If You Have an MPD, What Have You Got?

You have a stem cell malignancy cloning too many of one or more types of blood cells (it proliferates) in your bone marrow (myelo).  Much to your surprise, after many diagnostic procedures, you discover you have a rare myeloproliferative disorder, an MPD.  If you produce too many red cells you have polycythemia vera - PV, too many platelets - essential thrombocythemia, ET, and too many while blood cells, possibly chronic myeloid leukemia, CML, or acute myeloid leukemia - AML.  There are other varieties and complications, and one form can evolve into another.  The MPDs are not curable. 

In order to help prevent heart attack, stroke, or thrombic events,  you have two choices.  Once you are declared "at high risk", chemotherapy for the rest of your life can control the blood counts, or, if you are young enough, a bone marrow transplant or a stem cell transplant is possible.

I was diagnosed in 2004 with  Essential Thrombocythemia.  I am at high risk because of my age, and too old to have a BMT - and so take 1000 mgs daily of the chemotherapeutic pharmaceutical - hydroxyurea or HU. I'm grateful for it: although it depletes all blood cell lines and I risk anemia and a compromised immune system, it has brought my platelet count down from 1.5 million to an acceptable 500,000.  And life goes on - thank  you, Lord!