Dear Dr. Gott: Would you please discuss myelodysplastic anemia? I would like to know the symptoms, cause and treatment. I was diagnosed with this condition but cannot find much information about it. I was given another name for it but don't remember it.

Dear Reader: Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of disorders that affect the bone marrow and stem cells. There are eight subtypes but because of space restrictions, I can't list and explain each type. Without knowing which subtype you have, I can give you only general information that is relevant to each type.

Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, frequent infections, pinpoint bruising, unusual paleness due to anemia, easy or unusual bruising and unintentional weight loss. Early in the disorders, symptoms are generally mild, if present at all.

The cause is abnormal production of stem cells that fail to mature or function properly. It is, therefore, considered by many experts to be a type of blood and bone-marrow cancer. What causes these abnormal cells to develop first varies. Reasons include prior cancer therapies (namely those for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and acute lymphocytic leukemia) and environmental toxins, such as massive exposure to ionising radiation, benezene and more. There also may be a link between myelodysplastic syndromes and long-term exposure to pesticides, heavy metals, herbicides and chemical fertilisers.

Risk factors include age (most cases occur in those over 60), gender (men are affected at slightly higher rates than women), smoking (which increases exposure to benezene and other toxins) and some congenital disorders (Fanconi's anemia and Down syndrome).

Treatment depends on which subtype you have.

There is no definitive treatment or cure, but there are some medications and procedures available. Transfusions can be used to relieve symptoms of anemia. If transfused too frequently or over a long-period of time, however, the body may develop antibodies against the transfused blood cells, which can lead to liver and heart damage. Another option is drug therapy. These medications stimulate the production of blood cells, which reduces or eliminates anemia. They may be used in conjunction with transfusions. Some people may need chemotherapy or stem-cell transplant.

Once you have been diagnosed with one of the myelodysplastic syndromes, it is important to be careful. It is vital to avoid sick people, wash your hands frequently and wash and cook foods thoroughly to avoid infection. Because these syndromes affect blood and bone marrow, they can also suppress the immune system and lead to prolonged or severe infection.

I recommend you or a family member go online to www.mayoclinic.com/health/myelodysplastic-syndrome/ds00596 for more in-depth information. It is important to be under the care of an oncologist or hematologist familiar with the syndromes. He or she will be your best source for new information and treatments.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report "Blood — Donations and Disorders." Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped No. 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

Doctor Gott is a retired physician and the author of the book "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet," available at most chain and independent bookstores, and the recently published "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook."