Myelofibrosis is a rare type of cancer that affects the bone marrow by disrupting the body's production of blood cells and is a type of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). MPNs get worse over time, with extra cells built up in the bone marrow. Myelofibrosis is also considered a chronic version of leukemia. Symptoms and effects of myelofibrosis include scarring within a patient’s bone marrow, severe anemia that leads to fatigue and weakness, and an enlarged spleen.
The average survival rate for patients with myelofibrosis is six years, but this varies based on potential treatments. There are no drugs that can modify the outcome for myelofibrosis and the only treatment that leads to cure is an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). However, because of high rates of morbidity and mortality, this treatment must be carefully considered based on the patient. Therefore, treatment for myelofibrosis often focuses on relieving symptoms rather than a cure.
The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) has developed an initiative titled, Advancements in Treating Patients with Myelofibrosis and Strategies to Improve Care.
See the resource links below for more information on this initiative.
If you have any questions about this project, please contact the ACCC Provider Education department.
ACCC has published a new resource to help health care providers determine the treatment trajectory in patients with myelofibrosis. Download now and discover an easy-to-use, visual symptom scoring tool.
ACCCBuzz spoke with Dr. Gabriela Hobbs, MD, at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center to learn how to best manage patients' care for those with myelofibrosis.