Cataño Mayor Julio Alicea Vasallo passed away on August 13 after a long battle with myelofibrosis, a rare type of cancer affecting over 25,000 people in the US. Myelofibrosis is a disorder characterized by abnormal production of blood cells and scarring in the bone marrow, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).
The condition affects the production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, leading to symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, easy bruising, and bleeding. Patients may experience pain and swelling under the ribs, night sweats, fever, bone pain, and feeling full after eating small portions.
The bone marrow is responsible for producing blood cells, and myelofibrosis causes changes in the DNA of these cells, leading to overproduction of abnormal cells and scarring, which reduces the production of healthy cells.