Essential Thrombocythemia: Making treatment decisions

When first diagnosed 20+ years ago, m y platelets were around 1800....no symptoms, caught in a thorough blood workup. My GP sent me to a oncology hemotologist, who put me on Agrylin (anagrelide before it was generic). I never had any problem with it, as long as I take the dosage regularly (.5 mg morning and night currently). When that doctor retired ten years in, the next, new doc the Regal/Lakeside group referred terrorized me for about 2 months insisting I should have taken hydroxyurea....Finally got different authorization with Dr who said, if it works, bhy change? That's my experience!! Platelets hover below 400, see the doc every 6 months now (I'm 73), was seeing him annually in my my 60s.

When on agrylin did you have to protect yourself from the sun as you have to with hydrea
Best regards

I took Hydrea for 6 years successfully and had no side effects. I was 73 when I went on it. I’m now 80 and have progressed to AML but I believe hydrea gave me six good years.

I am currently taking Jakafi. It's not a chemo drug and it doesn't have the side effects that Hu and Pegasys had on me. It's expensive but thank goodness for Tricare.

76, ET CALR 3yrs on HU, platelets have been over a million a couple times, levels have been erratic. When taking 1500 daily I had malaise, 1500/1000 odd/even keeps me 700+ -, fatigue, hair loss, sensitivity to sun, rbc wbc just under minimum, life is good.

Don't remember and I'm a scuba diver....so probably no.

Yes. I' ve had several cancers removed since going on hydrea.

Do what’s best for you. Often we know better than these doctors who treat us all the same.

I have been taking it for three years, my platelet count dropped very quickly. Other than making you a little tired no real side effects.
I'm sure your platelet count will drop in a month.

Hola, yo tengo 41 años y hace 9 que tomo hidroxiurea. Cansancio y un poco de caída de pelo son los efectos que he experimentado.
Saludos!