Myelofibrosis is a form of leukemia affecting the bone marrow, and it is most common in people over the age of 50. The condition gradually changes bone marrow tissue into scar tissue, inhibiting the bone marrow’s ability to create new blood cells.
As a result of this illness, other organs in the body, particularly the spleen and liver, may become enlarged in an attempt to provide the body with the necessary blood cells. In some cases, the spleen becomes so enlarged it is necessary to remove it, so that the patient experiences less pain.
Often, myelofibrosis is not treated because the only treatment available is bone marrow transplant. Since this involves a fairly difficult procedure and chemotherapy afterwards, those who are much older than 50 are considered at poor risk for surviving the treatment. The condition may progress very slowly in the elderly, and many live for years with the condition, though the average survival rate after diagnosis is five years.
On rare occasions, children develop this form of leukemia, and in these cases, bone marrow transplant is the preferred treatment as it may stop the course of the illness and extend the patient's life. Even with bone marrow transplant, the outlook is not favorable, however and the disease may recur, requiring another transplant.
Symptoms of this illness include low platelet count, anemia, and an enlarged spleen. Those effected may also feel uncomfortable fullness or pressure in the stomach, note more significant bleeding or bruising after slight injuries, exhibit paleness, feel fatigued, and get sick more easily and more often.
A complete blood count test and a physical examination of the spleen are usually used to help diagnose myelofibrosis. A medical professional may confirm his or her suspicions by sampling the bone marrow to evaluate its quality.
In some patients, the condition may result in only minor symptoms, but in general, the final stages are painful and difficult. Patients may spend a long time in the end stages of the illness, and this time can be difficult for both them and their families.
Conditions like myelofibrosis, where the cure is not much better than the illness itself, often require more medical research. These diseases often rob the sufferer of the ability to die with dignity. Instead, death may be a prolonged and painful period.