Thanks to Beatrice Larroque for sharing her reflections on life after myelofibrosis and stem cell transplant. Check it out at the MPNforum Magazine:
mpnforum.com/brain-fog-and-the-new-normal/
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12/16/2015 0 Comments MPN are Different for WomenAny parent of boys and girls will confirm that there are differences between the genders that are not based on social conditioning. Yet much of the research for decades had mostly male subjects; what was learned was applied to women. That’s why I was so excited to learn about the newer MPN research that teases out the particulars of female and male patients.
Many of the virtual conversations in the various MPN on-line support groups speak in generalities (e.g., “does anyone else have…?”). As more data becomes available, newly-diagnosed patients and care givers may more quickly understand that this is not a “one size fits all” disease process. The “Women and MPN Conference” run by MPN Advocacy & Education International, was a day and a half in sunny San Diego, California in September, 2015. The event was recorded and is available through their website (www.mpnadvocacy.com). Gender Difference in MPN Dr. Holly Geyer is from Mayo Clinic Arizona and leads the International Working Group of MPN Quality of Life Working Group. Her report on Gender Differences in MPN was particularly interesting. First, Dr. Geyer shared some MPN basics:
Hormones can play a role in MPN, but hasn’t been researched. Among female patients, they tend to have higher estrogen levels and increased immune response/antibodies compared to healthy females. This is another opportunity for further research. Among MPN men, their androgen levels tend to be lower than average and have inverse response to MPN women’s experience with estrogen. MPN & Thrombosis The rates of thrombosis (something I survived) were interesting: Venous thrombosis occurs in 9% of female patients and 5.4% of male patients. Arterial thrombosis occurs in 14% of female patients and 18% of male patients. MPN & Pregnancy Pregnancy is riskier for women with MPN than otherwise healthy women. Thrombosis is a significant threat. Take a multi-disciplinary approach when planning a pregnancy — include your hematologist in the planning. Make sure you deliver in a hospital equipped to manage high risk deliveries with a hematologist on call. Quality of Life Symptoms They are learning more about symptoms and quality of life with a revised and validated Patient Reported Symptom Tool (MPN SAFTSS or MPN 10) that is providing a lot of patient-reported data. Some findings to date:
Because women report fatigue at all ages, assumptions that MPN fatigue is tied to patient age is discounted. Also, men require more transfusions even though their red counts tend to be higher than women. This study raises further questions. Why do both genders report the same quality of life scores when women have higher symptom scores? How do women manage more symptoms and still report the same quality of life as men? Different compensating mechanisms? What role does attitude play in one’s quality of life? What about one’s personal community - immediate family, friends, co-workers, extended family? We had speculating throughout the conference. While the study sets the stage for further inquiry, it is exciting to see that researchers are taking interest in the different ways MPN affects the lives of women and men. Perhaps this will lead to more specialized treatment. At the very least, such information may make some physicians less dismissive of the complaints brought forth by female patients. This information is also affirming for women and the families who depend on them. It’s not “all in your head.” |
AuthorMarina Sampanes Peed. Archives
June 2017
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