Is Essential Thrombocythemia a blood disease or cancer?

Posted by chimo @chimo, Mar 21, 2025

I’m confused because I think Hydroxyurea is a chemo drug. Can someone clarify this for me?

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Profile picture for kearleyhagey @kearleyhagey

I was just put on hydroxyurea couple weeks ago, I loked up the drug on line, & its a cancer drug.

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@kearleyhagey, welcome. How are you doing on hydroxyurea? Are you new to ET?

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the answer is yes, it is a blood cancer disease. I've had for six years

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Profile picture for gigi05 @gigi05

Thanks so much @nohrt4me! I'm adding these questions to my list. If you think of anything else, please let me know.
I'm also inviting anyone else reading this to share:
-questions that you may like answers to,
-questions that you may have asked in the past and did not get a satisfactory answer to or none,
-or,questions that you thought to ask and have asked and did get an answer to.

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@gigi05 thanks for posting these options.
I think it would help if we could share:
How long has one had the diagnosis?
What medication are they currently on?
How long have they been on a certain medication?
What side effects are they feeling, if any, from the drugs?

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Yes it is a cancer drug but also treats ET by reducing blood platelets. My doctor dies not call ET a cancer; calls it a treatable blood disorder that you can live many years with if you are properly monitored and treated.

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