Saturday, November 28, 2009

Facts About MDS

By Juno Pinkerson

Majority of people are aware of the different types of cancer like leukemia and MDS that affect a number of people. However, there is a lack of general knowledge on the causes of these diseases and the options for treatment that are available. It is therefore very advantageous to completely understand the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) before going to the procedure of asking regarding leukemia and all its forms.

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

About one-third of MDS patients experience a deterioration in their health after their initial diagnosis. This often leads to the development of acute myelogenous leukemia or AML. Some of the most common symptoms of MDS are:

*Paleness of skin

*Bleeding and bruising

*Experiencing extreme fatigue

*Infections the recur

If you have been exposed to benzene and are now experiencing symptoms of MDS is is important to speak with an experienced benzene attorney to have your case evaluated.

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