JAK2 Mutation - Effects and Questions

Posted by ettap @ettap, Mar 29, 2018

Have JAK2 mutation verified twice; one year apart and from different labs. As I understand, it may cause polycythemia vera, essential thrombocytosis, or leukemia. My hematologist has not provided any real info on this mutation so I've been researching via internet. I knew leukemia is cancer but was disappointed to find out today that the other 2 are blood cancers as well. I have been seeing a hematologist every 3 mos. about this since my 2nd blood clotting event in 09/2016. To date, all my blood factors have been in the normal range. Here are some of my questions: 1. Is it typical to verify this mutation well before it triggers one of these diseases? 2. I know early detection of cancer can be a real plus, but is there any research or experience that supports proactive steps that can be taken to deter the onset of any of these possibilities? 3. With polycythemia vera and essential thrombocytosis, is blood letting the primary treatment? If so, can the blood be donated? 4. Since none of my blood factors have ever been out of the normal range to date, no specific result of the JAK2 mutation has raised its ugly head. Is this normal? I'm not typically a worrier. In fact, I do really well with things like this once I know what I am dealing with. Information becomes my sword which allows me to take worry and nip it in the bud.

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Hello @wa34937, welcome to Connect. You may notice I moved your discussion and combined it with a discussion titled, "JAK2 mutation: Effects & Questions." I did this so you could go back and read through some of the other members' experiences and so the members who have JAK2 mutation could see your post and have a chance to respond. It sounds as though you have put yourself on a healthy lifestyle journey, which can always have benefits to your general health as well. While we wait for others to chime in on what else they have done do better their health, are you experiencing any symptoms at all, other than the understandable anxiety of a new disorder?

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@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @wa34937, welcome to Connect. You may notice I moved your discussion and combined it with a discussion titled, "JAK2 mutation: Effects & Questions." I did this so you could go back and read through some of the other members' experiences and so the members who have JAK2 mutation could see your post and have a chance to respond. It sounds as though you have put yourself on a healthy lifestyle journey, which can always have benefits to your general health as well. While we wait for others to chime in on what else they have done do better their health, are you experiencing any symptoms at all, other than the understandable anxiety of a new disorder?

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I am experiencing nothing new outside of the progression of aging at 72, my Hematologist assures me this is not a "game changer". After my mother's affliction with polymyalgia rheumatica I understand how rapidly things change, she passed losing half a hemisphere from stroke. I have read the J-2 thread, also thinking that perhaps I should have posted there. Thank you.

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Hi, im jak2 negative with continous high platelets 500-800 range im 31 asymptomatic , discovered over a routine blood test , but i did a jak2 test from another hospital and it came positive , quite worried and confused . I want to know if this jak2 status can change overtime ???
Also ive read over internet and few ppl refered me to consume rae black seed ( a plant extract or its oil said to be miracle seed for fighting blood cancers and also its chemical natural effect inhibits the proliferation of cells gone wrong eg high platelets ??) does any one has any experience with this black seeds or its oil . Pls help rgds

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@livelife

Hi, im jak2 negative with continous high platelets 500-800 range im 31 asymptomatic , discovered over a routine blood test , but i did a jak2 test from another hospital and it came positive , quite worried and confused . I want to know if this jak2 status can change overtime ???
Also ive read over internet and few ppl refered me to consume rae black seed ( a plant extract or its oil said to be miracle seed for fighting blood cancers and also its chemical natural effect inhibits the proliferation of cells gone wrong eg high platelets ??) does any one has any experience with this black seeds or its oil . Pls help rgds

Jump to this post

Hello @livelife, welcome to Connect. You may notice I moved your discussion and combined it with an ongoing discussion titled, "JAK2 mutation effects and questions." Typically, the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene is a possible indicator for future blood cancers or diseases, but not always. As with any sort of medication, or supplement, it is always best practice to discuss with your provider or a pharmacist. @livelife, did your provider discuss next steps with you as far as management and whether or not it is something you are going to continue to monitor?

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@JustinMcClanahan

Hello @livelife, welcome to Connect. You may notice I moved your discussion and combined it with an ongoing discussion titled, "JAK2 mutation effects and questions." Typically, the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene is a possible indicator for future blood cancers or diseases, but not always. As with any sort of medication, or supplement, it is always best practice to discuss with your provider or a pharmacist. @livelife, did your provider discuss next steps with you as far as management and whether or not it is something you are going to continue to monitor?

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Im given aspirin and posibly jak2 might b repeated , do these MPNs progress with time like is it a norm for them to progress or can it stay in the same ratios ? Is ET blood cancer ? Im young 31 so can it go into remission on its own or naturaly if i keep good diet ? Also does black seed cause any affect to cell proliferation ive read on certain pages that its effective natural med ? Any views.... i might have jak2 neg ET because all readings r normal just platelets are high and im asymptomatic . Is jak2 pos ET more dangerous than jak2 negative???

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@livelife

Im given aspirin and posibly jak2 might b repeated , do these MPNs progress with time like is it a norm for them to progress or can it stay in the same ratios ? Is ET blood cancer ? Im young 31 so can it go into remission on its own or naturaly if i keep good diet ? Also does black seed cause any affect to cell proliferation ive read on certain pages that its effective natural med ? Any views.... i might have jak2 neg ET because all readings r normal just platelets are high and im asymptomatic . Is jak2 pos ET more dangerous than jak2 negative???

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So how was your ET, JAK2 Positive diagnosed? Did your Hematologist or Oncologist do a bone marrow procedure and molecular panel? Sometimes doctors use a blood smear which only looks at the most common gene mutations. The molecular panel looks at 400 genes. You need to know what genes gave mutated so your doctor can properly treat you. Good luck.

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With my ET; my latest B12 reading is over 2,000, twice the upper limit. Is this indicative of anything? And my platelet count exceeds 1 mill, we will be discussing meds to lower it.

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@wa34937

With my ET; my latest B12 reading is over 2,000, twice the upper limit. Is this indicative of anything? And my platelet count exceeds 1 mill, we will be discussing meds to lower it.

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Are you on any meds? Hydroxyurea is usually prescribed to reduce a high platelet count. You should get a bone marrow procedure and a molecular panel to identify what’s really going on and which genes have mutated. Good luck.

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Hi, I haven't been diagnosed with PV yet, but I'm getting the JAK2 test done soon. All of my blood counts are elevated and have been for some time. My sister, aunt, cousin, and second cousin all have Crohn's disease. Some of the research I've done has linked Crohn's with the JAK2 gene. Does anyone have info on the JAK2 and Crohn's? Does anyone else have family members with Crohn's that are suffering from PV?

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@mjpm2406

Are you on any meds? Hydroxyurea is usually prescribed to reduce a high platelet count. You should get a bone marrow procedure and a molecular panel to identify what’s really going on and which genes have mutated. Good luck.

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I'm five mos in from the discovery of JAK 2, started at 680, now hovering above 1 mill platelet count. Haven't tested marrow, scan shows spleen is normal. Remainder of blood test is within range, just starting 500 mg hydroxyurea and 300 mg allopurinol daily. My Hematologist doesn't think this will progress into other diseases, should pretty much be a situation of lowering platelet count and monitoring it.

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