This spring, COVID-19 booster vaccines will be made available to people aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people and those who have compromised immune systems (Please note, this applies to all people with MDS and CMML). How to get a Covid-19 Spring booster appointment Appointments will be offered between April […]

Through her years of dedication to the MDS Patient Support Group, Caitlin has been been instrumental in raising both awareness and crucial funds for MDS UK.  As Patron, she has made a huge positive impact for MDS patients, doctors, researchers and the MDS community, as a whole. In her captivating TEDx talk, Caitlin implores us all to seize life’s opportunities and to embrace every moment with passion and purpose.

  Dr Beth Payne is a consultant haematologist at University College London Hospital and an associate professor at University College London, who specialises in the treatment of MDS and bone marrow failure. This is a recording of a Zoom presentation she gave to the MDS UK Support Group on the ‘Latest developments in stem cell […]

The International Covid-19 Blood Cancer Coalition (ICBCC) have published a patient booklet called “Navigating a Post-Pandemic World: A Guide for Immunocompromised Blood Cancer Patients” in 2024. Download it here.

Luspatercept (Reblozyl) is a drug that can be beneficial for MDS patients. Use our template letter to lobby your MP to make it available in the UK.

The shingles vaccine is now available for those aged 50 and over with a suppressed immune system – which includes those with MDS and CMML. Your GP surgery will usually contact you when you become eligible but speak to your GP if you haven’t yet been contacted.

Access arrangements for Covid-19 tests have recently changed.  Eligible patients – which includes those with CMML and MDS – can now get free lateral flow tests (LFTs) at their local chemist, as these can no longer be ordered through the government website or via NHS 111.

Dr. Shireen Kassam MB BS, FRCPath, PhD, DipIBLM is a Consultant Haematologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer at King’s College Hospital, London. She is is also a certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician and is passionate about promoting the benefits of plant-based nutrition for the prevention and reversal of chronic diseases and for maintaining optimal health after a cancer diagnosis. In this video Dr Kassam presents a 35-minute introduction to evidence-based Lifestyle Medicine. She explores how it can empower individuals living with MDS, offering practical actions to enhance health and well-being. 

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash   Just a reminder from us here at MDS UK, to get in tune with a few tips to increase and maintain a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Remember to tailor solutions to your needs and seek medical advice from your CNS/GP to fit your individual requirements. 

September 2023 is Blood Cancer Awareness Month, and MDS Alliance is raising awareness of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). This year’s campaign targets patients, healthcare professionals, and the general public and aims to highlight awareness about; MDS symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options, and self-management of the disease.