100 Questions & Answers About Myelodysplastic Syndromes

by Jason Gotlib, Lenn Fechter

Overview

Empower Yourself!
MDS is a lethal blood disease that affects as many as 50 per 100,000 individuals over the age of 70. The disorder is five times more prevalent than AML, a form of leukemia. Whether you're a newly diagnosed patient, a survivor, or loved one of someone suffering from MDS, this book offers help. The only text available to provide both the doctor's and patient's views, 100 Questions & Answers About Myelodysplastic Syndromes, provides practical, authoritative answers to 100 of the most common questions asked. Written with commentary from actual patients, this is an invaluable resource for anyone struggling with the medical, physical, and emotional turmoil of this disease.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780763753337
Publisher:	Jones & Bartlett Learning
Publication date:	01/11/2008
Series:	100 Questions & Answers about
Edition description:	1E
Pages:	172
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Jason Gotlib, MD, MS, is Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology at the Stanford University School of Medicine/Stanford Cancer Center. His medical school, residency, and hematology/oncology fellowship training were undertaken at Stanford. He also earned a Master's Degree in Clinical Epidemiology at Stanford. He is Associate Director of Stanford's Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) Center of Excellence, which was established by Dr. Peter Greenberg. Dr. Gotlib's clinical research focus is the development of novel therapies for MDS, chronic myeloproliferative disorders, and acute myelogenous leukemia. He is a recipient of the National Institutes of Health's K23 Career Development Award, and his research has been published in numerous journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Blood. He is currently a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's Guidelines Committee for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia and the International Working Group for Myelofibrosis Research and Treatment. Dr. Gotlib is married and enjoys nature photography in his spare time.

Lenn Fechter, RN, BSN, is a nurse coordinator with the Hematology Clinic and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) Center of Excellence at Stanford Cancer Center. After receiving her BSN from San Jose University, she joined Stanford Hospital and Clinics where she assumed a position with the outpatient clinic in hematology. She lives in San Carlos, California, with her husband. She has one son who is currently working toward his Master's Degree in Education. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, cooking, and participating in marathons.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Introduction ix

Part 1 The Basics 2

Questions 1-11 provide background on how blood cells are formed and what happens in MDS, including:

What are myelodysplastk syndromes (MDS)?

How common is MDS?

What causes MDS?

Part 2 Diagnosis, Classification, and Prognosis 17

Questions 12-20 describe the steps leading to a diagnosis of MDS, such as:

Is MDS one disease or a syndrome of similarly related diseases?

How is MDS diagnosed?

What is involved in a bone marrow biopsy? What information does the biopsy provide?

Part 3 Symptoms and Treatment Options 43

Questions 21-29 discuss common symptoms of MDS and the treatment options available, including:

How is response evaluated in MDS?

What are the most common presenting symptoms in MDS?

What factors are weighed when evaluating specific treatment options for MDS?

Part 4 Treatment, Supportive Care, and Side Effects 59

Questions 30-68 describe specific treatments, supportive care, and side effects with such questions as:

What is the difference between treatment and supportive care? What are the components of each option?

When do I need a red blood cell transfusion?

What does it mean if I develop antibodies to red blood cells or platelet transfusions?

Part 5 Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplantation 113

Questions 69-73 discuss stem cell and bone marrow transplantation with questions such as:

What is stem cell transplantation?

What are the different types of stem cell transplantation?

What factors are considered when evaluating a patient for bone marrow or stem cell transplantation?

Part 6 Clinical Trials and Experimental Treatments 125

Questions 74-79 describe participation in experimental treatments, including:

What other medications have been evaluated in MDS?

What is an investigational drug?

Am I a candidate for a clinical trial?

Part 7 Managing Your Health 137

Questions 80-100 address topics of day-to-day concern, including:

How do I choose a hematologist?

Should I get a second opinion?

What precautions are necessary with a diagnosis of MDS?

Additional Resources 167

Glossary 175

Index 183