Little red spots

[Andra13]

Are little red spots on your legs a common thing with ET or is my moth infestation attacking me when I’m asleep??

[Joprv]

Hi, oh the little red spots, no not moths. Typically with ET or any of the MPN when your platelets are affected it is a symptom of low platelets and they are caused by little bleeds under the skin. I am currently covered in them. Make sure you tell your Oncologist and he will monitor your platelets more closely. Be gentle with yourself, our bodies are already coping with many things. Take care, Jo

[Val_P]

Definitely not moths. I have them on the top of both my feet. (Little red spots that is not moths)I was told it’s very common with blood cancers

[Ladygolf]

If you are taking hydroxyurea that is the cause. My hematologist disagreed with me and said the little spots were from aspirin but as soon as I stopped the hydrea they they disappeared after having them about 10 years on HU.

[kp27kathleen in reply to Ladygolf]

What drug do you take now?

[Andra13 in reply to kp27kathleen]

I’m just on aspirin

[Tinkerbell13]

Hello....yes have been having little rd spots for years (have ET) and told they are tiny bleeds under the skin and when get more severe I have to reduce the Clopidogrel (blood thinner)....the haematologist never seems in the least bit interested or concerned, have to say!

Best wishes to you, Tinkerbell

[lizzziep]

Yes got them, mostly on my torso, specialist nurse said it was a mix of age and ET!

[Pippa63]

Yes I have lots on my lower legs and ankles. My heamo shrugs her shoulders and says see your doctor. My doctor says see your heamo! I personally think it's the aspirin but could be the hydroxy but I've been on that for 4 years. It concerns me that noone seems to know what it is. I have ET jak +. Platelets around 500

[Sarah_786]

If you google Petechiae, does it look like that? It’s basically spots of bleeding under the skin, from what I’ve heard it is quite common with ET

[Kari1961]

Yes, I have many on my torso...some tiny pin pricks, others larger (I have PV) but I've had them for many years before PV was diagnosed and way before I started to take any aspirin. I tend to think I'm a human dot to dot drawing. They are unsightly but don't cause me any problem - they don't itch or cause a bloody mess... in fact they just disappear and then reappear.

[Pkm52]

I have ET JAK2+. I am 67, blonde, blue eyes and fair skin. On HU 800mg/day and ASA 81mg 2/day. I have noticed blood vessels being more visible, many little red spots all over. I loved to relax in the sun and develop a tan.

The cost of course is sun damaged skin with all the lovely brown spots. When I started HU my Hematologist told me a side effect was non-melanotic skin cancer. I am a Nurse Practitioner and thought 4 or 5 areas looked suspicious. The dermatologist thought they weren’t concerning. If I scratched them they would bleed and they ever fully healed. I was taught non-healing lesions we’re ALWAYS suspicious. SO, I saw a different Dermatologist who agreed, biopsies 3 lesions and 2 were + for Squamous Cell Carcinoma. It’s called Bowen’s Disease. I don’t think it’s a pure Bowen’s since it’s due to the HU and becoming immunocompromised allowing Opportunistic organisms to survive. An unusual strain of HPV combined with the vulnerable brown spots (Actinic Ketatoses) is the explanation I received. So, for those on HU with red spots that will bleed when you exfoliate or scratch - take them to a Dermatologist who will read about the skin cancer risk and assume the responsibility with you to check for areas to biopsy.

My biopsy sites look like someone tortured me with a lit cigarette but I am glad to know I have a diagnosis and a treatment plan. So we go outside early and late and find a sunscreen we like.

Good luck to us all,

Pkm52

[Charlieapple2018]

I’ve got small red spots on my calves and torso. I mentioned it to my haematologist yesterday, who thinks it’s and iron deficiency. I’ve got platelets at 1600 and have been having small bleeds so she prescribed iron tablets.

[clubdino]

Petechia are usually seen with blood cancers associated with low platelets not high platelets. You can also get petechia as a drug reaction. I get them with antibiotics and they go away when I stop. I also get them around my eyes on my earlobes after crying. A hematologist would know for sure what true petechia looks like. I know in animals true (life threatening) petechia isn't seen until a very low platelet count...around 30,000. Petechia do not blanch when you touch them.

[kp27kathleen]

I have ET and Jak. Been on hydroxy 4 yrs with aspirin. Platelets 450,000. 500 mg of HU a day 23 cases of skin cancer. Hair falling out etc etc. Yesterday I noticed small red spots on my calves sort of a rash. I had an appointment with my skin doctor so thought I would ask about it. He says it's venous stasis and to buy compression hose. Also new little veins showing up. I just feel in some way it's related to hydroxy hemo will never admit it.