What is Myelodysplastic Syndromes?

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) represent a group of disorders that gradually affect the ability of a person's bone marrow to produce normal blood cells.

Bone marrow is a semi-liquid tissue located inside many bones such as the backbones, shoulder blades, ribs, pelvis, and stomach. The blood-forming cells within the bone marrow are responsible for producing and forming new red blood cells that transport oxygen throughout the body, white blood cells to help fight against infections, and specialized clotting cells that help control bleeding and bruising.

People with myelodysplastic syndromes have a risk of the disease progressing to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which is a bone marrow malignancy. Some studies suggest that AML is a natural progression of MDS and not a separate disease. In some people, MDS may gradually progress over a period of many years while in others it progresses rapidly to AML.

The risk of myelodysplastic syndromes increases with age as the disease commonly affects older people between the ages of 58 and 75. It is estimated that MDS affects 15 to 50 people per 100,000 Americans who are over the age of 70. Up to 20,000 new cases of myelodysplastic syndromes are diagnosed each year. However, since there are no actual registries listing the incidence of myelodysplastic syndromes, some researchers estimate that the numbers may actually be much higher. For example, anemia in older individuals may be ascribed to "old age" without consideration of the possibility of myelodysplastic syndromes.

The incidence of myelodysplastic syndromes in children is only 5% to 7% of all pediatric hematologic malignancies. It has been reported that up to 17% of childhood AML may result from a prior myelodysplastic phase. About 2% to 3% of all cases of juvenile leukemia are associated with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.

Knowledge is Critical when Dealing with a Life-Altering Condition such as Myelodysplastic Syndromes

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), it's critical to learn everything you possibly can about this condition so that you can make informed decisions about your treatment. That's why we created the Medifocus Guidebook on Myelodysplastic Syndromes, a comprehensive 179 page patient Guidebook that contains vital information about MDS that you won't find anywhere in a single source.

The Medifocus Guidebook on Myelodysplastic Syndromes starts out with a detailed overview of the condition and quickly imparts fundamentally important information about MDS, including:

• The latest theories regarding the underlying causes of MDS.
• The risk factors that can increase a person's chances for developing MDS.
• The signs and symptoms that are associated with MDS.
• How MDS is diagnosed based on factors such as signs/symptoms, patient history, physical examination, special blood tests, and chromosomal abnormalities.
• A detailed overview of the major classification systems that are used by doctors to determine the extent and severity of the disease in patients with MDS.

Understanding the Standard Treatments... and the Treatment Options

Treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is individualized for each patient taking into consideration factors such as the severity of the low blood counts, the risk of progression to AML, other potential complications, and the patients age and overall health. The goals of treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes include:

• Prevent and/or treat complications of MDS
• Attempt to cure MDS, if possible
• Maintain the highest possible quality of life
• Prolong survival

Understanding the standard treatments - and the treatment options - is critical for successfully achieving the goals of treatment for MDS and is particularly important for enabling the patient to maintain a reasonably good quality of life and prolonging survival. This section of Guidebook focuses specifically on the standard treatments for MDS and the treatment options, and also includes information about:

• The role of complementary and alternative therapies in the management of patients with MDS.
• The prognosis (outlook) for people with MDS and important prognostic factors that have a significant impact in predicting the overall chances of recovery and survival.
• Quality of life issues such as sleep disorders, fatigue, weight loss, and psychological stress that often confront people with MDS.
• Important questions to ask your doctor about MDS.

A "One-of-a-Kind" Reference Guidebook on Myelodysplastic Syndromes that Goes Way Beyond the Fundamentals

Since 1996, when Medifocus was founded, we've learned that many people with Myelodysplastic Syndromes are seeking more specific information that goes beyond the fundamentals, such as the causes, diagnosis, standard treatments, and treatment options. That's why we developed a "one-of-a-kind" reference Guidebook that goes way beyond the basics and also includes the following sections:

• A Guide to Recent Medical Literature on Myelodysplastic Syndromes - This section of the Guidebook contains an extensive bibliography of over 100 references to recently published articles about Myelodysplastic Syndromes in authoritative, peer-reviewed medical journals with links to the absracts (summaries) of the articles. These articles represent the latest advances in the field and focus on cutting-edge research, new developments, and the lessons learned from recently published studies involving patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes. This is the same level of that is used by doctors who treat people with Myelodysplastic Syndromes to keep abreast of the latest developments and breakthroughs in this specialized field of medicine.

• Centers of Research for Myelodysplastic Syndromes - We've compiled a unique directory of doctors, hospitals, medical centers, and research institutions with special interest and, in many cases, clinical expertise in managing people with Myelodysplastic Syndromes. The "Centers of Research" directory is a valuable resource for quickly identifying and locating leading medical authorities and medical institutions both within the United States and other countries who are considered to be at the forefront in clinical research and treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes. You'd have to spend days - or even weeks - attempting to compile your own list of doctors and medical centers but, with the "Centers of Research" directory, the information is already right at your fingertips. All you have to do is act on the information by selecting and contacting the experts or medical institutions listed in the directory by state and country.

• Organizations and Support Groups for Myelodysplastic Syndromes - The Guidebook also includes a directory of organizations and support groups whose goal is to help people with Myelodysplastic Syndromes by providing access to information, resources, and services. Many of these organizations can answer your specific questions, enable you to "network" with other patients, and provide guidance in areas such as financial, social, or medical-legal issues. This valuable directory of organizations and support groups includes complete contact information, including phone numbers and E-mail addresses.

Look Inside the Guidebook

The Guidebook is a Value-Added Proposition that Comes with a Risk-Free Satisfaction Guarantee so that...You have Nothing to Lose and Everything to Gain

Still not sure if you'll benefit from the Medifocus Guidebook on Myelodysplastic Syndromes? Still not convinced that the information included in the Guidebook is worth the minimal cost? If that's the case, then please consider the following value-added proposition that comes standard with your purchase of the Guidebook:

• Free Updates for One Year - Along with your initial purchase of the Guidebook, you also receive free updates for one-full year.

• 20% Discount - For a limited time, you can purchase the Medifocus Guidebook on Myelodysplastic Syndromes at a special 20% discount off the regular list price. Your 20% discount will automatically be applied when you go to "Checkout".

• Risk-Free Satisfaction Guarantee - Your purchase comes with our RISK-FREE satisfaction guarantee. If, for whatever reason, you are not totally satisfied with the content of your Guidebook, simply contact us within 30-days of your purchase for a prompt, full refund. We are so confident that you will be satisfied with your Guidebook that we offer this RISK-FREE satisfaction guarantee unconditionally - no questions and no hassles.

Order Your Copy of the Medifocus Guidebook on Myelodysplastic Syndromes Today!

• PRINTED GUIDEBOOK - Soft-cover book that is available for immediate shipping within the United States and its territories:
  
  
  • Regular List Price = $37.45
  • Less 20% Discount = - $7.50
  • Your Discounted Price = $29.95

• DIGITAL GUIDEBOOK - Available for immediate download as a PDF document:
  
  
  • Regular List Price = $31.20
  • Less 20% Discount = - $6.25
  • Your Discounted Price = $24.95

• Within the United States (toll free): 1-800-965-3002
• Outside the United States: 1-301-649-9300