MDS symptoms

As I posted yesterday, Robin Roberts is once again fighting the battle with MDS, a form of leukemia. To follow up on that post because she is also a triple negative, I thought some of you might be interested in the signs or symptoms of the disease.

As taken from the mdsbeacon website and originally published by Biblia Kim 5/1/09, it is as follows:
The symptoms of MDS will vary depending on the severity of the disease. Nearly half of those with MDS display no symptoms upon initial diagnosis.

Anemia, or low red blood cell count, cause the most common symptoms because red blood cells are responsible for distributing oxygen throughout the body. In MDS, the percentage of healthy red blood cells is below normal; therefore, the body does not receive adequate oxygen.
Signs of anemia include:

• Chronic tiredness or fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• Pale skin
• Chilled sensations
• Cardiovascular symptoms, such as chest pain (older patients)

Neutropenia, or a low white blood cell count, is another symptom of MDS. A shortage of white blood cells, which are responsible for fighting infections, increases the likelihood of acquiring an infection or fever. Of the various types of white blood cells, most people with MDS lack neutrophils, rather than lymphocytes, making them more susceptible to bacterial than viral infections. It is possible to have a defective immune system despite normal neutrophil counts.
The common infections associated with neutropenia include:

• Skin infection
• Sinus infection accompanied by nasal congestion
• Lung infection accompanied by shortness of breath or a cough
• Urinary tract infection accompanied by frequent and painful urination.

Thrombocytopenia, or low platelet count, is also a symptom of MDS. Platelets are responsible for blood clotting.
People with MDS have a greater frequency of the following symptoms:

• Nosebleeds (epistaxis)
• Bleeding gums
• Flat, pinpoint bruises
• Rashes of small red dots(petachiae).

Less common signs of MDS include:

• Enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
• Enlarged liver (hepatomegaly)
• Abnormal shape or size of cells
• Chromosomal abnormalities. 

Keeping in mind that I would think that periodically some of these things are part of our "normal". But, if you have been reading the above and checking some of the concerns off, then I would recommend you make an appointment with your oncologist for a consultation.  It is likely nothing to worry about, but we as cancer patients know, it is better to be safe than sorry because our lives really do depend on listening to our bodies.

Blessings to all! Have a great week. And don't forget to say a little prayer for fellow cancer patients!!

Hugs!