Understanding Myelofibrosis

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SPEAKER
Myelofibrosis is a rare cancer that affects your bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside some of your bones.

In a healthy person, stem cells in the bone marrow make the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets that your body needs.

When you have myelofibrosis, the genetic code, or DNA, inside one of your stem cells gets damaged.

As the cell divides, it makes copies of itself, passing on the damaged DNA to new cells.

As these faulty cells take over, scar tissue forms, and your bone marrow can't make enough normal blood cells.

This can bring on anemia, weakness, and weight loss.

Your bone marrow hardens and becomes inflamed.

This causes pain and tenderness in your bones and joints.

All the work of making blood cells may switch to your spleen, making it swell and causing pain in your back and belly.

With myelofibrosis, you may bruise or get infections more easily.

Your gums and nose may bleed without warning, and needle-like deposits can form in your joints, causing a painful condition called gout.

For more information about myelofibrosis, talk to your doctor. [MUSIC PLAYING]