JAK2 Mutation - Effects and Questions

Hi @ettap, this post was years ago but curious how things are going now?
If I'm reading correctly you're Jak2 Pos with no diagnosis of polycythemia-vera or other?
What's weird for me is I'm Jak2 Neg with confirmed diagnosis of PV. I was a lucky one and found out during my annual physical, retested 6 weeks later, then was sent to Hematology Oncologist and they did extensive testing & genetic testing.

I used to donate blood at least 3 times a year or more and stopped during Covid. Who knew I was self treating. Grateful I never threw a clot, had a stroke or heart attack which is how many find out they have it. It breaks my heart they destroy the blood, I have (or had) "good baby blood" they could give Nicu babies. I hope one day maybe that changes but I get the liability of it all. My understanding is my blood isn't bad, it's the mutation signaling to make more blood when not needed. I was feeling like total crap until they took 5 pints in about 6-7 weeks.

Hope you are feeling well!

ET stands for Essential Thrombocytosis. , I have this also and with a JAK2 mutation.
If I understand it correctly it is a form of blood cancer it makes your platlets over produce which can lead to a possible diagnosis of leukemia.
I take a drug called hydrea and it has decreased by platlets form 700000 to 380000.
I also get confused becaused according to my doctor its a fine line between ET and Leukemia.

@ettap you have a lot of reasonable questions. I'm not a doctor.
I just have Jak2 and polycythemia vera. My grandfather died of leukemia in 1976 before adequate "tools" were available to deal with his at the same stage that I am at age 73 so I have been watching my blood work for 20 years, just in case. because I have symptoms. My point is that I have a family history and we are waiting for my son's Jak2 results to come back - he is only age 50, but I suspect that he has it, too due to some of his blood work and symptoms.
@mag17 PCV is NOT cancer. It is a hematologic disorder that needs treatment before it progresses. Sign relief. Polycythmia Vera, if treated is not going to kill you. I'm not a hematologist. This can be, and is, listed under "cancer" for lack of better category, but it is not cancer. It is a myleoprolipherative disorder that makes you feel like crap - and non-hematologists doctors have a difficult time figuring out why - this is a complex disorder so have patience with your docs.
If your blood levels are fine- there is nothing to treat. ( High hematocrit and Hemoglobin) You can live a very long time, IF treated to avoid complications. Since "you" would be getting regular blood tests specific to polycythmia vera, or blood clots, anemia etc, catching a progressive disorder that ends up being cancerous can be caught very early. ( I'm not diagnosing anyone or treating anyone here.)
PCV can make one short of breath - that becomes confusing when one does not have asthma or COPD etc... ( A Physician Assistant or Nurse practitioner may not know what to do with you when your breathing tests look normal. You need a referral.)

"Blood Letting" or phlebotomy blood can NOT be donated due to polycythemia, unfortunately. "Dumping" some of your blood is an effective treatment to help reach the goals, set by your hematologist for you. My goal is to keep my hematocrit at or below 45.

@mag17 You have a concerning question.

Interestingly, one of my son's new and now ex-providers flipped out that I was not in hospice or palliative care and made a big emotional hub-bub for nothing.
Off-topic explanation: my son, age 50 has advanced primary progressive MS. Drs found blood clots in his lungs and some other 'weird' blood results. At 73, I am still his primary and only caregiver for the bedridden man. When this GI practitioner looked at the family history, she decided without discussion that I'm "too old and dying to care for my son - send him to a nursing home and get into hospice care!"

Even with polycythemia vera and hyperaldosteronism at age 73, I am still physically able to roll my 250 pounds 6' 2" quadriplegic son in his hospital bed and transfer him to a wheelchair all by myself (It takes 4 hospital staff to do it in the hospital.) The point is that I am NOT DYING of cancer. I do well as long as I have the right dose of medication. I am still living a productive life. YES, I was very ill until I got the right diagnosis and treatment.
I'm not going to let any one force me into throwing in the towel when I am still able to be productive. Besides, most of us do best when active and around loved ones.
I hope my words help answer some possible questions.

What does ET stand for? I was diagnosed 2 years ago with Polycythaemia Ruba Vera with JAk2 mutation. Does that mean I have a chronic blood cancer??? due to Jak2 mutation...I am confused, just saw this post now.

Hi @ttown There’s a window of opportunity for self editing after we first post the reply, but after that ‘closes’ you’re always able to have a monitor edit for you.

To do that, look for the 3 dots … to the low right side of your reply. Click there and you’ll see 3 items listed:
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If you click Report Comment, a box will open where you correct what you’d like changed whether it’s a typo, or deleting the entire message. Just let a monitor know, they’re happy to help. I end up with typos that I missed that make me look stupid. LOL. So take advantage of that little feature.
Does that help?

Sorry all - not important, but I caught it today that I wrote oncologist/urologist and of course it should have been oncologist/hematologist. Also, I would have edited the original post, but could not find that option.

Good luck to you also.

My story is exactly like yours. I am doing blood work once a month and taking hydroxyurea and following my doctor’s advice. Good luck on your journey……..

Claire39

Hello Victoria…….also, everyone out there with ET and MPN, and patients that say that they do not get any information from their doctors, this is great and comforting information and I appreciate and thank you for sharing it.

Essential thrombocythemia is an example of a myeloproliferative neoplasm. These are blood cancers that happen when your body produces too many blood cells. from Cleveland Clinic
from JohnsHopkins
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a group of blood cancers in which the bone marrow produces too many blood cells. When this happens, patients are at risk for blood clotting or bleeding, bone marrow scarring and enlargement of the organs. Most patients affected are in their 60s or older. There are no known cures for most MPNs, although stem cell transplants can help people with myelofibrosis. Still, many patients can experience few or no symptoms for long periods of time, and people with these cancers can live for a long time with proper monitoring and treatment.