A type of blood cancer where the body produces to many platelets.
Platelets are essential for the blood clotting process, its what makes our blood ‘stick together’ and helps our blood to clot when we have a cut or injury to the skin.
It usually occurs between 50- 70 years old though can occur at ange age.
Most show no symptoms and this condition can take time to develop.
Cause
Fault with your JAK2 or MPL gene (the stem cells can start producing platelets even when they’ve not been ‘told’ to do so by the growth factor (A growth factor is a substance which sends signals to your stem cells, so they can produce the right number of blood cells to keep you healthy).
Source: Genetic Home Reference
Source: Wikipedia
Symptoms
Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
Disturbed vision (described by some patients as light shows or silent migraines)?
Balance and dizziness problems?
Ringing in the ears?
Bruising or bleeding easily?
Nose bleeds?
Pain and redness in some or all of your hands, feet, arms, legs, ears and face)?
Hot flushes and/or flushed face and/or warm skin and/or slight sweating and/or dislike to heat?
Swelling of hands and feet?
Cold hands and/or legs and/or feet which can be numb and painful?
Blisters on hands and/or feet?
Skin very itchy?
Any extreme sensitive skin and/or touch anything, one feels extreme pain and/or burning sensation?
Change of skin colour (red to dark blue) on hands and/or feet?
Feeling cold?
Changes to vision,hearing, taste ,smell, touch and sensitivity to cold with muscle weakness and/or muscle pain?
Females:
Heavy periods?
Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:
Do not wait phone an ambulance if have or develop:
Rare type of blood cancer characterized by improper function and excessive production of plasma cells—a type of white blood cell—found in bone marrow.
The immune system is impacted due to the inefficiency of the plasma cells to produce healthy antibodies, which fight infection.
The overgrowth of plasma cells crowds other blood cells, reducing the number of healthy red and white blood cells which are involved in processes to give us energy and fight infection .
Common symptoms include leukaemia symptoms and anaemia symptoms in particular bone pain, usually experienced in the lower back and ribs and if not treated it can lead to weak bones, destruction of bones as well as a build up of abnormal antibodies called ‘M’Proteins which damage the kidneys and kidney stones due to increase production of uric acid as well as blood disorders symptoms.
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Essential Thrombocythemia in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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