Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is clone-type malignancy that is related to the blood. This disease does not respond well to treatment. All three types of blood cells - red, white and platelets - are deficient in the presentation of MDS.

When the disorder in the production of blood cells continued, the different types of blood cells will have an abnormal count and the bone marrow will begin to deteriorate. The MDS syndrome patient will have low or high amount of any or all of these blood cells (red, white, and platelet).

MDS occurs in 5 per 100,000 people; at age 70 and up, about 30 per 100,000. Therefore, MDS cases may grow in number as the population ages.

Physical symptoms include: fatigue, infectious disorders, bleeding, and abnormal pallor.

About one third of all MDS patients, according to medical reports, will develop acute myleoid leukemia or AML. This is commonly known as secondary AML. Patients living with MDS may develop progressive cytopenias or AML with or without treatment.

Survival chances of patients with MDS were derived from the percentage of bone marrow blasts, the number of cytopenias, and the presence of cytogenetic abnormalities. These are divided into 4 risk categories:

*Median survival of 5.7 years is considered low-risk

*Median survival of 3.5 years is an intermediate risk category

*Median risk of 1.1 years is also considered intermediate risk

*When the median survival is less than 6 months the risk is considered high.

MDS can be genetic and are also caused by some environmental factors like prolonged exposure to benzene. Benzene is a known carcinogen and a toxic chemical commonly used to manufacture commercial goods such as gasoline, cigarettes, sodas, and many more. Most people are unaware that handling, ingesting, and inhaling benzene may develop MDS.