Jazz Pharmaceuticals has launched an educational program called Find the Right Fit, which aims to spread awareness and help patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML). They know that receiving a rare disease diagnosis can be scary and confusing, and their goal is to make one’s journey at least a little bit easier.

About Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

MDS are a group of conditions that stop the bone marrow from producing the correct amount of blood cells. Medical professionals aren’t exactly sure why this happens, but they suspect that a genetic predisposition plays a role, as do environmental triggers like chemotherapy or exposure to certain chemicals. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, heart palpitations, pale skin, easy bruising and bleeding, and being more prone to infection. MDS also often progresses into acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

About Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

AML is a blood and bone marrow cancer. The bone marrow makes abnormal blood cells which then crowd and get rid of healthy blood cells. This leads to symptoms like easy bruising, frequent infections, lethargy, fatigue, bone pain, fever, pale skin, shortness of breath, and unusual bleeding. Mutations in the DNA lead to this cancer, although medical professionals are unsure as to how these mutations occur. One can also develop this disease from MDS, aplastic anemia, or a myeloproliferative disorder. When this is the case, it is called secondary AML. Treatment consists of remission induction therapy, chemotherapy, drug therapy, or a stem cell transplant.

About Find the Right Fit

Find the Right Fit was created by Jazz Pharmaceuticals in collaboration with the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation and the Cancer Support Community. Their goal is to empower those who have been diagnosed with MDS or sAML.

Rare disease patients often do not get the same resources as everybody else. Because their condition does not affect as many people, there is often less research, less resources, and less help. Find the Right Fit wants to change this by providing education and support.

The tools offered to patients and their caregivers include patient stories, videos, and articles. All of these resources help to explain the science behind the diseases, help patients get diagnosed for the correct subtype, and help educate on treatment options.

A rare disease diagnosis can be difficult, but Find the Right Fit wants to make it a little bit easier. Read more about them here.