Polycythemia

I know this is not the right forum but i am not sure where to post:  

Does this mean I am going to die within 7-15 if I am being treated and dignosed with Polycythemia?

Anyone who has polycythemia vera must receive treatment. Without treatment, the symptoms will become much worse and the risk of death from stroke or heart attack will increase. Without treatment, 50% of people die within 18 months of diagnosis. The reason for this is that the high concentration of blood cells makes the blood so thick that it has greater difficulty flowing through the blood vessels.

With proper treatment, the average survival of people with polycythemia vera is 7 to 15 years. People will probably feel quite normal and their risk of stroke or heart attack will be much less than if they didn't seek treatment. Although there's no cure, most people live for more than 10 years with the disease. Blood clots are the most common cause of death, followed by complications of myeloid metaplasia (a progressive disease of the bone marrow), hemorrhage, and development of acute leukemia.

[often]

Where did you find this info?  I am sure from the web, but remember, we need to be very cautious about info on the web.  I would suggest you search this within a medical site, such as mayoclinic.com  

Are you being treated by a hematologist?  If not, do so.  Now.

Remember,  there are medical breakthrough's every day.  

And if it helps, I knew someone who had this.  He was around a lot longer than 7-15 years with it.  

So ...  get the right treatment.  Follow doctors orders.  Then get on with your life.

[larbec7]

I am seeing a Hemotologist and I am within the proper levels.  I feel that my medication may have been causing this but all the docs say no.  I was on Hydrocodone /tylemol for about 6 years 10/325.  I went off of them two months a ago and my levels are dropping.

[surfgirl]

A doctor supplied you with narcotics for 6 years????

[often]

Holey Baloney, Batgirl!  I don't ever get more than 30, and that is only when the back pain is excrutiating.  Otherwise it's 10, and that is from Doc Sweetie, who knows I am not going to abuse my meds.

Holey Baloney!

[lov2laf]

It can approach normal or close to it. The old mortality tables of 7 or so years are woefully outdated and from the 70's. Even then, the data was wrong. See the data was compiled in NYC and the patients with PV were given a medication Chlorambucil, and while it suppressed the marrow, it induced leukemic transformation. So the elderly males patients treated with it eventually died from leukemic transformation. If a  male keep your HCT/HGBLN 42/14 female 38/12, pregnant or special considerations, even lower. Most hems today like to use 45 but that is too high. See an expert in the MPDs.

Listowner,

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Please remember that I am not a physician. Always check with your hematologist if you have questions, and if he or she is not available, discuss your concerns with the oncology nurse.

[ChronicFatigue]

By the way, please don't let "tables" and "statistics" bother you.

I was just diagnosed with Polycythemia on Monday (and have not even been given a treatment regime).

What I find STRANGE is how I have Polycythemia when I take an aspirin a night anyway! (due to sometimes I wake up with Headaches from OSA and this seems to help). AND, I take night time Advil to help sleep. (both blood thinners, right?)

In a nutshell, please don't live off a "Table of Statistics"--Live your life like you'll live to 100 and you just might!