About Blood Disorders

Risk Factors
In some cases, drugs used to damage DNA, and to treat other cancers, such as breast and ovarian, may cause a myelodysplastic syndrome cancer. In some cases, people with a weakened immune system may be at increased risk for a blood disorder.

Symptoms
In many blood disorders, symptoms include anemia, fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin, weakness, general malaise, and degeneration of the nervous system. The symptoms for myeloproliferative disease also include swelling of the spleen, and itching. Patients with myelodysplastic syndrome may also bleed without reason, bruise more easily, and have an infection that won't go away. Symptoms of other blood disorders, such as histiocytosis, include lesions in the mouth, gums, and skin.

Diagnosis
If a patient has symptoms that indicate a blood disorder, a doctor may order blood tests to count the number of blood cells. If a blood disorder is detected, the doctor may perform a bone marrow biopsy for a more definitive diagnosis. Many blood disorders are hard to diagnose, but they are sometimes easily treated if diagnosed correctly.

Specific blood disorders treated at SCCA include:

• Aplastic Anemia
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Multiple Myeloma
• Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
• Non-malignant Pediatric Blood Disorders

Links and Resources

Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation www.aplastic.org

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society www.lls.org

Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation www.mds-foundation.org

February 2007