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What Causes Primary Polycythemias?
Hello doctor. My husband is just 36 years old and he was diagnosed with primary polycythemia. I am very depressed right now. I am showing him that i am strong and that he has too and that everything will be ok. Buti am so wprried for his health. His attending physician in a mikitary hospital told him that he may have leukemia. And that he has to undergo chemo. Is primary polycythemia cancer of the blood doctor? It it reversible? Can he still watch our daughter grow up? We have a 1 year old daughter. Please enlighten me. Help us.
Wed, 22 Jul 2020
Hello,
As per my clinical experience, the primary polycythemia is a genetic disorder in which there is abnormal proliferation of red cell series and hence increase in blood volume and Hematocrit secondarily. The primary polycythemia is not a blood cancer, but you can consider it as a variant of blood cancer. It is not reversible, it can be under remission with different therapeutic options.
The most common genetic mutation is that of JAK 2 in usual cases. There are various treatment options available such as:
- Recurrent Phlebotomy
- Hydroxyurea
- Aspirin
- Chemotherapeutic agents (less used due to multiple side effects)
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel, General Surgeon
As per my clinical experience, the primary polycythemia is a genetic disorder in which there is abnormal proliferation of red cell series and hence increase in blood volume and Hematocrit secondarily. The primary polycythemia is not a blood cancer, but you can consider it as a variant of blood cancer. It is not reversible, it can be under remission with different therapeutic options.
The most common genetic mutation is that of JAK 2 in usual cases. There are various treatment options available such as:
- Recurrent Phlebotomy
- Hydroxyurea
- Aspirin
- Chemotherapeutic agents (less used due to multiple side effects)
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Bhagyesh V. Patel, General Surgeon
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