Help please.

[Mich10]

Hello all

Can anyone tell me if they’ve had cytoreduction treatment/surgery please? I don’t really understand what it is and Goggle isn’t helping 🙈

Many thanks.

M x

[mhos61]

Hi Mich10

I take hydrea, which is a form of cytoreductive therapy. Anagralide, Pegasys and Phlebotomy are other forms of cytoreductive therapy.

Basically, it’s treatment that reduces blood cell counts.

Has your haematologist mentioned that you should begin cytoreductive therapy?

[Mich10 in reply to mhos61]

Hello thank you for replying. So it’s a drug not surgery? I’ve had a letter from my Haematologist stating ‘the plan is to start cytoreduction if her platelet count goes above 1500’

[mhos61 in reply to Mich10]

Yes, 1500 is usually the cut off number for beginning cytoreductive therapy.

In the context of MPNs cytoreductive therapy for ET (raised platelets) is usually treatment with Hydrea, Anagralide or Pegasys.

I haven’t heard of cytoreductive surgery in relation to MPNs.

[Mich10 in reply to mhos61]

Thank you 😊

[Tico in reply to Mich10]

Mary's answer is correct.Cytoreduction surgery is not applicable in Mpn's as it basically means the removal of 'hard tumours'that can be seen,therefore not blood cancers. Atb,tina.🤗

[Mich10 in reply to Tico]

Thank you! 😊

[Ebot]

Hi Mich10

Yes, ‘cytoreductive treatment’ just refers to a range of drug treatments designed to lower your platelet count. I take Hydroxycarbamide. Standard protocol for starting treatment is age 60 or a platelet count in excess of 1500. But it’s only a general marker and obviously lots of other factors - whether you’ve suffered some kind of thrombotic episode like a stroke or TIA, symptom burden or other health problems - determine if your haematologist thinks it would be beneficial to start treatment.

If you’re after some reliable information about MPNs then check out MPN Voice (Dr Google can do your head in!). There’s lot of good, sensible information and advice about treatment options etc. Are you on daily aspirin right now? That’s usually the first line of treatment.

Wishing you all the best.

[Mich10 in reply to Ebot]

Thanks so much.

Yes I’m on 75mg aspirin since January, last count platelets were 1146 and 55yrs young! 😊 x