Polycythemia vera (pol-e-sy-THEE-me-uh VEER-uh, PV) is a rare and chronic blood cancer. It’s part of a group of blood cancers called myeloproliferative neoplasms (my-e-lo-pro-lif-er-a-tive neo-plasms), or MPNs.
Stem cells in the bone marrow make all the blood cells in your body: red and white blood cells, and platelets. Your body needs a certain amount of each one. Normally, your body keeps everything in balance.
PV occurs when a single stem cell in the bone marrow develops a mutation (or DNA change) and starts to make too many blood cells. For most people, this DNA change is caused by something called a JAK2 mutation.
Having too many blood cells, especially red blood cells, can cause your blood to thicken. When blood is too thick, it doesn't flow the way it needs to through your body. That's when serious health problems, like blood clots, heart attack, and stroke, may occur. Your doctor may refer to these as “thrombotic events.”
Red Blood Cell
White Blood Cell
Platelet
PV occurs when a single stem cell in the bone marrow develops a mutation (or DNA change) and starts to make too many blood cells. For most people, this DNA change is caused by something called a JAK2 mutation.
Having too many blood cells, especially red blood cells, puts can cause your blood to thicken. When blood is too thick, it doesn't flow the way it needs to through your body. That's when serious health problems, like blood clots, heart attack, and stroke, may occur. Your doctor may refer to these as “thrombotic events.”
Itchy skin, especially after a warm bath or shower
Numbness in the hands, feet, arms, or legs (might also be described as tingling, burning, or weakness)
A feeling of fullness soon after eating (or bloating or pain in your upper left abdomen)
Unusual bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums)
Painful swelling of one joint (often the big toe)
Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing when lying down
Headache
Dizziness
Fatigue (needing to nap during the day, or not having the energy to do things you usually do)
Blurred vision
For some patients, having too many blood cells makes the spleen work harder than normal. This can cause it to get larger. This is called splenomegaly (splen-o-meg-a-ly).
Talk with your doctor about why CHR is important.