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Essential Thrombocythemia: Making treatment decisions
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (187)Comment receiving replies
I'm the same as you. I was diagnosed at 57 with platelets around 600 and put on baby aspirin only. As soon as I reached 60 I became high risk and was advised to go on HU which I declined. I did say once my platelets were up to a million I would consider it. I am now 66 and my platelets are around 950 and have the opportunity to go on low dose and see how it goes. I had breast cancer 9 years ago and had lumpectomy as I caught it early. I would still love to try and find something that naturally brings down my platelets but haven't found anything so far and I guess I'll have to go with the Hydroxyurea.
Replies to "I'm the same as you. I was diagnosed at 57 with platelets around 600 and put..."
Similarly I was diagnosed around 54 with platelets in the 600s. Had been on baby aspirin for cholesterol already, so I've continued to do that. I go in for new blood draws every six months and unfortunately the numbers have steadily been going up.
Like you, my doctor has considered me "low-risk" (generally healthy in other regards) but I suspect that when I reach 60 and/or levels larger than 1M we will be discussing some medication. We've never named any specific drug or dosage - I've appreciated lurking on these boards and learning what others have tried and their experiences.
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Sorry to hear, and yes I keep trying to find alternatives but I expect I will have to go on it in the end!