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Treating Myelodysplastic Syndromes

If you’ve been diagnosed with a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), your treatment team will discuss your options with you. It’s important to weigh the benefits of each treatment option against the possible risks and side effects.

Which treatments are used for MDS?

The main types of treatment for MDS are:

Common treatment approaches

Treatment is based on the type of MDS,?MDS risk group and other factors, as well as your age and overall health. Often more than one type of treatment is used. Doctors plan each person’s treatment individually to give them the best chance of treating the tumor while limiting the side effects as much as possible.

Who treats MDS?

Based on your treatment options, you may have different types of doctors on your treatment team. These doctors could include:

  • A?hematologist: a doctor who treats disorders of the blood
  • A?medical oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with medicines

Many other specialists might be part of your treatment team as well, including physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), nurses, nutrition specialists, social workers, and other health professionals.?

Making treatment decisions

It’s important to discuss all treatment options, including their goals and possible side effects, with your doctors to help make the decision that best fits your needs. You may feel that you need to make a decision quickly, but it’s important to give yourself time to absorb the information you have learned. Ask your cancer care team questions.?

If time permits, it is often a good idea to seek a second opinion. A second opinion can give you more information and help you feel more confident about the treatment plan you choose.

Thinking about taking part in a clinical trial

Clinical trials?are carefully controlled research studies that are done to get a closer look at promising new treatments or procedures. Clinical trials are one way to get state-of-the-art cancer treatment. In some cases they may be the only way to get access to newer treatments. They are also the best way for doctors to learn better methods to treat cancer.?

If you would like to learn more about clinical trials that might be right for you, start by asking your doctor if your clinic or hospital conducts clinical trials.?

Considering integrative (holistic) and alternative methods

You may hear about alternative or?integrative (holistic) methods to relieve symptoms or treat your cancer that your doctors haven’t mentioned. These methods can include vitamins, herbs, and special diets, or other methods such as acupuncture or massage, to name a few.

Integrative?methods are treatments that are used along with your regular medical care. Alternative treatments are used instead of standard medical treatment. Although some of these methods might be helpful in relieving symptoms or helping you feel better, many have not been proven to work. Some might even be harmful. For examp