Search Results
Thalidomide
Thalidomide is FDA approved in combination with dexamethasone to treat patients with newly diagnosed myeloma. It is being studied to treat patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).
Lenalidomide
Lenalidomide is FDA approved to treat patients with:
A phase 2 study of RVU120, a novel CDK8 inhibitor, in patients with low-risk MDS
In August 2017, LLS TAP partnered with Ryvu Therapeutics (formerly known as Selvita) to support "A Phase 1b Study of SEL120 in Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia or High-risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome." Ryvu Therapeutics is a clinical-stage drug discovery and development company focusing on novel small molecule therapies that address emerging targets in oncology using a proprietary discovery engine platform.Azacitidine
Vidaza® is FDA approved to treat
- Adult patients with the following FAB myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) subtypes: Refractory anemia (RA) or refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS) (if accompanied by neutropenia or thrombocytopenia or requiring transfusions), refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB), refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation (RAEB-T), and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMMoL). (1.1)
- Pediatric patients aged 1 month and older with newly diagnosed Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML).
A Source of Hope: Understanding Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplants
Imagine a community filled with families, friends, and healthcare professionals united to transform the meaning of living with blood cancer. This diverse group of people—including researchers, doctors, care partners, and healthcare teams—are bound together by hope, resilience, and a shared goal: to overcome the challenges and live longer better lives.
Imatinib mesylate
Imatinib mesylate is FDA approved to treat
Robyn
In October 2017, my wife Robyn Oshita passed away after a valiant two-and-a-half month battle against acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She was a loving wife, mother, and friend to everyone she met.
Joan
In October 2014, I was handing out candy to my neighborhood’s tiny ghouls and goblins, but the scariest thing that Halloween was a phone call from my doctor. My heart pounded as the doctor told me I had myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a rare blood disorder in which the bone marrow stops functioning properly. My current MDS diagnosis is refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts. My treatment consists of red blood transfusions and Reblozyl® injections.
What Is Blood Cancer?
Reviewed by Gwen Nichols, MD, EVP and Chief Medical Officer at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
A phase 2 study of RVU120, a novel CDK8 inhibitor, in genetically defined cohorts of patients with AML and high-risk MDS
In August 2017, LLS TAP partnered with Ryvu Therapeutics (formerly known as Selvita) to support "A Phase 1b Study of SEL120 in Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia or High-risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome." Ryvu Therapeutics is a clinical-stage drug discovery and development company focusing on novel small molecule therapies that address emerging targets in oncology using a proprietary discovery engine platform.
Sandra
I'm a survivor of multiple myeloma and MDS. Now I just want to raise awareness for the cause its seriousness.
Having both these diseases is tough, but I'm trying to take it all in and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society offers wonderful support.
Bob
It has been five years since Bob had his stem cell transplant to get him remission from acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but his journey started over seven years ago when he was first diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
Jessica
Jess began volunteering with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) in February 2021. Jess is currently pursuing her Patient Advocacy Certificate and found an opportunity to join LLS as a volunteer to gain more experience working with the Patient and Community Outreach Department. Although she is a newer LLS volunteer, her journey to finding her passion for patient advocacy started seven years ago. In 2014, Jess was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). MDS is more common in men than in women.
Arthur
I was diagnosed with refractory anemia with ring sideroblasts (RARS), a type of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in 1996. The prognosis was two to five years expected. I’ve had the same prognosis (per bone marrow biopsy) four more times since, last time in 2023. GeneTrails® testing says I am getting worse and so does generally lowering hemoglobin and other blood numbers, and abilities, though part of the latter is age-related, a reality I never thought I would experience! My survival and continued functioning continue to surprise all, including my hematologist.
Treatment
Every patient’s situation should be evaluated individually by a hematologist-oncologist who specializes in treating MDS and who will discuss the disease subtype, prognostic factors and treatment options with the patient. It is also important to seek treatment at a center that has experience in treating MDS.
Types of MDS TreatmentDoctors use several types of approaches and treatment combinations for MDS:
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)- Is a diagnosis of cancer
- Is a group of diseases that affect the blood and marrow, with varying degrees of severity, treatment needs and life expectancy
- May be primary or treatment-related. Primary MDS has no obvious cause. Treatment-related MDS has an obvious cause.
Click here to access MDS statistics.
Diagnosis
An accurate diagnosis is one of the most important aspects of a person’s care. Obtaining a precise diagnosis will help the doctor
- Determine the MDS subtype
- Estimate how the disease will progress
- Determine the most appropriate treatment
Since MDS can be a difficult disease to diagnose, you may want to get a second medical opinion by an experienced hematopathologist before you begin treatment.
Watch-and-Wait
Some people with MDS who do not have very low blood cell counts or other symptoms may not need to start treatment immediately. Some people can manage their MDS with their doctors for years or even decades using a watch-and-wait (observation) approach. By using the watch-and-wait method, your MDS specialist can monitor your condition with regular physical exams and blood tests. The watch-and-wait approach lets you avoid therapy's side effects until you need treatment. Treating MDS during this early stage has not proved helpful.
Chemotherapy and Drug Therapy
There are many different types of drugs used in the treatment of MDS.
Lower-Risk MDSImmunosuppressive Therapy. Drugs that suppress certain parts of the immune system can help some patients with lower-risk MDS. In some types of MDS, lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, may attack the bone marrow, causing it to stop making enough healthy blood cells. Immunosuppressive therapy lowers the body’s immune response to allow bone marrow stem cells to grow and make new blood cells. The main immunosuppressive therapy drugs used to treat MDS are:
Clinical Trials
Taking part in a clinical trial may be the best treatment choice for some MDS patients. Clinical trials are under way for all MDS-risk types. Today's standard treatments for cancer are based on earlier clinical trials. LLS continues to invest funds in MDS research.
Click here to read more about clinical trials.