Hydroxyurea and Sun Exposure

@irishnanny3
Sure everyone knows I meant “med”😂

@irishnanny3

I loved your skin-cancer-preventing bed concept!

Much better than a tanning bed!!

The worst side effect I have experienced with Hydroxyurea is the destruction of some of my red blood cells, leading to a low red cell count. Anyone else have this effect?

@jodyjazz Have you seen anything about using ginger to control platelet count? I'm especially interested in using ginger oil on my face to both protect from the sun and to remove rashes.

I have been taking Hydroxyurea for 10 months now and last week I went in and them take blood and my platelets final came down to 366 so now I have to go back every 3 months know. Three months ago when I went in to checked my platelets level was 446.

@garyr443 Yes, HU can reduce all blood cell counts. The trick is to find the HU dose that addresses platelet over production but doesn't tank everything else.

Remember that blood counts do fluctuate normally. So it's important to look at whether yr red cell number is not just reduced but below normal.

If you are dipping into below- or above-normal levels with anything, that would be something to discuss with your doc or hemo nurse.

In my experience (18 years w ET, 8 on HU), even if a number dips a bit below normal, they'll wait another 3-6 months to see if it recovers on its own.

Also, my hospital system has narrowed the normal range for several blood counts. So my other blood cells may not have taken dropped much, but suddenly they're classified as low.

@biggermike3

Congrats on getting your count down so fast!

@nohrt4me Yes, I know all about the Hydroxyurea. As I've said, I've been using it, under my hematologist's supervision, for 12 years. If you read what I said about it, you would know it's Hydroxyurea's side-effect of destroying some of my red blood cells that is the problem, as well as the reason why I'll be replacing the Hydroxyurea with unsweetened cranberry juice in June. If this is successful in controlling my platelet count, I will continue the use of the cranberry juice indefinitely.

@garyr443
Have not heard of Ginger for that purpose. Prob your best sheild if sunscreen for face and a wide brimmed hat. I hate to say this cause I hate suncreen and do not look good in a hat. But i don't look good in red face either:-

@garyr443 Not specifically to control platelet count, although there may be that possibility. I'm going to try using unsweetened cranberry juice for that purpose and I'll see how it goes. The ginger I'll be using is more for dental health (hence the chewable ginger) and for skin care (hence the ginger oil). So, one thing I'll be looking at is whether the ginger oil can get rid of my facial rashes. I'll let you know how that goes. If it works, beyond that, I expect it may smooth a few wrinkles and make me look more like fifty than sixty (which is how old some people now think I am, despite my 74th birthday coming up in October).