Polycythemia Vera is a rare type of blood cancer that is caused due to a genetic mutation in stem cells of bone marrow. JAK2 gene is found to undergo mutation in 95% of patients of PV disease. The genetic abnormality causes over production of Red Blood Cells in bone marrow. This increase in the count of RBCs in blood thickens the blood, slows down the flow of blood in blood vessels and reduces the supply of oxygen to the body cells. Living with PV may create blockages in blood vessels giving rise to blood clots. These clots can cause heart attack, brain stroke, partial or permanent damage to any organ of the body. The symptoms may range from minor headache, respiratory troubles, fatigue to major strokes, paralysis and even death. It is diagnosed by means of complete blood count test and bone marrow biopsy. Around 22 in every 100,000 suffer from this disease.
Unfortunately, there is no permanent cure to PV, although well planned treatment and better implementation of precautions help to minimize the symptoms and facilitate a normal living to the patient. Living with PV is not so easy but involves the lifetime guidance of a certified hematologist in order to monitor, control and check the harmful effects as well as the trigger agents of PV. A person suffering from PV can lead a long life by following the instructions mentioned below:
-PV Monitoring: Regular monitoring and repeated check ups are necessary to find out the extent upto which the disease has spread in the body. Special hematologists from big medical centers are to be reached to ensure efficient treatments.
-PV Outlook: A routined outlook of PV is maintained by scheduling an appointment with the hematologist once in three months to overview the blood cell counts, age, blood oxygen level and other parameters to survey overall health. Under regular surveillance of the specialist the severe outbreaks due to extreme PV can be controlled and the person can live a healthy life. The lifestyle patterns, addictions, diet and exercise habits, proper medication and response to treatment are outlooked to increase the expectancy of life.
-Bone marrow transplant: Under severe conditions of PV where bone marrow becomes scarred and incapable to produce normal functional cells, the patients are recommended bone marrow transplant.
-Specific medications are prescribed to the patients to reduce the production of RBCs in bone marrow, to make the blood thin in order to facilitate easy flow and removal of blockages.