Myelodysplastic syndrome survivor: UT MD Anderson helped me overcome cancer and become a mom

I’ve always wanted to have children. It’s something I’ve known about myself from a very young age. 

So, when I found out the treatment I needed for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) would almost certainly put me into chemotherapy-induced menopause, I had to make some decisions.

Fortunately, I was already at UT MD Anderson when the time came to make them. And, with the help of UT MD Anderson’s Leukemia Center and Oncofertility Clinic, I’m now both cancer-free and the mother of a five-week-old son.

My myelodysplastic syndrome diagnosis

I was only 25 when I was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a type of bone marrow disorder. Looking back now, I actually had some symptoms. But I chalked up my constant exhaustion to a combination of exercise, going out with friends and working long hours to open a new preschool.

I only found out I had MDS when I went to my local doctor here in Philadelphia. I’d requested a food allergy test for an unrelated gastrointestinal issue. When he drew my blood, he noticed it was the wrong color, so he quietly ordered a complete blood count, too. 

It turned out that I was extremely anemic. I had hardly any circulating red blood cells. My doctor ordered a bone marrow biopsy to find out why. The results showed I had MDS. 

How I got to UT MD Anderson

There’s no history of cancer in my family. And, my first appointment with a local oncologist was still months away, which made me think there was no real urgency. I was also told that MDS is just a precursor to leukemia, not full-fledged cancer. I felt fine. So, I wasn’t very concerned. 

But when my mom got home after my biopsy, she started doing some research. She quickly learned that this rare disease is now considered cancer. She also learned that UT MD Anderson’s Dr. Guillermo Garcia-Manero is one of the world’s top experts. A close family friend helped us schedule a second opinion. 

From Dr. Garcia-Manero, we learned that MDS primarily occurs in men over age 65. He recommended I begin treatment right away with an immunotherapy drug called lenalidomide. He also suggested I get tested for an allogeneic stem cell transplant and start looking around for possible donor matches in my family. That’s when it hit me that this was serious.