Blood circulates throughout your body. It carries oxygen from the lungs to all cells. It also transports nutrients that come from food digestion process to these cells. Additionally, blood takes away waste materials from your cells for elimination.
On the other hand, bone marrow is a spongy tissue inside some of your bones, like hip and thigh bones. Its main role is producing blood cells including red blood cells (carry oxygen), white blood cells (fight infection) and platelets (help with clotting). In fact, every second it produces around 2 million red blood cells!
Understanding how these two work can be helpful especially when facing diseases related to them such as leukemia or anemia.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes Introduction
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a group of diseases. They affect blood cells and bone marrow. Bone marrow makes new blood cells in your body.
MDS occurs when something disrupts this process. Blood cell production becomes faulty. This leads to low levels of one or more types of healthy blood cells.
It's important to understand some common terms with MDS:
- Bone marrow: It's a sponge-like tissue inside your bones. It produces stem cells.
- Stem Cells: These are immature cells in the bone marrow that can become any kind of blood cell.
- Red Blood Cells, White Blood Cells, Platelets: These are the three main types of blood cells produced by stem cells.
Everyone should be aware about MDS because it can happen at any age. But most often it affects older adults.
Effects of MDS on Cells
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) affect your bone marrow cells. Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside your bones where blood cells are made. In MDS, something goes wrong with this process.
Normal bone marrow makes red and white blood cells, plus platelets. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of your body. They give you energy and keep your skin a healthy color. White blood cells fight infections to keep you well. Platelets stop bleeding by making clots in cuts or bruises.
In MDS, the bone marrow produces abnormal or dysplastic cells that can't do their jobs properly. The red ones don't carry enough oxygen; you feel tired and look pale as a result. The white ones can't protect from infection; hence frequent illness occurs. And poor performing platelets may cause easy bruising or extended bleed times after injury.
The effects of MDS on these critical cell types disrupt essential body functions: energy production, immunity, clotting respectively. Research continues for better understanding and treatment options for patients suffering from this complex disease condition known as Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
Co-Existing Conditions in MDS Patients
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) often exist with other conditions. These are called co-existing conditions. Patients with MDS frequently have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or kidney issues.
Cardiovascular disease is common in MDS patients. It affects the heart and blood vessels. This can cause problems like heart attacks and stroke.
Diabetes also often exists with MDS. Diabetes is a condition that disrupts how your body uses sugar for energy.
Finally, kidney issues, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), may occur alongside MDS. CKD slowly damages the kidneys over time.
Remember, it's crucial to manage these co-existing conditions along with your MDS treatment plan.
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Subtypes of Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Myelodysplastic Syndromes, or MDS, are a group of diseases. They happen in your bone marrow. The marrow stops making enough healthy blood cells. There are several types of MDS.
Refractory anemia (RA) is one type. Your body doesn't have enough red blood cells. You feel tired all the time. Refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD) is another type. Here, two or three types of blood cells aren’t normal.
There's also refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS). This affects your red blood cell production too. Then there's refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB). It shows more blast cells in the marrow and blood than normal.
Remember these are just subtypes of MDS, not different diseases altogether.
MDS and Acute Myeloid Leukemia
MDS, or Myelodysplastic Syndromes, are a group of disorders caused by poorly formed blood cells. Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a type of cancer that starts in the bone marrow but often moves into the blood. Both MDS and AML can cause similar symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, easy bruising or bleeding.
MDS to AML Progression
In some cases, MDS can progress to AML over time. This happens when bone marrow cells continue to mature abnormally and eventually become cancerous. The risk factors for this progression include certain genetic changes and high-risk classification of MDS at diagnosis.
Treatment Options
Treatment options for both conditions vary based on several factors including age, health status and specific characteristics of the disease. They may range from supportive care therapies aimed at managing symptoms to more aggressive treatments like chemotherapy or stem cell transplant.
Clinical trials often offer promising new treatment avenues for patients with these diseases. These trials test new drugs or combinations of drugs that might work better than current treatments available.
Remember: You have power as a patient! Understanding your condition helps you make informed decisions about your healthcare journey - whether it's choosing between treatment options or deciding to participate in a clinical trial.
Cancer Terms Explanation
Oncology: This is the branch of medicine that deals with cancer. Doctors specializing in this field are known as oncologists. Oncologists diagnose and treat patients with cancer, guiding them through their journey.
Malignant: When a tumor is malignant, it means it's cancerous. Malignant tumors can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body through blood or lymph systems.
Benign: Benign tumors are not cancerous and do not spread to other parts of the body. Most benign tumors can be removed without causing much harm.
Metastasis: Metastasis refers to the process where cancer spreads from its original location (primary site) to another part(s) of the body (secondary site). This condition makes treatment more challenging but not impossible.
Remembering these terms helps you better understand your diagnosis and treatment options. It empowers you when communicating with your healthcare team.
Other Types of Cancer
Cancer is a vast term. It refers to many diseases, not just one. Each type has its unique characteristics and challenges.
Sarcoma is one of them. It starts in the body's connective tissues - bones, muscles, tendons. Melanoma, another type, begins in cells that create skin pigment (melanocytes). We have also Leukemia, which affects blood and bone marrow.
There are other less common types too like Myeloma and**Lymphoma**. Myeloma targets plasma cells – part of your immune system. Lymphomas affect the lymphatic system – the body’s disease-fighting network.
Each cancer type requires specific treatment plans tailored according to its nature and progression stage. Always remember: Early detection increases chances for successful treatment significantly. Research! Know about clinical trials related to your condition. Knowledge empowers you towards better health decisions.