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MDS Myelodysplastic syndromes

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  #1  
Old Tue Jan 23, 2007, 02:56 PM
rls rls is offline
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Question - Spleen Removal

My father is a 59 year old man, has MDS, diagnosed as of last 1 year or so, he has tried many of the more straight forward treatments, and now his Dr. is recommending a spleen removal. Does anyone have any experience(s) they could share with me to pass along to my family and to my father?

Thank you all so much, this is an absolutelty wonderful thing that you are doing just by reading and sharing....

RS
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  #2  
Old Thu Jan 25, 2007, 03:15 PM
seniorrico seniorrico is offline
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Why does your Dr. want to remove your Dad's spleen?
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  #3  
Old Thu Jan 25, 2007, 04:54 PM
rls rls is offline
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blood transfusions are not holding, and they think that remving the spleen will help........apparently some sort of normal practice
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  #4  
Old Thu Jan 25, 2007, 08:43 PM
Ruth Cuadra Ruth Cuadra is offline
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Spleen removal usually comes up when the patient has low platelet counts that aren't improved by transfusions or when the spleen is enlarged, which it can be in some cases of MDS, leukemia, and lymphoma. Removing the spleen, in and of itself, is not likely to fully restore the blood counts of an MDS patient because it is the basic blood-producing marrow cells that are damaged. However, it might help the cells that are produced last longer.

According to the AA&MDSIF:
Quote:
In some subtypes of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), such as chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), the spleen can become very large. When it reaches 20 to 25 cm in length, it can cause reductions in peripheral blood counts. At that point, low dose radiation and/or removal of the spleen may be indicated, especially if it has become large enough to cause vascular problems.
The actual surgery may be done abdominally or laproscopically. If your Dad is a candidate for it, laproscopic surgery is much less invasive and easier to recover from.

I would question the doctors about the specific benefits they would expect for your Dad if he has the surgery and whether radiation to reduce the size of the spleen might help.

Regards,
Ruth Cuadra
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Diagnosed AA 10/96, MDS/RA 6/98, MUD/BMT 10/6/98
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  #5  
Old Fri Jan 26, 2007, 01:01 AM
rls rls is offline
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Yes, thank you for the reply. The idea of the spleen removal is not to "cure" for lack of a better word, the bad blood produced

the idea is that he is getting regualr blood transfusions and they are only lasting a few days, so the dr's want to pro long the time in between transfusions.

He is only a candidate for surgery of the spleen, so my family is very nervous. Do you know of anyone that has had their spleen removed? Anyone have any positive stories to share about this?
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  #6  
Old Sat Feb 3, 2007, 11:17 PM
Wayne O'Shana Wayne O'Shana is offline
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Spleen removal

Hi rls:

"Splenectomy for the cytopenia associated with MDS is dangerous and frought with complications and is not recommended." See www.emedicine.com/med/topic2695.htm Usually the spleen is enlarged and ready to burst, or pushing against vascular areas or other organs, before such an operation is considered.

On the old listserv I would post a regular rant about demanding leukocyte reduced (filtered) and irradiated blood products for tx to prevent a build-up of antigens that would cause tx failure. If you go on Google and type irradiation leukocyte reduction blood you will see 260,000 hits. Some of the older stuff is out of date...try www.aaaoi.org and cick FAQ for something written for normal people.
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Middle-aged (83 yo) dx Nov 4, 1997 w/MDS-RA+pancytopenia, tx about 18 mo. Responded to EPO+G-CSF. Ferritin dropped from 2500 to 480. Three non-fatal heart attacks, five non-fatal strokes and a lot of TIAs. Otherwise in very good health.

Last edited by Wayne O'Shana : Sun Feb 4, 2007 at 01:57 AM.
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  #7  
Old Sun Feb 4, 2007, 03:13 PM
Albert Seufert Albert Seufert is offline
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ris:

I had my spleen removed in 2002. Don't know if it made any difference. I was dx MDS and pancreatic cancer. They removed the spleen when they operated on the pancreas. I did not need transfusions at that time. The MDS continued to progress and transfusions were started in 2004. Time between transfusions has shortened and are now 2 weeks apart. There are risks associated with all operations and I would be more concerned with them than with the loss of the spleen.
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  #8  
Old Thu Feb 8, 2007, 04:54 PM
rls rls is offline
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Albert - When were you diagnosed wtih MDS?
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  #9  
Old Fri Feb 9, 2007, 02:32 PM
Albert Seufert Albert Seufert is offline
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rls: Diagnosed MDS along with pancreatic cancer in Nov 2002. Spleen was conviently removed during pancreatic operation. My MDS invovles all three lines as well as abnormal karyotype.
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