Easy Tips

What is Policitemia Vera?

Standard

What is Policitemia Vera?

Polycythemia vera (pol-e-sy-THEE-me-uh VEER-uh) is a type of blood cancer. It causes your bone marrow to make too many red blood cells. These excess cells thicken your blood, slowing its flow, which may cause serious problems, such as blood clots.

What are the symptoms of polycythemia vera?

What are the symptoms of polycythemia vera?

  • Lack of energy (fatigue) or weakness.
  • Headache.
  • Dizziness.
  • Shortness of breath and trouble breathing while lying down.
  • Vision problems, such as double vision, blurred vision, and blind spots.
  • Inability to concentrate.
  • Night sweats.
  • Face and becomes red and warm (flushed)

What is the treatment for polycythemia vera?

The most common treatment for polychythemia vera is having frequent blood withdrawals, using a needle in a vein (phlebotomy). It’s the same procedure used for donating blood. This decreases your blood volume and reduces the number of excess blood cells.

What does Cythemia mean?

: a condition marked by an abnormal increase in the number of circulating red blood cells specifically : polycythemia vera.

How long can you live with polycythemia vera?

Recent studies estimate the average life expectancy after diagnosis with polycythemia vera to be about 20 years. The average age of death is about 77. The most common cause of death is complications from blood clots (about 33%). Advancing cancer is the second most common cause (15%).

Can polycythemia vera turn into leukemia?

In rare cases, polycythemia vera may eventually progress into a form of leukemia known as acute myeloid leukemia.

What foods to avoid if you have polycythemia?

Avoid refined foods, such as white processed sugar, bread and junk food to control inflammation as they may contain high-fat content and can increase chances of blood thickening. Avoid red meat completely and choose lean meats like chicken, cold-water fish (in moderation), pulses and beans, nuts and seeds for protein.

What is a Erythrocytopenia?

Medical Definition of erythrocytopenia : deficiency of red blood cells. — called also erythropenia.

What does high red blood cell count and high hematocrit mean?

Hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in a person’s blood. Low red blood cell levels indicate conditions such as anemia. High red blood cell levels could signal polycythemia, which can increase a person’s chance of developing a blood clot.

Can you live 40 years with polycythemia vera?

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a rare blood cancer. While no cure exists for PV, it can be controlled through treatment, and you can live with the disease for many years.

Is polycythemia vera a death sentence?

Is there a cure? There is currently no cure for PV, but the disease is not necessarily a death sentence. According to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the median life expectancy after diagnosis is 20 years.