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Any correlation between Essential Thrombocythemia & high B12?
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Jun 25 8:05pm | Replies (51)Comment receiving replies
My new oncologist recommended I take massive dose of B12 vitamins of 20, a week and I have ET and have been on hydra 500 mags for 10 years. After reading this I stopped taking B12. What kind of crazy advice was this, I’m supposed to lower my platelets not increase them. Time for a second opinion as she also wanted a bone marrow biopsy when all my essentials were normal.
Replies to "My new oncologist recommended I take massive dose of B12 vitamins of 20, a week and..."
hmm, 20 tablets a week? I wonder if there was a disconnect in the conversation. Have you discussed this with your Hematologist? At the very least, a second opinion is in order. I have Pylocythemia Vera because of your post I looked up Vit B supplements which I faithfully take everyday...Have for years. I sent a message to my Hematologist asking if taking B 12 supplements with my diagnosis is ok considering they increase red blood cells. There's a lot of benefits to B12 and don't want to stop without her buy in.
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Good morning, @willerta. It’s important that you don’t change any of your medications based on what someone in the forum has said. No one in our forum can diagnose or offer treatment for a disease or condition. What may work for one person may not be appropriate for others.
So please, continue to take your Vitamin B12 supplements as directed by your oncologist! This is the person you need to rely on to help you make the best medical decision, not members of the forum. They don’t know your whole story or medical history. Those decisions remain between you and your doctor.
Your new oncologist also recommended a bone marrow biopsy. Since you have a blood condition that is causing an overproduction of platetlets, your doctor is wanting to investigate the cause. The bone marrow is the heart of the blood manufacturing site in the body. By having a bone marrow biopsy, your doctor will be able to get a clearer picture of the over all health of your marrow and its ability to produce healthy blood cells. You can ask your doctor what they hope to gain with the biopsy and if it’s necessary. But if they recommended it, I hope you decide to have it done because these aren’t done for frivolous reasons.
Please, again, don’t let advice from others in the group misdirect you or cause you to have doubts about your own doctor.
Certainly if you’re not comfortable with your doctor for some reason or want a second opinion, that’s always a valid concern. But sometimes even well-intentioned comments can plant a seed of doubt in our minds which isn’t warranted.
I hope you continue to take your Vitamin B-12 now…there was a reason your doctor prescribed this dosage. Do you feel more comfortable about taking them now?