Hi, Cheryl.
Welcome to Marrowforums. Chirley and Birgitta has already given you some valuable information. As someone just learning about MDS, you should contact the
Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation and ask for their information packet about MDS. The booklet on MDS covers all the basics, plus it has a glossary to help you learn the key words.
Other than having blood taken for routine tests, the only reason I can think of that an MDS might have blood taken out is to reduce the level of iron in the body. Iron accummulates in the body as the result of blood transfusions. Iron overload, if left untreated, can damage the heart, liver, and other organs. One of the treatments for iron overload is to remove blood from the body. You can read more about this in our
Transfusions and Iron Overload forum.
In answer to your second question, "blast" is the short name used for lymphoblasts, which are immature white blood cells. Normally, blasts compose less than 5% of the cells made by the bone marrow and grow to form mature white blood cells. In MDS, blasts counts may rise and the blasts themselves may remain immature and non-functioning. An MDS patient is generally said to have converted to leukemia when their blast count exceeds 20%.
You can't ask too many questions. Reading and researching will take you part of the way, but most people find that they need to ask specific questions to figure out what applies in their particular case. There are lots of knowledgeable people here who are ready and most willing to help. Please feel free to ask us.
Regards,
Ruth