Essential Thrombocythaemia

My Mum has recently been diagnosed. She has been prescribed aspirin and a chemotherapy drug. But she is suffering from exhaustion, stomach pain and loss of appetite - and that's without having taken the chemo yet. I think it is an enlarged spleen. Nothing I have read so far online tells me how the splenic symptoms are treated. I have put a call out to the GP but will the chemo help with the spleen or will it simply add more side effects and symptoms on top of what she is already suffering?

  • A very warm welcome to Cancer Chat PeggyJ although I'm sorry to hear your mum has been diagnosed with Essential Thrombocythaemia.

    I hope you have been able to speak with your mum's GP since making this post but if you'd like to discuss this further with one of our cancer nurses, they're available on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m. They're very insightful and will do all they can to answer your questions and address your concerns about your mum's spleen and upcoming chemo.

    Hopefully you will receive some support and advice from our members soon but in the meantime, we hope your mum's current symptoms start to improve and that all goes well with her chemo when the time comes.

    Best wishes to you both,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator