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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alikay | @alikay | Apr 12 3:07pm

In reply to @drbart86 "@alikay go to this site to find specialists https://mpncancerconnection.org/mpn-experts/" + (show)

@drbart86 thank you.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 20 8:20pm

In reply to @kearleyhagey "I was just put on hydroxyurea couple weeks ago, I loked up the drug on line,..." + (show)

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

1995victoria | @1995victoria | Apr 21 9:25am

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

suzannebhi | @suzannebhi | Apr 21 10:41am

In reply to @gigi05 "Thanks so much @nohrt4me! I'm adding these questions to my list. If you think of anything..." + (show)

@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?

princess86 | @princess86 | Apr 22 7:29am

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.

suzannebhi | @suzannebhi | Apr 24 9:52am

In reply to @princess86 "Yes it is a cancer drug but also treats ET by reducing blood platelets. My doctor..." + (show)

@princess86, yes, ours says the same. He strongly states that calling ET cancer is a thing of the past, when they did not know what ET actually was, so it was placed in a broader category.

hudson2019 | @hudson2019 | May 4 1:07pm

It’s A Chemo drug Supposedly Low Dose

janemc | @janemc | May 5 5:46am

In reply to @hudson2019 "It’s A Chemo drug Supposedly Low Dose" + (show)

@hudson2019

An ET diagnosis is what we all love best: A learning experience!!

Something new to me was that "chemo drugs" are not all alike. Yes, HU is a chemo drug. But it's a capsule, not an infusion that in movies, television and sadly real life too, may cause awful distress.

HU has been in wide use for generations. Nobody wants to take a "cancer drug," and some people cannot tolerate it.

I for one am so grateful for a cheap, easy-to-get drug that helps me every day.

I take 7,500 mg a week, a hefty dose, and my side effects are: dry skin and some constipation. With pale, pale skin, now I cover up from the sun even more than I used to. And if I have to be around sick people, I wear a face mask.

To me, this is a price I'm glad to pay for a much better quality of life, and renewed hope for having more years to be wild and crazy.

We are all different! Thank goodness there are alternatives for those who can't take HU.

maureenmary | @maureenmary | May 6 8:01am

I take 500mg a day no issues , get sunlight most days, no sunscreen because I see a holistic doctor who says poisons in sunscreens, just don’t sit out in it or use a mineral based. I have switched to a mostly carnivore diet constipation gone. Good luck and God’s blessings

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