• A Complete Blood Count (CBC) via your GP can easily determine if further investigation into MDS is needed. #OrderaBloodCount

A Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a very common blood test that is often part of a routine checkup. The test counts the cells that make up your blood: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets and the results can determine if further investigation into MDS is required. #OrderaBloodCount

Myelodysplasic syndromes (MDS) are a group of rare blood cancers where patients don't have enough healthy blood cells.  Symptoms vary from person to person and depend on which blood cells are low.  About 8 in 10 patients have anaemia, whilst about 2 in 10 present to their doctor with infections or bleeding.

• Anaemia is due to a lack of red cells (also referred to as a low haemoglobin), which may lead to fatigue and shortness of breath even on light exertion.
• Recurrent and persistent infections are another common symptom of MDS, due to low white cell counts.
• When your platelet count is low, you can suffer from easy bruising and bleeding. This can sometimes manifest itself as a rash on the skin. These are tiny bleedings under the skin called petechiae and often appear where clothes are tight fitted, like around the ankles or waist. Nose or gum bleeds can also be a sign of a low platelet count.
• Some MDS patients have no signs or symptoms, and are diagnosed by chance as a result of a routine blood test.

As a support group, we have seen hundreds of cases where diagnosis of MDS was delayed. Delays means impaired quality of life for most patients, frequent infections, and for some, a worse prognosis.