What is 'Essential' about ET?

[ChrisAnnSen]

I'm intrigued with the name of this condition. What is 'Essential' about it; is there such a thing as Non-Essential Thrombocythemia? It just seems such a strange word to use.

[mhos61]

Hi ChrisAnnSen, I think in medical terms 'Essential' means of unknown cause. My Mother has 'Essential tremor,' which is also of unknown cause.

Mary x

[JediReject]

Yes Mary is correct I reckon, , though interestingly Myelofibrosis in my case was called idiopathic which means of no known cause so maybe it could be called IT 😮!! . . .

Cheers Chris

[ChrisAnnSen in reply to JediReject]

Thanks Chris and Mary - at least I can now explain to friends why it is called 'Essential' because on the surface it is an odd description.

[Jerrymohler in reply to ChrisAnnSen]

Essential means primary in this case.

[JenngeetingR828 in reply to Jerrymohler]

Helpful to read b/c I was told by an OBGYN, essential in this case means "basically".. which it clearly is not the right reference.

[catkinspolymer]

Hi Chris ,

I never saw what was so bloody essential about it, personally i could easily do without it.

Town Crier

[Borage]

Idiopathic means that the cause is unknown.

Essential means that is a diseases in its own right, a neoplasm of the bone marrow cells which produces too many platelets- Thrombocythaemia.

Other conditions, like infections can cause raised platelet levels which a Reactive Thrombocythaemia.

[ChrisAnnSen]

Thanks Borage - that's interesting to know. I really must get round to reading all the info in MPN Voice - I seem to spend most of my spare time reading threads in here - then the rest of the time trying to find the threads I'd read previously and wanted to reread.

[Superwoman]

Hi ChrisAnnSen, I just like to think my ET is Extra Terrestrial and at some stage I will phone home 😃👆think I might be loosing it don't you,

[ChrisAnnSen]

Join the rest of us Superwoman - there are times when frivolity is the only answer.

[Timjonze]

When I was first diagnosed my brother said he personally preferred the Thrombocythemia Finest range, which did make me smile

[Lynne-G]

Hi I am Jack 2 neg with Carl positive ( don't have a clue what that means lol! Well I do, a bit ) I named my son Elliott after the joy in ET, I have always called him ET ( only his brother and I call him that) I now have two important ET's in my life.