Myelodysplastic syndromes: diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical management

Innovations in the diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment of the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have provided several new therapeutic options and renewed hope for patients with the disease. Optimal treatment requires careful evaluation of each patient using newly established criteria. Identifying the common symptoms in the MDS patient, integrating new therapies with novel mechanisms of anti-tumor activity and unique toxicity profiles, and developing tools to assist patients receiving these treatments have created unique challenges for the oncology nurse. Many of the emerging therapies have shown promise in tumor response and may be administered over extended periods of time. Most allow patients to be treated in an outpatient setting. This article will explore the diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical management of patients with MDS.