Treatment Options for Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)

The Cancer Therapy Team at Salisbury District Hospital offer ‘prehabilitation’ which is the work done to build up your physical and mental health, before your cancer treatment starts. This aims to put you in the best place possible to manage the treatment to come. For more information on the Cancer Therapy Team visit: Cancer Therapy Team

Macmillan Cancer Support have also put together the following information and videos: Prehabilitation videos for people living with cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support

Symptoms for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) can develop very slowly. Treatment will depend on your symptoms, the type of MDS you have, your general health, and your risk group. Your treatment will be discussed at an MDT meeting.

If you have low-risk or risk intermediate risk MDS with no symptoms, you may not need treatment straight away. Instead, your blood count will be monitored through regular check-ups. This is also known as watch and wait or active monitoring.

If you have high risk MDS, treatment can include chemotherapy or a stem cell transplant. Though a stem cell transplant may not be suitable for everyone, your doctor will talk to you if this is a suitable treatment for you.

Cancer Research UK provide more information on Tests and treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and also provide information on medication which you may be prescribed: Cancer drugs A to Z list | Treatment for cancer.

For information on the different medications used to treat different cancers, visit Macmillan Cancer Support’s website where you will be able to find information on the medication you have been prescribed via their ‘A to Z list of cancer drugs’.

Treatment for MDS may include: