‘I will beat this!’ Robin Roberts says of blood disorder
The ‘Good Morning America’ anchor sets an example with her attitude as she discloses a new health challenge.
On Monday morning, Robin Roberts—the “Good Morning America” host who “kicked breast cancer’s butt,” offered hope to other survivors and appeared in Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” music video—told viewers she’s fighting another battle.
Roberts was recently diagnosed with MDS or myelo-dysplastic syndrome, a disease of the blood and bone marrow once called pre-leukemia. She shared the news on the show, with her colleagues by her side and her sister, a perfect match for a transplant, standing nearby, watching with ABC World News anchor Diane Sawyer next to her.
What is Myelodysplastic Syndrome?
The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS, formerly known as preleukemia) are a diverse collection of hematological (blood-related) medical conditions that involve ineffective production (or dysplasia) of the myeloid class of blood cells.
Patients with MDS often develop severe anemia and require frequent blood transfusions. In most cases, the disease worsens and the patient develops cytopenias (low blood counts) due to progressive bone marrow failure. In about one third of patients with MDS, the disease transforms into acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), usually within months to a few years.
The myelodysplastic syndromes are all disorders of the stem cell in the bone marrow. In MDS, hematopoiesis (blood production) is disorderly and ineffective. The number and quality of blood-forming cells decline irreversibly, further impairing blood production.
Signs and symptoms
The median age at diagnosis of a MDS is between 60 and 75 years; a few patients are younger than 50; MDS diagnoses are rare in children. Males are slightly more commonly affected than females. Signs and symptoms are nonspecific and generally related to the blood cytopenias:
- Anemia—chronic tiredness, shortness of breath, chilled sensation, sometimes chest pain
- Neutropenia (low neutrophil count) —increased susceptibility to infection
- Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) —increased susceptibility to bleeding and ecchymosis (bruising), as well as subcutaneous hemorrhaging resulting in purpura or petechia
Many individuals are asymptomatic, and blood cytopenia or other problems are identified as a part of a routine blood count:
- neutropenia, anemia and thrombocytopenia (low cell counts of white and red blood cells, and platelets, respectively);
- splenomegaly or rarely hepatomegaly;
- abnormal granules in cells, abnormal nuclear shape and size; and/or
- chromosomal abnormalities, including chromosomal translocations and abnormal chromosome number.
Although there is some risk for developing acute myelogenous leukemia, about 50% of deaths occur as a result of bleeding or infection. Leukemia that occurs as a result of myelodysplasia is notoriously resistant to treatment.
Roberts wanted viewers to know, as she begins some treatments for the disease this week. She received the diagnosis earlier, on the same day she interviewed President Barack Obama.
In her message to the public, Roberts wrote:
Going forward, it’s business as usual at GMA, which means I’ll be right here every day with George, Sam, Josh and Lara. When I miss a day here or there, I’m fortunate that some very talented friends at ABC News will fill in. When I undergo the transplant later this year, I’ll miss a chunk of time.
When I faced breast cancer, your prayers and good wishes sustained me, gave me such hope and played a major role in my recovery. In facing this new challenge, I ask humbly for more of your prayers and love—as I will keep you in my mine and update you regularly on my condition.
Roberts offers courage, determination and hope, just as many of your patients do. Are you using video, blog posts and social media to share their stories.
If you want to share your story with the Pearls Foundation for Women & Girls, please log onto our website and share your story, at https://sites.google.com/site/sonyayoungcompany. You can also email us at pearlsfoundationforwomen@hotmail.com. We will publish your story on our blogs, website, and facebook page.
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