If you have MDS and have a high-risk or intermediate-2 risk IPSS score, you have a higher risk of developing Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Acute Myelogenous Leukemia: (uh-KYOOT my-uh-LAH-juh-nuss loo-KEE-mee-uh) A cancer of the blood cells. It happens when very young white blood cells (blasts) in the bone marrow fail to mature. The blast cells stay in the bone marrow and become to numerous. This slows production of red blood cells and platelets. Some cases of… (AML). To prevent this from happening, your doctor may prescribe intensive chemotherapy chemotherapy: (kee-moe-THER-uh-pee) The use of medicines that kill cells (cytotoxic agents). People with high-risk or intermediate-2 risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) may be given chemotherapy to kill bone marrow cells that have an abnormal size, shape, or look. Chemotherapy hurts healthy cells along with… in order to kill bone marrow bone marrow: The soft, spongy tissue inside most bones. Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow. cells that have an abnormal size, shape, or look.
How does it work?
Chemotherapy for MDS patients involves the use of medicines that kill cells cancer cells called cytotoxic agents. Chemotherapy hurts healthy cells along with abnormal ones. So you may need to stay in the hospital for a few weeks after treatment. During this time, you will receive transfusions of red blood cells and platelets. You will also take medicine to fight infection.
These medicines are divided into low-dose and high-dose treatments.
Low-dose chemotherapy medicines include:
- Ara-C (cytarabine)
- Hydrea® (hydroxyurea)
High-dose chemotherapy medicines include:
- Ara-C (cytarabine), daunorubicin daunorubicin: Daunorubicin is in a class of medications called anthracyclines. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in your body. It is used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs to treat a certain type of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). , idarubicin, and mitoxantrone used together
How well does it work?
Approximately 40 to 50 out of 100 patients have no MDS symptoms after receiving high-dose chemotherapy. But, for nearly 90 out of 100 patients, the disease returns within 5 years and for most, within 2 years. High-dose chemotherapy rarely provides a cure.
What are common side effects?
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Mouth sores
- Diarrhea
- Hair loss