25/10/2025
World MDS awareness day … 25th October 2025
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a type of blood cancer where the bone marrow, which is where your blood cells are made, doesn't work properly and makes faulty blood cells; the problem can be with any blood cells, white cells which fight infection, red cells which carry oxygen around the body, platelets which prevent bleeding, or all of these cells. Without enough healthy blood cells the symptoms of MDS will appear, according to which type of MDS is present. MDS is usually a slow developing condition, but in 20-30% of people diagnosed MDS will develop into a fast growing cancer called acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
The attached leflet gives easy to understand information about MDS plus resources to access help, including a helpline. Some of the early symptoms are vague and general so it is important to be mindful of feeling fatigued for no obvious reason, catching colds repeatedly or things like recurring nosebleeds or unusual bruising and speak to your GP.
