Commentary on “Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Challenges to Improving Patient and Caregiver Satisfaction”

Abstract

It is unsurprising to me, as a primary care physician (PCP), that advances in the understanding of the biology of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) as well as the improved therapies available to treat this disease have not significantly increased the number of patients undergoing treatment. This is because the majority of PCPs have only a rudimentary understanding of these advances at best. The genetic makeup of a patient affected by MDS is not something I spend a lot of time pondering; however, it is important to be aware that this information is a key determinant in specialist assessment of patient prognosis and treatment decisions. It is hoped that the specialist physician’s perspective that MDS is treatable and patient quality of life can be improved will trickle down to PCPs, because it is they who ultimately make the specialist referrals. The realization that 10% of MDS cases are secondary to chemotherapy for other cancers and that the number of cases will increase as our aging population grows, should raise the profile