Anyone taking 325mg aspirin with 1000-1500 HU daily for ET?

[jewelmaker]

I'm 75 and my platelets are under 700. I also take fish oil along with a dozen prescription meds. My oncologist prescribed this much aspirin and HU. Should I be concerned? Anyone else taking this much aspirin and HU? I take 1000 every other day and 1500 opposite days.

[Mirror368]

From what I have read a low dose aspirin is the usual amount taken. Your HU dose is also pretty high. I suggest you get a second opinion from an MPN specialist.

Best wishes, Eileen

[AndyT]

That sounds like a high daily aspirin dose.

There may be a reason for it but it’s worth querying with your doctor, as most of us are just on 75 or 81mg daily, which is considered safer in terms of gastro-intestinal and bleeding issues.

[Hopetohelp]

Most people with mpn’s are on 75mg aspirin. Apparently it’s enough to make the platelets non sticky. Might be worth rechecking with your haematologist in case there’s another reason for having you on a high dose

[jewelmaker in reply to Hopetohelp]

I'll speak to him about it as I have an appt. this Monday. Thank you.

[hunter5582]

That is an unusually high dose of aspirin for treating ET. When an increased dose is indicated, it is more common to increase from one low-dose aspirin to a low-dose aspirin 2x/day. Note that fish oil potentiates the blood thinning effect of aspirin.

You are on a fairly high dose of hydroxyurea. Has the oncologist explained why the higher dose?

Note that there is a difference between and oncologist and a hematologist, though some doctors do practice both since they are certified under the same board. The issue is that many oncologists have little experience with MPNs. It is important to see a doctor who specializes in malignant blood diseases, ideally a hematologist who has experience treating MPNs specifically. Note that I was misdiagnosed by an oncologist at one point. He did not have the needed skill set to provide optimal treatment.

Here are two lists of MPN expert doctors.

mpnforum.com/list-hem./

pvreporter.com/mpn-speciali...

Wishing you all the best.

[jewelmaker in reply to hunter5582]

Thank you for the information. I will look into these doctors.