Does MDS ever go away?

Since myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are very hard to cure, most people with MDS never actually complete treatment. People may go through a series of treatments with rest in between. Some people might choose to stop active treatment in favor of supportive care.

Can you live a long life with MDS?

With current treatments, patients with lower-risk types of some MDS can live for 5 years or even longer. Patients with higher-risk MDS that becomes acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are likely to have a shorter life span.

How serious is MDS?

MDS is a severe, chronic syndrome from which very few people successfully recover. It often progresses to AML, which is a form of leukemia. Depending on which scoring system a doctor uses, life expectancy can change, according to the progression of MDS.

Does anyone survive MDS?

Remember, these survival statistics are only estimates – they can’t predict what will happen to any individual person. Many other factors can also affect a person’s outlook….Survival statistics for MDS.

IPSS-R risk group	Median survival
Very low	8.8 years
Low	5.3 years
Intermediate	3 years
High	1.6 years

How quickly does MDS progress?

The pace of progression varies. In some individuals the condition worsens within a few months of diagnosis, while others have relatively little problem for several decades. In about 50 percent of cases, MDS deteriorates into a form of cancer known as acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Can MDS be reversed?

There’s no cure for myelodysplastic syndromes, but some medications can help slow the progression of the disease. If you have no symptoms, treatment might not be needed right away.

How painful is MDS?

Leukemia or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) can cause bone or joint pain, usually because your bone marrow has become overcrowded with cancer cells. At times, these cells may form a mass near the spinal cord’s nerves or in the joints.