How to Treat Polycythemia Vera, Is Cancer Curable

How to Treat Polycythemia Vera, Is Cancer Curable

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a type of slow-growing blood cancer. If you have polycythemia vera, your body makes too many red blood cells which can cause complications like blood clots, which can cause stroke and heart attack. Treatment for PV is different than most typical cancer treatments — because the progression is so slow, it is managed more like a chronic disease. While there is no cure for PV, treatment can help you manage symptoms. If you have polycythemia vera, talk to your doctor about treatment options. Things like aspirin and prescription medication can help you manage symptoms. You can also treat symptoms at home by staying hydrated and avoiding extreme temperatures.

Method 1 Seeking Medical Care.

1. Discuss aspirin with your doctor. Aspirin can be used to reduce the risk of things like blood clots and strokes. Your doctor may want you to take a low dose of aspirin each day depending on your current health.

Usually, aspirin is the first course of treatment. Doses are usually around 81 milligrams, but your dose may be lower or higher depending on your health.

Ask your doctor any questions you have regarding when and how to take aspirin if they suggest it would help with your PV. Also, let your doctor know about any existing medications you're taking in case they interact poorly with aspirin.

2. Try phlebotomy. Phlebotomy is a medical treatment in which a needle is used to remove small amounts of blood from your body. Your doctor may suggest phlebotomy to treat your PV.

The goal of phlebotomy is to reduce blood cell count and get your blood thickness closer to normal. The treatment lasts several weeks. In most cases, one unit of blood is removed during each session but treatments vary.

Phlebotomy is similar to donating blood in that a needle removes blood from your body. If your doctor suggests phlebotomy, make sure you ask them about any kind of self care you need to practice before or after the procedure.

3. Ask about prescription medications. In addition to aspirin, prescription medications can be used to treat PV. Talk over prescription medications with your doctor and see if they think medications would help with your PV.

Hydroxyurea is one medication frequently prescribed for patients with PV. It reduces the number of red blood cells, helping with blood flow and blood thickness.

Interferon-alpha is a substance that your body makes naturally. Taking interferon-alpha substitutes can help with PV, as they help your immune system fight excess bone marrow cells.

4. Discuss treatments that target genetic mutations. If none of the standard treatments are not helping control your PV, talk to your doctor about some new treatments that are aimed at the genetic mutations that cause PV (known as the JAK or JAK-STAT pathway). These new treatments include JAK inhibitors, which block the JAK-STAT pathway and prevent it from producing too many blood cells; and HDAC inhibitors, which slow down the overproduction of red blood cells.

5. Treat itchiness medically. Itchiness is a common symptom of PV. While it can be treated at home, extreme itchiness can be treated medically.

Medications like antihistamines may be prescribed to treat itching, depending on your current health and existing medications.

Ultralight therapy may relieve itchiness.

Medications typically used to treat depression, such as Prozac and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may help target itchiness as well.

6. Discuss radiation treatment. Your doctor may suggest radiation treatment as this can help suppress overactive cells. This helps keep things like blood flow and blood thickness at normal levels.

If your doctor thinks radiation would work for you, they will go over the process, including before and after care, carefully with you. Ask your doctor any questions you have at this time. The type and frequency of radiation treatment varies depending on the progression of your PV.

Radiation treatment can increase your risk for leukemia. If your doctor thinks you're at an increased risk for leukemia, they may advise against radiation treatment.

Method 2 Treating Symptoms at Home.

1. Stay hydrated. Proper hydration is important when treating PV. Dehydration can worsen your condition, so make sure to drink water frequently.

Keep a water bottle on hand throughout the day and periodically take sips.

Stop at a water fountain whenever you see one to take a drink.

If you dislike drinking plain water, try flavored seltzer water or adding things like fruit to tap water.

2. Treat itchy skin. Itchy skin can be a major problem if you have PV. There are many ways to minimize and treat itchiness at home if it's an issue for you.

Use lotions and other moisturizers on a regular basis, especially when your skin feels dry and itchy. These can hydrate your skin, lessening itchiness.

Heat can make itchiness worse, so avoid hot showers, hot tubs, and other exposure to hot water. Use warm water instead of hot water when bathing and showering.

Always pat your skin dry after taking a shower or bath. Rubbing your skin can make itchiness worse. After getting out of the shower, use a clean towel to gently pat water off of your skin.

Avoid scratching when you're itchy. This can make itchiness worse and increase your risk for an infection. It can help to trim your nails very short or wear gloves or mittens during the day to reduce the temptation to itch.

3. Stay away from extreme temperatures. Extreme hot and cold can worsen symptoms of PV. Take measures to protect yourself from extreme temperatures.

Always bundle up if you have to go out in cold weather.

Drink extra liquids in hot weather and wear things like visors to protect yourself from the sun. You should also use sunscreen.

4. Monitor sores closely. People with PV commonly have non-healing sores, such as bruises or scrapes from normal activities, that are very slow to heal. The slowed blood flow in PV delays healing, so minor sores may take much longer to heal than normal. Look over your body regularly if you have PV to keep an eye out for new sores.

Feet are particularly prone to sores, so check your feet frequently. Talk to your doctor about any new sores you find.

Take extra care with your sores until they are healed. Bandage them carefully and try not to bump them.

Method 3 Managing Your Lifestyle.

1. Talk to your doctor about physical activity. For many people, physical activity is safe if you have PV. However, if you develop complications like an enlarged spleen, you may have to avoid things like contact sports. Discuss safe physical activity each time you see your doctor.

Walking may help with side effects such as fatigue as it can help with blood circulation. Discuss regular walking with your doctor to see if it's a safe option for you.

2. Seek emotional support. Any type of cancer can be difficult on an emotional level. In addition to treating physical symptoms, treat emotional ones. Seek out support from friends and loved ones to help you cope during this difficult time.

Talk to your friends and family members about how you feel. Ask them to let you vent on occasion if you're feeling scared, frustrated, or otherwise down.

See if you can find a cancer support group online or in your area.

You may benefit from professional counseling if you're feeling very depressed or stressed about your diagnosis.

3, Quit smoking. If you smoke, take measures to quit. Smoking can make symptoms of PV worse, so talk to your doctor about quitting.

Make an appointment with your doctor to make an action plan for quitting. Some people quit cold turkey while others quit gradually. Your doctor may also suggest medications to help you quit.

Seek support. See if you can find a support group for those quitting smoking at your local hospital. If there are no support groups in your area, you can find support groups online.