Erin P. Demakos, RN

The preservation and maintenance of quality of life (QoL)-the "extent to which one's usual or expected physical, emotional, [and] social well being [is] affected by the medical condition or its treatment" [1]-is an important aspect in understanding and approaching the overall management and evaluation of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) by health care providers. MDS patients are treated with blood transfusions to improve their health-related QoL. Fortunately, recent advances in therapy have signifi cantly enhanced their ability to cope with MDS.