Myelodysplastic syndrome, also referred to as MDS, is a cancer that affects the blood cells and can have an extremely negative impact on the human body and can even be fatal in more severe cases. Although research is continuously being done regarding this disease, healthcare physicians and scientists have yet to discover a cure for myelodysplastic syndrome. More recently, the risk factors linked to myelodysplastic syndrome have been discovered, which has enabled doctors to find more effective treatments and even educate the public more in regards to preventatives.  

There are certain risk factors that have been revealed through patient testing, clinical trials and research that those in the medical field have revealed to the public in recent years. Among these risk factors are smoking, environmental exposures and cancer treatments. However, in some cases, people have developed myelodysplastic syndrome without any of these cases being apparent in their daily lives. Although in the majority of cases, these risk factors are more commonly related to myelodysplastic syndrome.

Detailing Myelodysplastic Syndrome Risk Factors

Cigarette Smoke- Smoking has been the only lifestyle-related myelodysplastic syndrome risk factor that researchers have discovered to date.

Benzene Exposure: Environmental risk factors, particularly exposure to the toxic chemical benzene, has been linked to myelodysplastic syndrome in many cases. Benzene is harmful to those who inhale, ingest or handle the chemical over an extended period of time.

Certain Cancer Treatments: Research has proven that cancer patients who have been treated with particular chemotherapy medications are more likely to develop MDS. In addition, combining these drugs with radiation therapy can only increase the risk of developing myelodysplastic syndrome further.

The Risk of Benzene Exposure

Even though it has been revealed through extensive research that benzene is a harmful chemical that can cause various forms of cancer, many industries continue to use benzene and thousands of workers are still exposed to the chemical daily. Some common industries that still use benzene on a day to day basis include the petrochemical industry, storage facilities, and transportation companies. Manufacturers of chemicals and producers of tires and other car parts have also been known to use benzene in the workplace.

As a result of so many companies refusing to discontinue their use of benzene, many people continue to become the victims of exposure and it still reigns as one of the main myelodysplastic syndrome risk factors in the world. People can be exposed to benzene through three main ways:

• By inhaling the chemical over a long duration of time
  
• Through skin exposure to the toxin
  
• By consuming the chemical in some way

Of these three, research shows that inhalation of benzene is the most common form of exposure and is to blame for the thousands of cases of MDS that occur each year.

Have you been exposed to benzene and as a result developed myelodysplastic syndrome? If so, please contact us to speak with a trustworthy attorney who will ensure that you are receiving the legal advice and guidance you need and deserve.

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See Also

* Myleodysplastic Syndrome Treatment
* Myelodysplastic Syndrome Causes

Benzene Leukemia Law Blog