Integrative treatment

• Treatment leaflets
• Anagrelide
• Integrative treatment
• Aspirin
• Cytarabine
• Hydroxycarbamide
• Interferon alpha
• Melphalan, busulfan and P32
• Thalidomide
• Venesection (phlebotomy)
• Bone marrow transplant
• Additional treatments
  • Blood thinning drugs
  • Danazol
  • Erythropoetin (EPO)
  • Transfusion
  • Treatments to control gout
  • Treatments to control itching

Integrative treatment means bringing the best of conventional medicine together with the best of therapies from other traditions. It means looking at your health as a whole and from many different perspectives.

Consider your overall needs

In the case of MPDs, integrative treatment means looking past your blood counts and the medication you take to consider your overall health and broader physical and emotional needs, so that you can live better and extend your lifespan.

Take charge

In a world where doctors have limited time and resources, you may find that you need to turn to additional resources for integrative care and to take charge of your own well-being. This might include:

• Your GP or primary care doctor
• A nutritionist
• A physiotherapist
• A respected coach physical or trainer or yoga teacher

Look for trainers and nutritionists with experience and credentials in caring for people with chronic illnesses.

Essential support

The three essential supports for anyone with an MPD (or with any illness for that matter) are nutrition, exercise and stress management:

• Eating well is essential for anyone with an MPD. Eating a balanced and nourishing diet will keep your immune system strong and help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

• Staying active helps to reduce the feeling of fatigue that many people experience with MPDs. It also keeps your heart and cardiovascular system strong to reduce the risk of clots, and to prevent depression, a common risk in people with chronic illness.

• Managing stress Meditation, relaxation techniques and cognitive-behavior therapy can give you emotional strength and tools to combat a chronic illness. Meditation and yoga have been proven to reduce stress and increase well-being in recent studies of patients with cancer. Massage, acupunture and acupressure can reduce or control side effects. You can also download a list of complementary therapies recommended by people with MPDs.

• Herbs and dietary supplements Many people prefer herbal remedies to conventional medications. As of this writing, we have not found any studies that suggest that any herbs or supplements offer a benefit to people with MPDs. You may want to take advice from trusted resources and choose carefully when considering herbal remedies and supplements, and discuss possible benefits and any potential drawbacks with your haematologist.

The three pillars for anyone with an MPD are nutrition, exercise and stress management.