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- Symptoms for myelofibrosis include bone pain, bruising, shortness of breath when doing anything physical, bleeding easily, fever, frequent infections, stomach fullness due to an enlarged spleen, pale skin and fever. During the early stages of the disorder no symptoms may be experienced.
- Blood tests will show if there is an abnormal red and white blood cell level. Platelet counts may also be abnormal. An MRI or CT scan can show if the spleen or liver is enlarged. The last procedure is a bone marrow biopsy to confirm diagnosis. A needle is used to draw marrow from your hip bone and then is studied in the lab to reveal any abnormalities.
- Treatment for myelofibrosis is used to relieve symptoms of the disorder. Severe anemia can be treated with blood transfusions. Transfusions increase your red blood cell count alleviating fatigue and weakness. Androgen therapy is taking the male hormone androgen and combining it with a corticosteroid such as prednisone to promote red blood cell count and improve anemia. Risks of this therapy include liver damage and an increase of prostate cancer cells. Chemotherapy can reduce an enlarged spleen and fibrosis in the bone marrow. Radiation can help with bone pain and reduce the size of the spleen. When the spleen does not respond to other treatments and becomes so enlarged it causes pain, removal by surgery is an option. Stem cell transplantation is the only option to possibly cure myelofibrosis, but has many life threatening risks. High doses of chemotherapy and radiation are needed first to destroy diseased cells. There is also the risk after the procedure that the new stem cells will attack your body's healthy tissues causing organ failure.
- Ask your doctor for support groups in your area or look online for others with the disorder. Finding and talking with people going through the same experiences can help you cope and discover ways of dealing with myelofibrosis.
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatments
Coping And Support
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