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Is Myelodysplastic Syndrome A Form Of Cancer?

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Posted on Tue, 26 May 2015
Question: Is being diagnosed with MDS considered being diagnosed with a form of cancer. Does the fact that formerly you have fought lymphoma but are recently cancer free affect the diagnosis. Also, does Jak2 have any role in either the diagnosis or the prognosis?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shailja Puri (44 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
MDS is a form of hematological malignancy, Jak 2 has no role in prognosis

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query on HealthcareMagic.
MDS is myelodysplastic syndrome and is a form of hematological malignancy.
MDS can develop in patients who previously suffer from leukemia or lymphoma.
Jak 2 mutation does not have role in MDS but it is specific for Polycythemia vera, a form of myelodysplastic syndrome.
Other chromosomal abnormalities like monosomy 7, deletion 5 etc have prognostic implication in MDS.

Thanks
Dr Shailja Puri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shailja Puri (20 hours later)
Thank you very much.

What is the prognosis for a 76 year old man who is just diagnosed with MDS after suffering from Lyphoma for more than a year and finally beating that?

It feels like maybe it it just a "next step" in the end of life process but I was wondering if there is any hope. He doesn't even want to call it cancer but he has agreed to the 7 days of chemo, three weeks off, 7 days on, 3 weeks off for the rest of his life.

Let me know your thoughts on his prognosis and his treatment if you can. I understand you do not have all the info. I am just looking for a general sense of things. When he had lyphoma he almost died a couple of times and was in the hospital for two months. They had trouble identifying what was going on. They did have to remove much of his intestine and he did have a number of strokes due to the Jak2 mutation as far as they could tell.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

doctor
Answered by Dr. Shailja Puri (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Prognosis not very good but appropriate management will help

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome again,
MDS is chronic progressive disease.
There is no permanent cure for MDS but it can only be managed.
Prognosis depends on the type of MDS and the type of mutation associated with MDS.
Over all the secondary MDS or the MDS developing after leukemia or lymphome is poorer as compared to primary MDS.
However, you can ease the patient by not calling the condition as malignancy or cancer.
Emotional support, positive thinking and engagement in other activities will help the patient to feel better.
Appropriate treatment will help the patient to recover faster and tackle with the condition better.

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja Puri
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta
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Answered by
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Dr. Shailja Puri

Pathologist and Microbiologist

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 9705 Questions

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Is Myelodysplastic Syndrome A Form Of Cancer?

Brief Answer: MDS is a form of hematological malignancy, Jak 2 has no role in prognosis Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for posting your query on HealthcareMagic. MDS is myelodysplastic syndrome and is a form of hematological malignancy. MDS can develop in patients who previously suffer from leukemia or lymphoma. Jak 2 mutation does not have role in MDS but it is specific for Polycythemia vera, a form of myelodysplastic syndrome. Other chromosomal abnormalities like monosomy 7, deletion 5 etc have prognostic implication in MDS. Thanks Dr Shailja Puri