I have a friend who was anemic for a long time and doctor tried to find out where she was possibly bleeding. None were found. This went on for at least a year that I know of and she kept getting more and more anemic.

A few weeks ago she finally consented to a bone marrow test. The test results showed she has "Myelodysplastic Syndrome" or what is referred to as "MDS" (think those are the letters), that is, the bone marrow is not making new blood cells. This is a type of cancer but not lukemia at this point. It can end up in acute lukemia. Prognosis is not good. When MDS is diagnosed in the later stages it is most likely death will happen before reaching the lukemia stage.

There are 5 stages and she was diagnosed in the 3rd stage. Currently on chemo, blood transfusions or platelets. Chemo every day and transfusions every 2 or 3 days. She now has an infection in her body but they do not know where, so, she is on antibiotics daily via a port.

I suggest that if anyone is anemic for a period of time and doctors have no clue, please ask to be checked for Myelodysplastic Syndrome. Do whatever you have to in order to get proper diagnosis early. There is hope for those diagnosed in the early stage.

Dear Misty800 I'm sorry to hear about your friend I hope for the best for her.
My mother who was just dianesed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia on Sept 30th died on Wednesday Oct 5th. It was so fast i'm still in shock.

My heart go out to your friend and her family and yours. I'm so sorry. I'll pray for her. Good Luck!




P.S. My mother also was anemic for a long time too.

Kee4U, I am so sorry to hear about your mother. God bless and keep you at this time of loss.

Do you by chance have any idea how long a person may live after being diagnosed in the 3rd stage? I doubt my friend will be around comes Christmas time.

I assume your mom was diagnosed very late to already have acute myleoid leukemia.

Misty

Misty800,
I am not sure of the time factor in MDS, but I am very familiar with it as my brother next to me died from MDS in 1996. He had been having health issues and the doctors were at a loss as to what was going on until he was admitted to Bowman Gray Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. I remember going in to see him and the two of us talking for a while. Then within a few weeks he passed away with his wife and children at his side. It is a traumatic time to face. I pray for all of you with friends or family with this disease. By the way the doctors at Bowman Gray did not think MDS was hereditary, but advised siblings to have complete blood work done annually.

Grace and Peace