Also, I might add that a few years ago they thought it may have morphed into Myelofibrosis since I had so much pain in my legs but that was ruled out at least for now with another Bone Marrow Biopsy. I had Back problems and hips wee deteriorated. It is hard to say whether the Hydroxyurea hastened the bone deterioration. No one has definitive answers for a lot of my questions but I had both hips replaced and a laminectomy and fusion of L 4-5 back surgery and it has helped the leg pain. I have been on the Hydrea for 9 years in May. I take the usual 2 daily with 3 taken on three days a week. Otherwise my platelets creep up. My oncologist has come up with this dosage plan and it seems to work to keep my platelets about 500-600
which they say for me seems to do the job. They keep an eye on the Red Cells and White Cells as well which stay borderline low due to the Hydrea affecting all three. I am not in favor of switching to the alternative treatment Anagrelide as it is way more expensive and I have heard from others that have had too many side effects. As long as the Hydrea is advised, is working and not interfering too much with the Red and White cell production I will continue on it. But I am aware that there are problems with all of it. My age (73) and other conditions are also factors I have to consider.