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Myelofibrosis is a type of leukemia that affects bone marrow, causing scar tissue to form and inhibiting the production of new blood cells. It can cause an enlarged spleen and liver, and is more common in those over 50. Treatment is difficult and often not pursued, with an average survival rate of five years after diagnosis. Children who develop the disease may benefit from bone marrow transplantation, but the outlook is still poor. Symptoms include low platelet count, anemia, and fatigue. Diagnosis is usually made through a complete blood count and physical exam of the spleen, with confirmation through bone marrow sampling. The final stages of the disease can be painful and difficult, and more research is needed to find better treatments.
Myelofibrosis is a form of leukemia that affects the bone marrow and is more common in people over the age of 50. The condition gradually turns bone marrow tissue into scar tissue, inhibiting the bone marrow’s ability to make new blood cells.
As a result of this disease, other organs in the body, especially the spleen and liver, may become enlarged in an attempt to supply the body with needed blood cells. In some cases, the spleen becomes so enlarged that it needs to be removed so that the patient experiences less pain.
Often, myelofibrosis goes untreated because the only treatment available is a bone marrow transplant. Because this involves a fairly difficult procedure and subsequent chemotherapy, those over 50 are considered to be at little risk of surviving treatment. The condition can progress very slowly in the elderly, and many live with the condition for years, although the average survival rate after diagnosis is five years.
On rare occasions, children develop this form of leukemia and in these cases bone marrow transplantation is the preferred treatment as it can halt the course of the disease and prolong the patient’s life. Even with bone marrow transplantation, however, the outlook is bleak and the disease could come back, requiring another transplant.
Symptoms of this disease include a low platelet count, anemia, and an enlarged spleen. Those affected may also experience a feeling of fullness or pressure in the stomach, notice more significant bleeding or bruising after minor injuries, look pale, feel fatigued and get sick more easily and more often.
A complete blood count and physical exam of the spleen are usually used to diagnose myelofibrosis. A doctor can confirm his suspicions by sampling the bone marrow to assess its quality.
In some patients, the condition may cause only minor symptoms, but in general the final stages are painful and difficult. Patients can spend a long time in the final stages of the disease and this period can be difficult for them and their families.
Conditions like myelofibrosis, where the cure isn’t much better than the disease itself, often require more medical research. These diseases often deprive the sufferer of the ability to die with dignity. Instead, death can be a prolonged and painful time.
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