Practical tips for ET patients and COVID19

ET patients hoping to stay health should continue to practice social distancing , get fresh air and exercise, have a mask and hand sanitizer when out,  maybe take a multivitamin, and not worry excessively. ET patients who do get sick should get tested for COVID19 and contact their hematologists.

That was the bottom line advice for MPN patients Drs. Ruben Mesa and Aaron Gerds at a Webinar session Tuesday. The session was sponsored by MPN Advocacy & Education International.

Coronavirus and cancer patients

Clean hands are safe hands! Wash hands frequently
to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases!

UPDATE, April 1: More specific info on C19 and MPNs from Drs. Ruben Mesa and Robyn Scherber here.

ET patients MAY be at higher risk for coronavirus than the general population. What does that mean exactly? It means that we may get the virus more easily or become more seriously ill if we do. That's because those on oral chemo are considered immune suppressed, and that makes it generally harder for us to fight off infections.

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has some brief guidelines and info specifically for blood cancer patients about corona virus.

But there's a lot we don't know about coronavirus, and the most important thing you can do for yourself and loved ones is to keep a clear head and not panic. The next most important thing is to stay informed. Here are some tips:

New book for MPN patients a mixed bag

Living Well with an Myeloproliferative Neoplasm by Dr. Krisstina Gowin is a new book--it may be the ONLY book--aimed at helping MPN patients understand and "live well" with our uncommon cancers. Is sells on Kindle for about $10. It's probably a very good resource for people who are just diagnosed. It can help you get your thoughts together and provides some good medical explanations that you probably won't get from your hematologist. But the book has some down sides. Here's my review: