Like leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome is a disorder of the bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside bones where all blood cells are formed, and blood. In this disease, the production of normal blood cells, such as platelets (the clotting mechanism of the blood) or white cells (immune cells that fight infection) is affected. Myelodysplastic syndrome occurs mainly in adults, but while very rare, it can occur in children.The cause of myelodysplastic syndrome is currently unknown. There is a higher incidence of myelodysplastic syndrome in children with certain other clinical conditions, such as neurofibromatosis. 

In western medicine, the treatment of these disorders has changed over the last decade. Children with myelodysplastic syndrome are usually treated with intensive chemotherapy (treatment with anticancer drugs) similar to that of acute myeloid leukemia. Some patients do not respond to chemotherapy and may have to undergo a bone marrow or stem cell transplant to fix the diseased bone marrow. In this treatment, the diseased bone marrow is destroyed using high doses of chemotherapy. Healthy, donor (allogeneic) stem cells or bone marrow is given to the patient intravenously and travels to the bone to repopulate the bone marrow.

In Chinese medicine, Acupuncture and herbal supplements can help alleviate many of the symptoms of myelodysplastic syndromes. MDS is a condition in which bone marrow production of RBCs is reduced. The causes of MDS include a prior history of cancer therapy and environmental toxins, including radiation, benzene, and certain pesticides and herbicides. A licensed practitioner will be able to establish a proper diagnosis according to traditional Chinese medicine and prescribe the appropriate treatment protocol. Continue to read Chinese medicine Treatment for Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.