In 80% of patients diagnosed, the cause of MDS is unknown. What do we know about trends in patients diagnosed with MDS?
1. It is more common in men (compared to women, the rate of men is 4.5: 2 for every 100,000 people).
a. As with many forms of cancer, advanced age is a predisposing factor. The average age of patients with MDS is 73, and 86% of patients with MDS are over 60 years old.
2. Exposure to chemicals and other toxins is known to increase the risk of developing MDS disease.
a. Chronic and high exposure to benzene, other solvents, insecticides or herbicides. In the past, 25 years ago, although MDS / AML cases of benzene origin have been reported in the petrochemical industry, such series have not been reported in recent literature.
b. There is no food known to cause MDS.
c. Although alcohol consumed daily decreases the number of red blood cells and platelets, there is no information that alcohol causes MDS.
D. It is known that tobacco smoke / use is associated with the emergence of MDS. One of the main components of tobacco is benzene.
The use of benzene is regulated in detail by government agencies. There are published guidelines on exposure limits.
3. Patients who are receiving certain chemotherapy or radiation therapy for other cancers may have a higher risk of developing MDS due to treatment.
a. Patients who take chemotherapy drugs or radiotherapy for potentially curable cancers such as breast or testicular cancer, Hodgkin’s disease, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are at risk of getting MDS for 10 years after their treatment. MDS that develops after cancer chemotherapy or radiotherapy is called “secondary MDS” and is often associated with multiple chromosome abnormalities in cells in the bone marrow. The treatment of this type of MDS is often more difficult and the risk of converting to AML is more common.
Is MDS hereditary? Is there any possibility to switch MDS to my loved ones?
1.Hereditary genetic predispositions regarding the occurrence of MDS and congenital abnormalities are rare. Therefore, the chances of passing MDS to your children or grandchildren are extremely rare.
2. MDS is not contagious. Patients and their families often worry that MDS can be contagious. There is no evidence that a virus causing MDS is found, so MDS does not infect your loved ones.
